Wow! It's hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas eve...We're still in a semi-quarantine state, so there has been a certain insulation against all the commercialism and hyperactivity usually associated with the season!
We have been focusing on trying to get our daughter healthy and strong...lot's of time preparing food and eating! She is gaining weight...up to twenty pounds now and looks much stronger...
We are still averaging one doctor's visit a week, with blood work and immunizations, etc...
Back to the holiday: We have a small living tree which we just finished decorating yesterday...when Isabelle awoke from her (late) nap yesterday it was dark and the Christmas tree lights were glowing and she squealed with delight!!
In addition to the words "apple," "bye, "hi," and "ma" she now says "kick" ...
And she signs the word "more"...this came out of the blue...in the beginning when we first adopted her, I was trying to teach her some baby signs...but I didn't think she was paying attention so I stopped, and then last week, out of the blue, she signed "more" as I was giving her some snacks while preparing dinner.
These are all small miracles and the most beautiful holiday present ever...our daughter is truly precious...a treasure...
Happy solstice and much love.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Homecoming and Happy Thanksgiving
Sorry for the delay in updating this. The night before we left China, Isabelle spiked a 103+ fever...it was a long day getting home as the poor baby was very ill and our plane was delayed for four hours on the tarmac before we even took off.
The next day (Sunday) we went to the urgent care and the doctor told us to go directly to the ER at the hospital...Isabelle was diagnosed with RSV (pneumonia) and was in the hospital until last Saturday. We were terribly worried and of course it was very hard on her...The pediatrician said that she rarely saw such virulent cases in toddlers, usually infants, but with her background (nutritionally deficient) it made sense that this would hit her so hard.
She is on the mend now, and we are all trying to get back to a semblance of normalcy...Her appetite has returned and we are working on getting her healthy. We are in a semi-quarantined state though...not supposed to be in crowds or with other kids...
Consequently, we spent a quiet Thanksgiving here in Corralitos, a beautiful day!
It's amazing to get to know her... She is a vibrant, curious toddler who screams when food is not forthcoming and she is ready!
Steve and I are tired, but so relieved that she is okay. We hadn't anticipated that she might be so ill...
Thanks to all for your support and gifts and prayers and blessings...this meant the world to us.
The next day (Sunday) we went to the urgent care and the doctor told us to go directly to the ER at the hospital...Isabelle was diagnosed with RSV (pneumonia) and was in the hospital until last Saturday. We were terribly worried and of course it was very hard on her...The pediatrician said that she rarely saw such virulent cases in toddlers, usually infants, but with her background (nutritionally deficient) it made sense that this would hit her so hard.
She is on the mend now, and we are all trying to get back to a semblance of normalcy...Her appetite has returned and we are working on getting her healthy. We are in a semi-quarantined state though...not supposed to be in crowds or with other kids...
Consequently, we spent a quiet Thanksgiving here in Corralitos, a beautiful day!
It's amazing to get to know her... She is a vibrant, curious toddler who screams when food is not forthcoming and she is ready!
Steve and I are tired, but so relieved that she is okay. We hadn't anticipated that she might be so ill...
Thanks to all for your support and gifts and prayers and blessings...this meant the world to us.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
From China
We received our marvelous gift from China on Sunday evening at 5:30...it was quite a birthing with a room full of expectant parents and as many babies...Actually we had a full day of travel and meetings and the adoption agency staff sent us back to our room at around 4:30 and told us the babies would be arriving at 5:30....they called our room at about 5:20 and said "the babies are here." The babies were all in the conference room and all the parents were outside waiting. They called our names one by one and staff from the orphanage came out with the little girls in their arms.
Isabelle Na Yue came to us with a nametag and clutching a China girl doll. Steve said her lip was quivering as they handed her to me...but she is such a brave courageous little soul. She is even more beautiful in person. She didn't cry and just looked up at me with those big brown saucer eyes...it was definitely love at first meeting!
We went back to our room and once we got there she cried for a little bit...but really not too long..we distracted her with food...our girl loves to eat...and Steve played with her and she was smitten too I think...We had no troubles bonding as far as I can tell. She is open and generous (she always tries to share food with us, no matter how hungry she is)...she is soooo skinny...poor thing...we are trying to work on fattening her up! But it is difficult in the hotel room...
The next day all the babies and parents got on the bus and we drove around Nanchung doing all this official paperwork, going from one government office to the next...it didn't seem to matter to anyone, there was so much love and goodwill on the bus...after waiting for three years everyone is a bit in shock, I believe that their dreams of a little girl from China have finally come true...At the end of our errands, the adoption was official! She is ours now, forever...
