More Beautiful every day

She is becoming more and more beautiful each day -- the product once again of what food and love do for a child. Jacob caught the best little chitter chatter of her today as she was laying on my lap just talking to me. It was great. Not much sweeter -- let me tell you. The last photo in this lot was one I took today of James and Julia as they were chillin and watching TV. The hands are precious.

fun with kleenex

We took a short break from our hair styling -- she and Joy will be so much fun -- they are GIRLS who like Jewelry, hair stuff, clothes and the whole works. They are also not afraid to play in the mud. Just like their mama!

Julia decided to unload all of the kleenexes out of the holder. Then she was responsible and PUT THEM ALL back!

photos from earlier today

Okay so she just keeps getting cuter and funnier. This afternoon I took a shower to get ready to go to dinner for our last night in Chengdu. Julia insisted on combing my hair. And drying my hair. And on having her hair combed, dryed and she wanted it curled and sprayed too.... I had to fiddle with it and make sounds like I was doing something and then get the boys to admire it. :) Learned that from James.

Today we had a simpler day -- we are trying to pack to get ready to leave after breakfast in the AM for Guangzhou. Four people living in a tiny hotel room for a week take a bit to get back into the suitcase! Along the way Julia found the sunglasses and had a great time. We also left the door open and she spent a couple of hours running around the hall -- it is a circles around the rooms.

We met a family from Wisconsin that has a new three year old. I packed very medication known to man and for us, have needed only a few minor things. However, I was able to share with them as their little one came down with a couple of cruddy things. Glad I brought it!

When I left for China I was bemoaning the fact that I have just not been able to get the weight to leave me alone the last year. I may, however, have found a cure -- a 2 year old and Chinese Portions. I have found myself crawling on the ground, moving up and down a thousand times picking up dropped cherrios, rice, books, shoes, and everything else. At this point that amounts to 6 pounds this week. Of course about 4 of that is probably SWEAT. :) So -- dont go join a gym or buy another piece of exercise equiptment -- just get a 2 year old. :)

We did get all of Julia's papers today -- she has a Chinese Passport and all of her adoption paperwork. Tomorrow morning, we will take that and board a plane leaving Chengdu. I wish there were a way to take all the good things Julia has had in her life thus far with us when we leave. I am reminded of the story that my Aunt Sharry told when she left her hometown of Freeman, SD. She talked about my grandfather telling her as she climbed in the car -- you know, you can always come back. For Sharry, as well as my dad and his other sisters, Freeman had been home for their childhood and a wonderful place to grow up surrounded by people who loved them. For Julia -- she will come back one day to visit - but for her, the door to this past and the door to this life will be closed when she leaves here tomorrow. While the future may provide her the opportunity to see the place she was born and lived for the first two years of her life -- those places and people will fade for her as a new life begins.

I am sure that life for Julia will be good -- fantastic even. But I also know that there will be days in which she wonders what her life would have been here in China. And I am sure that on days in which her mother is being a ogre she will imagine that it would be better!

I want to say that I have so appreciated the well wishes of all who have been checking in on the blog. Thus far it has been an incredible journey. During the next leg I will be in the Captial City of Joy's province - a few hours away from her place of birth. I did not get to see her hometown when she came home due to some health issues of my own. I am excited to get to see the places she saw without me 5 years ago. Joy and I have talked almost everyday while I have been gone. I miss her and she misses me. I am sure that our arrival home will mean a whole new set of issues to deal with for Joy. She still worries about people loving her forever. I am actually quite thankful that Julia will so freely go to James or Jacob. That will ease Joy's transition too. I expect that Julia will adore Joy -- she is a great size and has lots of neat things to get into!

I think that is about all for now. We are going to dinner tonight with our guide Sandy -- she and I have become very good friends. She asked if the boys wanted to eat Peking (Beijing) Duck -- so we will enjoy that adventure.

Cheers,
Jackie

Fun With Sunglasses

There is not much cuter than a 2 year old with sunglasses. We noticed how much rounder her face is getting already -- she is eating well and has been the Won Ton Soup QUEEN the last two days.

At the temple

Outside the temple

Here are the concrete guys ...

And a shot of the tea house

More Things from China

James in Tibet --when we were in the Tibeten shop they had this series of bowls that you took a wooden "thing" and rubbed in in circles around the outside of it and made this amazing, deep, to the core of your marrow sound. James figured it out! :)

This is the street we walked on and had dinner on Saturday night -- it was wonderful!

There is a beautiful tea ceremony that these girls were performing on the street. We only had a few people take our picture while we were watching the girls and taking THEIR pictures. :)

Quote of the Day

"You gotta have underwear to run -- its like a license -- yeah, an underwear license". -- James

Sacred Places

This afternoon we went to a Buddist Temple and Monastary in Chengdu. It has been there since around 600 or so AD. The temple is like a little city inside the city -- there is a wall around it and you pay to enter. Inside there is the temple part but there is also a tea house, place to eat, place to learn more about Buddhism, a chinese herbist/medicinal shop, and a place to buy books, CDs, beads and such. The Temple is in a little alley street that still looks like "old China" not a China that is attempting to look western with its McDonalds and Starbucks. Outside there were men laying new concrete blocks for a redone entrance. I will post a few pics. For my brother's employees who complain -- they should try this. They are working with wooden wheel barrows in blistering heat. It was humbling.

We went first to the tea house -- this is like the local coffee shop, pub, hang out. If you can imagine the Cheers bar, Friends Cafe, Mel's diner, or McMenamins nearby -- this is where people go to hang out. There are people sitting, drinking tea, playing cards, reading the paper, chatting. There is not a hurried "can I take your order double tall grande triple shot skinny whatever I want RIGHT NOW" sense of life there. Amazingly -- it seems that most of the times that I have passed through the tea houses -- it is the same. People here know how to sit down and drink a cup of tea. While I would not trade my life in America for all the tea in china -- I do appreciate that they know as a culture how to sit down and not hurry. You could so easily rewind and see the same scenario 10, 100 or 1000 years ago.... it is timeless.

We had our tea and then the kids and I went to walk into the temple area across a couple of courtyards. Inside the temple -- you could hear monks chanting in some of the rooms -- it was all open air type with courtyard connecting rooms connecting courtyards. There are rooms with shrines to various buddas and pillows for worshipers to come and bow and pray and move one.

In my life I have had the amazing experience of being in many places of worship. I have stood a the top of a Mayan Temple in the jungle of Central America and imagined the boom of a priest's voice to the crowd in the natural amphitheare below. I have walked the 1000 year old stone floor in the Charte Cathedral in France where peasants knees have carved grooves in the floor as they crawled in pennance forward to approach the alter. I have walked to the top of Mt St Michael in France and stood in a courtyard for priests in that sacred place. I have been to a small stucco building in Mexico and slept on the concrete floor of a church where people come to worship with enthusiasm each Sunday. I have sat on the beach in my favorite place and listened to the power of the waves and the whisper of divine that permeates when one sits still long enough to listen. Today as I walked through the temple in Chengdu China where people have come seeking that divine connection.... I found myself again in that sacred place that words do not correctly describe. Just as I was moved to tears in France 10 years ago when I thought of peasant coming to the cathedral and crawling on their knees in a labrarynth maze pattern to do their pennance to be worth to approach the alter... today I thought of the people of China. For all but a small handful, their lives are simple. For some their lives are pitiful. Yet for any of these, there is a moment in that place that is sacred for them that provides sanctuary for their souls. In that temple, they can remember those before them and wish for good things for those who come after. They can find a wee bit of hope and peace when much of what is around them does not offer that.

I will not pretend to analyze any theology or philosophy around what kind of temple, whether it is the "right" temple or the "wrong" temple... that is not my purpose here. I just was so struck and humbled again today. There is something amazing about creating a space in which the purpose is to quiet oneself, reflect, give thanks, pray for those you love, and find the sanctuary that a sacred place offers. To sit still and BE is not an easy thing for me -- or many of us who rush and rush through life. I so enjoyed the afternoon and the chance to sit, sip tea, listen to the buggies that chirp so loud in the trees, walk through quiet sacred courtyards, listen to chants, and say my thanksgivings for the incredible blessings I have.