Her personality is so delightful...as I said, open and generous, loves to play and laugh...she has a quick mind and tries to figure out how everything works, and when she wants something she just goes for it...
Yesterday there were runny noses and slight fevers and a few other ailments as all the babies were making the adjustment...we had little Isabelle bundled in some many layers that the poor thing was moist and sweaty!!! But that's what the adoption agency said the girls were used to.
Yesterday everyone got a chance to see the pediatrician...she said that Isabelle is basically healthy, but really needs to beef up!
Yesterday she remembered that she can walk! She saw a little girl in the restaurant walking and after that she remembered that she can too...she is a little wobbly but making strides!!
Today and the rest of the week we just stay here and wait for the baby's visas to get issued...It's been raining in Nanchung since we got here and much colder than Hong Kong...yesterday afternoon it cleared up a bit and we went out for a little walk down a side street that seemed like China's past...there were tea merchants and people selling everything on the street...Isabelle seemed to really enjoy it and took it all in...we found a temple with a gigantic Buddha and a beautiful garden with a pond and coy and trees...our daughter seems to really like greenery and nature...she takes after us, I guess...
I don't know how it happens but every single family who has gotten their daughter on this trip is exactly suited to their little one, to a "t." From looks to temperment it seems. We have met some of the nicest folks...there are several families here with a bunch of children already who have now adopted daughters to make their families complete...it is really very moving to see the siblings together...taking it all in, and accepting their new baby sisters with open arms and hearts...
I just slipped away from the room...Isabelle is taking a nap and Steve is watching basketball...we hope to get out and explore a little today...We decided not to take the four hour round trip to the orphanage because of Isabelle's cold...and I just didn't think I could take it anyway, too sad...thinking about her there...when she falls asleep she looks for a piece of clothing to suck on...she looks a tiny bit scared...and she has this wild independent streak which just may be a toddler thing, but I also think it is her way of trying to get some control over all this crazy stuff that has happened to her...
She had one good cry on the second day; she had hit her head on the crib and then it took off from there...it was one of those deep cries that seemed to be connected to all the sadness in the universe...and it just about tears your heart out to hear it...
As for me, I think I'm on a steep learning curve with this motherhood business!! But she is so worth it, and so worth the wait...we both want to get back home and introduce her to her fuzzy cat siblings and to her new life awaiting her...we will always try and honor this culture she came from...but we just want to make up for lost time...she deserves so much that she hasn't had yet...
Anyway, I best get back to the room...she definitely cries when I'm not with her...which is a good sign...although I can tell she really really loves Steve, I think sometimes she doesn't quite know what to make of this giant Caucasian dude! Her baba!!!
Isabelle Na Yue came to us with a nametag and clutching a China girl doll. Steve said her lip was quivering as they handed her to me...but she is such a brave courageous little soul. She is even more beautiful in person. She didn't cry and just looked up at me with those big brown saucer eyes...it was definitely love at first meeting!
We went back to our room and once we got there she cried for a little bit...but really not too long..we distracted her with food...our girl loves to eat...and Steve played with her and she was smitten too I think...We had no troubles bonding as far as I can tell. She is open and generous (she always tries to share food with us, no matter how hungry she is)...she is soooo skinny...poor thing...we are trying to work on fattening her up! But it is difficult in the hotel room...
The next day all the babies and parents got on the bus and we drove around Nanchung doing all this official paperwork, going from one government office to the next...it didn't seem to matter to anyone, there was so much love and goodwill on the bus...after waiting for three years everyone is a bit in shock, I believe that their dreams of a little girl from China have finally come true...At the end of our errands, the adoption was official! She is ours now, forever...
Her personality is so delightful...as I said, open and generous, loves to play and laugh...she has a quick mind and tries to figure out how everything works, and when she wants something she just goes for it...
Yesterday there were runny noses and slight fevers and a few other ailments as all the babies were making the adjustment...we had little Isabelle bundled in some many layers that the poor thing was moist and sweaty!!! But that's what the adoption agency said the girls were used to.
Yesterday everyone got a chance to see the pediatrician...she said that Isabelle is basically healthy, but really needs to beef up!
Yesterday she remembered that she can walk! She saw a little girl in the restaurant walking and after that she remembered that she can too...she is a little wobbly but making strides!!
Today and the rest of the week we just stay here and wait for the baby's visas to get issued...It's been raining in Nanchung since we got here and much colder than Hong Kong...yesterday afternoon it cleared up a bit and we went out for a little walk down a side street that seemed like China's past...there were tea merchants and people selling everything on the street...Isabelle seemed to really enjoy it and took it all in...we found a temple with a gigantic Buddha and a beautiful garden with a pond and coy and trees...our daughter seems to really like greenery and nature...she takes after us, I guess...