As we walked out of the temple courtyard and woman came up to me and started talking to me in Chinese. I did not understand her words -- but I figured it out. She asked me if all three of these children were mine -- I said yes. She asked again -- placing her hand on each boy's head and then Julia. I said yes, and gestured that these were all mine. She pointed to Julia and repeated a phrase that I figured out meant "You have a good heart" She told me time and again -- Thank you, thank you -- you have a good heart. I walked away --- yes, I have a good heart. I is made full by the richness of the blessings in my life -- including these FOUR children that are mine. And for me -- my journey today to that sacred place allowed me to be reminded of that. Sacred places ... and sitting still. Funny that it sometimes takes me thousands of miles to remind myself of the value of both.

Jackie

Sunday afternoon 7/30 in Chengdu

We have had quite a great day or two here. Julia is settling in and it has allowed us to go and do a few of the things in the area that we wanted to. She is still most set on James and has a name she yells for him. She will also freely go to Jacob and is still telling me that if there is a better deal I wont do but if I am all there is -- that is fine. She is playing with me now though and points to me when asked where her mama is. She has let me feed her and kiss her and lots of things along those lines. She tries to tickle me but it comes out as a pinch that about rips your limbs off. :) Oh well....

Yesterday I met up with Kathleen that I met at the Opera the night before. After our Morning shopping we met up later in the afternoon and went to a local tea house that had massages. We had a full foot/reflexology massage and then a body massage that was amazing. My back is still struggling after my car accident this last spring and it felt fabulous. We then collected kids and go taxis and went to a street that has been renovated to appear like an old market street for dinner. We had traditional sichuan food served Dim Sum style in a fabulous restaurant. We ate with Kathleen and her daughter and former exchange student as well as our guide Sandy. My cost for dinner for four? $19 US. Amazing....

We then went to a Tibeten Jewelry store. All of us felt that it could easily have been native american rather than tibeten. The similarities were incredible. I could have gotten beautiful turquoise and coral large pendents set in silver for 30-50 US. If anyone is dying for something -- let me know by Sunday afternoon and I will make a quick trip over for something.

Today was the Pearl market -- I got wonderful things for many people who asked for items. I could have spent a TON of money -- instead I spent a TON of everyone elses! :)

While were were there the ladies were so taken with Julia that they gave her an inexpensive strand -- $15 and a matching bracelet. She wore them around like she was a queen and immediately wanted to look in the mirror. It is obvious that this chicky has a sense of style! I got Joy earrings -- she wanted Earrings from China and yesterday she and Grammy went and got her ears pierced so that she could wear them. For the record -- I must be nicer than my mother who made me wait until I was 12 to pierce my ears and then decides that is is perfectly fine for my not yet 6 year old daughter to get hers done. :) I am teasing Mom -- I think that we all soften a bit as years pass and realize that of all the things my daughter wants to pierce -- ears are the least of my worries! :)

After my pearl adventures we headed to the Buddist Temple.... but that is for a different post.

Jackie

We're Exhausted!

No More Monkeys Jumping on James

Reading with James

Julia is doing very well with both the boys and me. She is saying hi to strangers and smiling lots. But James is still the center of her universe. This morning I missed the shots of Julia running her fingers through James' hair and babbling away while James read. When James did not notice that, she sat down next to him to read a little Tuesdays With Morrie. She finally got his attention and played trampoline on James' belly while laughing hysterically. After our outting this AM she and James settled in for a snoozer. I hope that James does not grow tired of her as her little heart would be broken. She yells for him -- a unique one syllable thing that has an M in it.

All in all -- things thus far have been pretty seamless.... we will take it! I am looking forward to being home in my house with my kids and my bed! however, I am not looking forward to having to clean my own house, make my own meals, and deal with life. This is a lovely baby honeymoom -- eat, shop, nap, sightsee, play with baby.... good stuff. Does anyone know an effective way for me to smuggle a very nice Chinese woman home with me to do all the daily things? :)

More later...

Jackie

Look at those funny lines

Walking

Walking in Chengdu

We went for a nice walk on Friday Afternoon. We just wanted to see around. It was the first time we got shoes on Julia since we have had her and she got to do a bit of the walking herself. She thought that was great. You can see how wee she is in comparison the the boys. In the center of downtown in a large Chairman Mau Statue. It is actually pretty impressive.

One or our favorite things though is the number of people EVERYWHERE. It is not like anywhere in America - even New York.