I don't know how it happens but every single family who has gotten their daughter on this trip is exactly suited to their little one, to a "t." From looks to temperment it seems. We have met some of the nicest folks...there are several families here with a bunch of children already who have now adopted daughters to make their families complete...it is really very moving to see the siblings together...taking it all in, and accepting their new baby sisters with open arms and hearts...
I just slipped away from the room...Isabelle is taking a nap and Steve is watching basketball...we hope to get out and explore a little today...We decided not to take the four hour round trip to the orphanage because of Isabelle's cold...and I just didn't think I could take it anyway, too sad...thinking about her there...when she falls asleep she looks for a piece of clothing to suck on...she looks a tiny bit scared...and she has this wild independent streak which just may be a toddler thing, but I also think it is her way of trying to get some control over all this crazy stuff that has happened to her...
She had one good cry on the second day; she had hit her head on the crib and then it took off from there...it was one of those deep cries that seemed to be connected to all the sadness in the universe...and it just about tears your heart out to hear it...
As for me, I think I'm on a steep learning curve with this motherhood business!! But she is so worth it, and so worth the wait...we both want to get back home and introduce her to her fuzzy cat siblings and to her new life awaiting her...we will always try and honor this culture she came from...but we just want to make up for lost time...she deserves so much that she hasn't had yet...
Anyway, I best get back to the room...she definitely cries when I'm not with her...which is a good sign...although I can tell she really really loves Steve, I think sometimes she doesn't quite know what to make of this giant Caucasian dude! Her baba!!!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Headed to China!
We leave on October 30th and will arrive in Hong Kong on Halloween!!
We just got some new photos...can't wait to meet our daughter!
Still lots of paperwork...I have to hand it to the adoption agency...this is a real logistical feat...coordinating all these families and Chinese authorities, etc. And they had promised that they would try and get us traveling within four weeks and it will be four weeks to the day when we get on the plane.
We just got some new photos...can't wait to meet our daughter!
Still lots of paperwork...I have to hand it to the adoption agency...this is a real logistical feat...coordinating all these families and Chinese authorities, etc. And they had promised that they would try and get us traveling within four weeks and it will be four weeks to the day when we get on the plane.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Travel Approval
We got our travel approval last week, but still don't have a definitive date of departure for China...could be Thursday, October 30th or Thursday, November 6th..
I guess I am learning to be flexible!
Plenty to do in the meantime to get ready to go!!
I guess I am learning to be flexible!
Plenty to do in the meantime to get ready to go!!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Na Yue's American name
We've decided (officially) that our daughter will be called:
Isabelle Na Yue Montagne
The French, German, and Hebrew meaning of the name, "Isabelle" is "consecrated or devoted to God."
We think it suits her!
Isabelle Na Yue Montagne
The French, German, and Hebrew meaning of the name, "Isabelle" is "consecrated or devoted to God."
We think it suits her!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Fu Na Yue
Yesterday was quite an exciting one!
We finally got THE phone call from our adoption agency.
We have a daughter...beautiful precious Fu Na Yue. Her surname is Fu and Na=elegant or graceful and Yue= moon. She was born on June 22, 2007 (in the year of the Boar...like me!) and is 15 months old. She lives in an orphanage in Jianxi province, where she has been since she was 3 days old.
We should be traveling to bring her home in 4-6 weeks.
I'll be posting some photos soon too.
We finally got THE phone call from our adoption agency.
We have a daughter...beautiful precious Fu Na Yue. Her surname is Fu and Na=elegant or graceful and Yue= moon. She was born on June 22, 2007 (in the year of the Boar...like me!) and is 15 months old. She lives in an orphanage in Jianxi province, where she has been since she was 3 days old.
We should be traveling to bring her home in 4-6 weeks.
I'll be posting some photos soon too.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tainted baby formula
This latest debacle, which has sickened thousands of babies, is causing quite a stir regarding estimation of what will happen with this next batch of referrals. I'm trying not to pay attention to any rumors and will call our adoption placing agency today to see if I can get any solid information!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Cut off dates
According to one of my most trusted sources (a well-informed Prospective Adoptive Parent-- i.e., PAP...) we should know the next cut off date by the end of next week…! (Cut off date = how many places the Chinese authorities have moved on the February paperwork.) The last cut-off date (last month) was February 9, 2006 and our date is February 15, 2006...Stay tuned....!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Adoption Journey
We're moving up quickly in line to get our referral and I wanted to start this blog so that I can keep friends and family informed -- especially during our trip to China!
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