Love that Chocolate

We have not been able to get much real food into the kiddlet... but she did find soy protien bars -- chocolate flavored and thought those were pretty great. I figured that I want as much into her as I can at this point

Saturday Afternoon In Chengdu 7/29/06

After the Opera last night we agreed to meet up with Kathleen, her daughter and a fmaily friend who was their exchange student a few years ago and is fluent in both languages. We went to the Brocade Factory today. While that may not SOUND interesting - -the artwork was breathtaking. Unfortunately, Jackie and Jacob left the camera on the bed... but there are these ginormous looms that take two guys to run. Those two guys produce about one yard of fabric in two weeks. The intricacy is amazing. We picked up a beautiful brocade wall hanging for our house as well as several smaller pieces to have. We also got some silks for Julia and a couple of matching sets for the girls. There were wonderful opportunities to shop and in my trip to China I only wanted stuff from there, pearls and jade... :)

Oh and a beautiful 2 year old.

We have had a few "Brad Pitt" Moments as Kelly and Judy call them -- today a man asked James if he could have his picture with him as we got into the cab. Two young boys were taking our photo as we were walking through the Chinese garden. Yesterday three young girls about Jacob's age followed him for several blocks talking and giggling. I laughed that last night at the opera people were taking pictures of Kathleen and I... too fun!

This afternoon Kathleen and I are meeting up to go and have a massage and then do dinner. She leaves for Guangzhou tomorrow. For us tomorrow will be a visit to a temple and the pearl market. I am taking note of requests ... cross your fingers for good deals!

I am going to get some pics posted this early AM. I have some fun ones of Julia and the boys walking down the street. Oh -- we have the French and Chinese Mens Volleyball teams here at the hotel -- they HUGE. I SO want a picture of Julia with one of the guys -- she may come up to their KNEE. :)

As for her progress - she is really coming to life. Today she tried on silks at the brocade shop and she was SO proud of herself but refused to wear the hat. She turned around and threw it to the lady in the shop muttering something in 2 year old. Sandy, our guide said again today that she does not really talk -- she understands well dialect but not Mandarin. That means that once we leave here... the language she knows will leave as well. That piece makes me sad.... I know that her life will be rich and wonderful and hold many treasures that she would not have here but it is so hard to know that I will take away from her the things that made her who she is now. She has a wonderful sense of humor and self. I would not trade that for "all the tea in china".

She is eating a wee bit better -- today she has consumed 3.5 boiled eggs minus the yolks. She also asked me this morning to feed her Rice at the table -- a very good thing. It is nice to see that she is seeking some things from me and not only James. She is pretty funny and today has taken to walking about. In the brocade shop she truly was the bull in the China shop. BUSY! Truly though -- she has done a great job of adapting. She is smart and figures things out quickly -- even our guide Sandy said the same thing. She has no trouble telling you what she wants and we understand her perfectly well.

I will post again after our shopping adventures tomorrow. We actually will get our paperwork to leave Chengdu Tonight but to leave would require that we change our airline reservations, hotel, guides,etc. We can not change our consulate appointment at this point in time so we will just roll with it and do our shopping and such. There is also a great street that has more traditional Chinese architecture and shops we will hit one evening with Sandy.

Life here is good. Very good. In fact, I could not ask for more.

Jackie

Saturday Morning in China 7/29/06

Friday was a good day for us. We spent most of the day just hanging out and relaxing -- which we needed. It was good to have the afternoon on Thursday and all of Friday to not have to be anywhere. We hung out in our room, went for a couple of walks on the streets around the hotel, the boys swam in the pool while Julia and I napped, and we just enjoyed playing. That was needed time. For famlies that are waiting to travel -- when you look at your itinerary and it says "rest" or "bonding time" -- welcome it -- it is needed. I know that it is tempting to think that you are in China and you have to see it all. But that is for another time --this journey is about a child and we have decided we will see what we can as long as it works for her. We will do the mega travel trip when she is old enough to appreciate that.

Last night we went to the Chengdu Opera. I am going to let Jacob write about that ....

We headed down to the hotel lobby about 7:30 to meet our guide, Sandy. When we got down there, she was sitting in the front of the lobby waiting. "Come with me," she said excitedly, "your rides are waiting out front." "Rides?" I thought as we walked out. That must be a mistake -- she must not realize taht she is using the plural. As we stepped out onto the sidewalk there were two rickshaws with men beckoning us to climb in. "These wil take you to opera," Sandy explained. Mom and James (along with his permanent attachment) climbed in one, and Sandy and I climbed in the other. After about 5 minutes, we were on the sidewalk in front of a large theater.

Inside the theater, Sandy guided us to our seats. "Do you want me to stay and get you taxi after show, or are you OK?" "We're OK," we said. She left, and we sat down and got situated with the very busy two year old. It was about 25 mintes before the show, so we had some time to look around. The room was about as big as a high school auditorium. There were several lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and the walls were lined with drawings of opera masks. We were in the third row, and only a few seats off from center. Overall, it was a very nice atmosphere.

As we gazed around, a woman came up to Mom. suprisingly, she was neither Chinese nor French, but she was a blond-haired blue-eyed caucasian woman. "Hi," she said in English, "my name is Kathleen." My mom introduced herself as well as me, James, and Julia. it turns out she was there to adopt a 10-year old from Chengdu orphanage. She had just flown out a few days ago, and her daughter was sitting in the next row with her. They talked until the show started, and we ended up going with her the next day to the Brocade shop and the Chinese Gardens.

The show was great. Despite the loud, happy two year old making comments next to me it was very enjoyable. The acts included traditional chinese fight sequences, comedies, acrobats, musicians and many other acts as well. The best part for me was the musician playing what looked like a a string attached to a wooden rod and a brick, but sounded like a violin. James liked the fighting, and julia enjoyed a mask-changing magic act where they spewed fire. After the curtain closed, we were very glad that we decided to go.

I don't really remember a whole lot about what happened after we left the theater, but I know we got two rickshaws again. After we got off, the drivers decided that instead of the 5 yuan (60 cents) normally charged per rickshaw, they were going to charge us 20 yuan ($2.50) apiece, a large fare for the short ride to the hotel. After a bit of negotiating, we decided it was better to give it to them then have two angry rickshaw drivers and their buddies on our hands.

We went into the hotel and slept.

Friday Morning in China 7/28/06

It is 6:30 in the morning in China... All three kids are still sleeping. Today we have nothing planned until the evening when we will go to the local opera. It is nice to have a day to just kick back and snooze, play and what not.

Julia has come out of her shell and what we see is a 2 year old Chinese Tornado. She is BUSY. She comes from a foster family with two older people and two young women and no other children. She is accustomed to the spoiled attention of those around her and figures that is why we are here. Last night she ate noodles ... she would insist that one of us hold her noodles, she would cuise by and take a bite... head off to play with the phone or remote or read a book... cruise back by for another bite. She tells us when she wants a drink or food or pretty much anything else. She points and says "numnumnunono" and we say "this?" and she says either "nuhuh" or "mumhum" and we know. She is a hoot.

It is actually pretty funny to watch her walk -- I will try to get some pics of her with the boys today. She is SO LITTLE that it looks like a mistake to see her moving. I was laying next to her in bed this morning and thinking back-- I think she may be a wee bit taller but is the same weight the boys were at 4-6 months. I would love to measure her head, chest, etc as I think they are probably equal to the boys at about 2-6 months of age. I will compare her hands to the hand prints I have from the boys when they were born -- they are close. She is just a teeny little bug. A large mission of mine will be to get some good solid power packed nutrition. So far that will be a challenge. She wont drink formula, milk, chinese strawberry milk.... she wont eat anything but bread, noodles, cherrios, and one boiled egg. She takes her veggies out of her cup a noodles and either throws them on the floor or hands them to me with clear directions to get those things outta her food!

I wonder if I would be a little skinny thing If I took on the two year old diet -- eat one noodle, climb up and down off of something taller than you 4 times. Eat another noodle. Fall on the floor and pick yourself up twice. Eat two cherrios. Run around and yell a bit. Drink a sip of water. Drink a sip of mil -- spit it out. Repeat.

Thanks to everyone for the notes and well wishes -- we feel loved here. I am sure we will have some more pics for you all either later tonight your time or in the morning for you. By the way -- time change has been no issue for any of us. It is really weird. I think that the boys and I have such random sleep in the summer that it did not really hit us. The return flight we leave here ar night and get home the equivelant of 2 hours later. I figure that we will sleep and when we get home have a nap and be good to go. So far... we are all healthy and that is one thing I am seriously praying for. I can not afford to get sick. We have decided to forgo much in the way of experimental eating -- we just cant afford to have something disagree with any of us on this trip. We brought a ton of snack and such ... I am really glad.

Better get a shower and get ready to start our day here. Love to you all.
Jackie

Unforgettable experience

Jacob and Red Panda

Red Pandas

Let's Go for a Hike

James & Julia and Giant Panda

Last ones for today -- here are the shots at the panda reserve

Momma LOVES Cheerios

Momma I Pod

We finally made friends on Thursday afternoon. After pandas and lunch we just went back to the room and my mission for the next day and half was to break through the barrier that Julia still wanted to keep in place. We made friends. She played peek a boo and then decided that it was hilarious fun to feed me her cherrios. Now, China humid, two year old sticky cherrios have never tasted so wonderful in all my life. She then played with brother's I-Pod and decided to stick the music in mama's ears. When nap time came she layed between James and I. She kept looking at me... the she smiled... wrinkled up her nose and grinned. She started to nod off and she would blink.... open here eyes, smile at me .. and nod off. I think we finally made friends.

In light of the journey that it has been to help her know that Mama and the brothers are good guys, we have decided not to journey the 4 hours each way to her hometown. There is a trip in the future, when her mouth is healed and my friend Kelly and I can journey together in which she and I will go there as well as Joy to Yangjiang. There will be a day in which that Heritage Trip is very important to these girls and right now cheerios, peek a boo and electronics are more interesting to Julia.

She is darling.... her personality is HUGE even if she is not yet. We are smitten.... she is charming. When I named Joy I had no idea that she would EXUDE Joy to all that she met. My hunch is that Julia will provide for those she meets what her middle name characterizes -- HOPE. She is a testimony to the hope that any child can live a richly blessed life and overcome poverty and medical need if those around her are willing to step outside their own world long enough to care. By the time Julia is an adult, she will be the walking, breathing testimony of the Hope that friends gave in providing for her first surgery here in China, my journey to get her, and the amazing faith in humankind that is displayed by the doctors and friends and family who have already pledged to help her live a life full of HOPE.

Thanks for loving her from afar... I can hardly wait for you to meet her!

JAck

I Pod Julia

There you are

Julia Where are you?

Peek a boo

Sending Photos again

We turned a corner this afternoon -- Check out her peek aboo pics. She learned it from James except he did it in the non- see through curtains. She would pull away the curtain and yell PEEK! She learned the word! Also, if all three of us did not pay attention, she would yell across the room "hey!" until we all looked and applauded.

Thursday Afternoon China time -- 7/27/06

Today we went and visited the Giant Panda research center -- pretty neat stuff. The pandas were inside cause it was hot, but we still got to be right next to them. Kids got some great pics.

Julia is getting better each day about who she will accept. She loves James but she is accepting Jacob and I. Today at lunch she let me feed her and she and I laughed at her noodle eating techniques. Yesterday she did not really eat until dinner and today she has accepted food from all three of us and laughed about it. She still will not take a bottle -- she drinks easily from a cup. She makes great faces if she does not like something.

We had one melt down today -- my screen saver came up with her foster mom's pic on it that was sent to me a few weeks ago. She cried for a while ... then seemed to accept me better than ever before. It is very hard to let go of all you have known for your whole life, even if by our standards it was not as good a life as she will have with us. Her grief is apparent ... but it is a comfort to me to know that she knows love.

Tomorrow night we will go to the opera and then we will also be going to the pearl market, temple, tea house and park while we are here since we have such a long time until we go to Guangzhou. Any other pearl requests -- send them to me. I can get nice strands for about $25 US.

Now for the most important news of the day -- SHE IS POTTY TRAINED!!!! We brought pullups and yesterday she was not ready to discuss pottying with any of us. Today, however, she has remained dry all day and just now ... I know this does not sound like a thrill to the rest of the world, but for us -- great news... she pooped in the toilet with guidance from the brothers and then was so proud. You know what they say ... never take a gift poo for granted!

I will say that the process of getting her to accept that I am indeed her mama has been a long one and we are not yet all the way there -- but it will come. She has been with us only about 40 hours so we still have some time. I am pleased that she is warming up, showing laughter and humor -- she plays with us now. She waves at one of us if we leave the room or come back. She has asked the guide and james several times if I am the mama and today before lunch she patted me and said "mama"... so I think she is figuring it out. Apparently one of the phrases she says is something to the effect of "I do it myself". Nothing like another strong willed girl to make our house a varitable hot spot of estrogen!

The boys are amazing.... I am so glad they are here. In addition to the time with Julia they are truly appreciative of the experience here in China. We have had long conversations about how rich we are in comparison and how easy it is for Americans to take for granted the incredible lives we have. Most Chinese will never live in a house -- just an apartment. They will not have a yard. One store keeper told me I must be rich to have four children -- the chinese can not afford the fines to do that. Our guide and I talked about how the Chinese do not keep pets -- that is a luxury that people who struggle to keep food for their family would not think of expending. I often say that I live in a humble little house. Well, but comparison with the million dollar homes in my area -- yes. By the world standards, I live like a queen and should be ashamed of the days in which I complain about my standing in life. My boys are at an excellent age to see what they see and come home to a deeper understanding of the blessings they have. it is interesting -- they have not asked for anything while here. Instead, they have said "no, we dont really need that...." Both boys are wonderful, good souls, but the perspective of the world they gain here makes them incredible and gives them a perspective that few American teens will ever have the chance to hold. As I said, the trip was more education than any tuition in America would ever purchase.

As for me -- I am blessed. I still can not figure out what I ever did to deserve such amazing children -- all of them. Julia will teach me things that my other three have not yet taught me. I am told over and over what a wonderful life she will have and here in China she would have nothing. But her presence in our life is pretty amazing too. She hold a fortitude and determination that are admirable. I think she can teach us to value the health care system and so many Americans sigh and grumble about. In China, she would not have the right to an education due to being an orphan and a "disabled" child. We question the equality of education with no child left behind but even the most impoverished school in America does not compare to a life in which you have no right to an education.

I am not often political in my thoughts or writings, but I will openly say that most of us in the western countries do not have a clue when it comes to understanding and appreciating the riches we have. Potable water. heat. Cooling. Enough food that obesity is a problem. Children who think it is a pain to have to go to school. It is a different world. It may be the same globe, but trust me -- it is a different world.

On a lighter note -- James has taught Julia one of the funnniest little tricks -- every time she drinks something she smacks her lips three times and then lets out a large "ahhhhhhhh". It is pretty hilarious. She just tasted a chocolate soy protien bar and did the same thing -- great taste, dont you think?

I talked on the phone tonight with Joy -- she is missing her mama. I still think it was best that she not come but it is hard for both of us to be away from each other.... I am shopping for her and telling her about many things she is getting. Thanks to the grammas for the extra love and attention. take care of my girl for me...

Jackie

This is my brother James

Julia and her favorite James

Julia with toys

Julia and Jacob

More Photos

The Scoop on Julia -- 16 hours does a lot

Well... we now have a chatting, opinionated, eating, drinking, peeing, laughing, smiling little girl.

She has latched onto James like velcro or one of those dang dryer sheets you find on your butt 4 hours into your work day.

She is now interacting with Jacob and I and laughing -- but James is the personal escort through life right now. I figure -- she will come around -- and at least she knows that if you tell someone you have strong feelings - they listen!

I will get more pics later -- right now we are ready for lunch and a nap. Tomorrow we go see Pandas.

The important thing is this; She is a healthy, happy, very TWO little girl! She spent our time in the civil affairs office racing a car around with James. She LAUGHED! Right now she is arguing with James about whether or not she wants the lid on her cup. She played with Cherrios and the cherrio book -- loves the stacking cups -- spent breakfast taking the sugar packets in and out of a bowl. She loves books and is very attached to the picture of Joy that she has. We have not gotten shoes on her yet.

Jennie - Fa is healthy with the same cleft needs. I was not clear but he may need a palette repair and you might want to do some research on that. He is reported to be "A very chubby baby". Julia, on the other hand is NOT. Jennie -- I have Fa's finding ad and you will too. Mr Puh took his package and will give it to the foster family for Fa so you can rest well knowing that he got it.

I also was given the amazing gift of her mother's birth note. It says "We wish happiness to the adoptive family".... her mother placed her in a spot HOPING she would be adopted. What an amazing thing to be able to give to her when she is older....

Mr Puh said that they hope to get a webpage for the orphanage -- I am hoping that we can see that happen.

Okay ... we need to get lunch and naps.... Just want you to know that all is well. No more tears... she doe not feel as hot -- I am guessing the wildwomen were right -- stress or a little bug. I will feel better when we get some real food in her....

More later.

Jack

Its Official -- Adoption Proceedings are done

This morning we met up with our guide Sandy and headed out for our adoption paperwork. First stop was the Civil Affairs office. We had to get a passport photo and then do the paperwork. We gave gifts to the orphanage -- Many of them. Kelly, they LOVED the book. I got the scoop on whos who in Guangyuan orphanage... Mr Li still directs everything and all things have to be run through him. The representative -- Mr. Puh -- was grateful and kind.

We then went to a stop somewhere for Julia's passport. It is still not done.

From there we went to the Notary and I signed my name saying that I would raise this child with education and love like my other children. We signed the no refund, no return.... do not abandon or leave this child paperwork and we were done.

Now we wait for her passport -- after that we are free to go. It is still unclear when that will be ... and I am not sure if we can leave early -- still looking into that stuff.

So .... 14 thousand miles, 14 thousand dollars and 14 thousand hours later.... Lauren Julia Hope Marsh is my daughter. She will be a lucky baby... and I a lucky mama.

Middle of night musings in China 7/26/06 5 AM

Julia woke up about 3:30 and spent about an hour just kinda looking around while dozing in and out. She definately bonded to James and I was afraid she might loose it when James had to leave to pee. He laid back down with her and she motioned that she wanted his head RIGHT NEXT TO HERS -- not 12 inches away. They are curled up back asleep.

She is still trying to figure me out. I am taking Marleens advice... go slow... stay low. I know that she will come around... I am just so thankful that she found someone that she feels she trusts in James. I always knew he was a good kid! Kinda funny ... Joy loves both her brothers but she would trust her life with Jacob. I think that James will be the one who holds this little girl's hand for many years to come.

Me? I know she will come around. She is okay with me but just not sure how all this works. I expect that as we get some food and meds in her... she will feel more like connecting. She is not pushing me away.... just not quite ready to snuggle up. She has not said anything yet -- just a little hum -- muh-muh -- roughly translated - Uh-UH! when she does not like something. She gestures to shwo you what she wants and so far we have not had a hard time figuring out her Her Chinese dialect of "Two year old ese".

She is TINY -- her little arms are about the circumference of two fingers width. Tonight we got her into jammies after she peed on her blankie -- whoops. She seemed to like them and they are fine... Her size 3 pull ups are NONE to small and when we first held them up to her James and I were like "oh shoot... she is REALLY little".

I was able to hand a gift to the foster mother personally. They asked me if it was a big gift or small -- I had two little lotions and so I said it was lotions -- very small and they let me give it to her. It also had my address wrapped in tissue paper on the bottom.... oh and 500 yuan wrapped in paper too. :) Yes... a wee bit naughty of me....

It is very unusual to get to meet the foster family when you recieve the child. I can not believe that they let me sit next to her and talk to her through the translator. I just thanked her time and again for caring for Julia. She sent her with a little potsticker/bread thing in a bag. That is all she has to her name.

I am really curious to see what the rest of the morning brings. I am not sure what the whole scoop is but it looks like our guide pulled strings to get us all done with paperwork tomorrow rather than having to wait a week to even start. If that is the case, I may see if we can change our plans and head to Guangzhou. At this moment -- I am not sure we will go to Guangyuan -- it is about 3.5hours away and I am not sure that Julia will be up for that in three days. I am just going to go with the flow and figure that all the pieces will fall where they should.

We will post later after we finish up with Civil affairs.

Jack

One More Photo

Ok I finally got this one to load. If you look carefully at Jackie in this photo, you will see she is about in tears herself. What an awesome experience to get to meet the foster family. Gram

Number 3

This one is just precious