Thursday, February 28, 2008

First day at Civil Service Office.
First night passed out.
Us at Civil Affairs Office. Assistant to Orphanage Director, Bill with Ping Ping, Me, Orphanage Director, Not sure who guy is and Adoption Officer.
Fun day at park.
Guide Michelle with Ping Ping and windmill we bought her.

Pictures!!!!!!

Day Received!
Next Day! After first bath.
Breakfast today!

Yesterday at fun park. Official member of horsey club!

Attempting to Post Pictures of Our Beauty!

Sorry I have not been able to post the last two days. One night I had a terrible sore throat and last night they closed before I could get here!!!!!

The last two days have been tough. It is expected. First let me say that she is adorable. She is very expressive. If she doesn't want to deal with me, she puckers and sort of spits. I have learned to do this back. BAD MOMMA. Temper tantrums are semi-frequent due to being two. They are kind of cute. She throws herself on the bed. Toughest times are when she is tired. She cries for her foster grandma and grandpa. They were not called mommy and daddy which is a great thing.

China isn't bad, but I am craving kisses from my girl and something decent to eat. Like a real meal with salad and bread, etc. I would just about cross the street here for a large ice tea with 5 Equals. Bill can watch the traffic for hours. I asked our guide about accidents and she says they really don't have them as they all follow the illegal rules of the road. Um, okay! I will not be killed by a car or van here, but a bicycle will most definitely do me in. Hey, I am a big target!!!!!

We have been to the Walmart here. That was our BIG 1 hour outing. We had a crowd. One overweight Chinese gentleman made fun of me, the rest just stared. So as a courteous guest in their country, I showed him my distaste back. Yes, I am now a 3 year old!!!! Our guide Michelle was sweet to open a milk for Miss Ping Ping while we were paying for the stuff. She squirted milk all over my girls face. It was hysterical. I am glad I didn't do it. We had a huge crowd looking at us and if I did it, certainly they would have thought I was a dumb Westerner.

There is so much to say, but the small one is restless and starting to whimper. So let's try the photos and I will talk to you all soon!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

We have Miss Shayla!

Should I put my honesty hat here? I guess I should. I can only hope future posts will be so much better.

We received Shayla at 5:30 pm yesterday. She is a cutie. She has a terrible cold, her nose is running like a faucet and she drools like a crazy person. Probably due to her palate? Not sure. I will have to find out more information on that.

Bill got right on the floor and started playing with her. I held back as I thought overwhelming her would not be a good thing to do. The transition went well. Even our guide thought so.

We brought her back to the room and played for awhile. Then Bill and the guide went to the store to get juice. I started to peel off her layers. In 2 seconds, she squated right in the hotel room between the bed and peed and pood, BIG TIME. Then she lost it and cried for hours. When Bill returned, we peeled off 5 layers of clothes plus boots and she and Bill got into the tub! She liked that after some time. She washed Bill after he washed her. It was cute. Then we got her out and into her pj's. She was glad to be dressed. Seems like she likes clothes to be on. Yay. She was very helpful in getting her clothes on.

She loves tissues. She loves wipes and must carry many packages at a time. She has a gorgeous smile. She loves to clean and visits the trash frequently!!!! She loves to organize things too. She is very much like me.

She went to sleep next to Bill and slept till morning. At one point, Bill found her on the floor though. She must have fallen out of bed.

Today we had breakfast and then headed to the Civil Affairs Office. We paid all of the fees and signed and stamped all of the necessary paperwork to legally make her our daughter. We then left and headed back to the hotel. We did try to have lunch out, but she was a nut, so we got take out and brought it back to the hotel. Wasn't so thrilled with the food. I have been trying to be so good with trying stuff. I am dying for pizza or a hamburger though.

So we ate back at the hotel and then played and tried to bond. We have gotten her used to a Western toilet. She tells us when she has to go. She will only let Bill take her though.

Right now she dislikes me intensely. She hits me and kicks me and purposely scratches me. We all ended up crying tonight. It's so hard. We have waited for years and have been through so much to get to the point. I knew this could be an issue, but I never thought she would out and out reject and hate me. All I can say is I will keep trying. I am just worried right now about her grieving and my feelings towards her.

I will try to post pics when I can!

Miss my girls at home and my friends! XOXO

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Ni Hao from China

Hello everyone. We are sitting in the business center of the hotel waiting to go to the Civil Affairs office. We were not able to pick up Shayla this morning due to snow. They could not bring her from the orphanage. So we are instead going at 3:30 today. We will meet her around 4:00 pm.

The smog and pollution isn't great on the lungs! That is what we probably dislike the most. That and the smoking everywhere is terrible.

Our guide Michelle is very nice. She took us to the free market today to do a bit of shopping. I bought a hair accessory thingie and some Chinese cut outs that her province is known for. That and an embroidered thing of the 12 animals that hang down. It is cute. Cost us 110 or so Yuan.

I have decided not to go back to the internet cafe as it was awful. The smoke, the young boys, the darkness. It's more expensive here, but yet still very cheap!!!!

There isn't much to do in her province. There is a Walmart and we are going to go to that after we get Shayla.

Beijing was mucho coldo. It was okay, but the winds were awful. We are excited to move on from here.

I am very proud of how I have been eating. I have been trying a lot of stuff. Nothing odd mind you. I make sure it's safe. I have been eating Chinese food only though.

I have to say my feet have been awful and my Lymphadema has been awful due to all the MSG. So if you have a salt issue, you have to really drink your water, or eat only small amounts.

Well that is all for now. We will undoubtedly have more to share once we receive our little one.

I miss my furbabies and my friends, but we know it's just a matter of time before we return home:)

xo from both of us!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Hello from China!

I can't view the blog, so I hope it comes out okay.

We arrived in Beijing and checked in. We went out to dinner with another family. We then went to bed on the hardest bed in the world.

Next day we went to breakfast and then to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Then we had lunch at the Cloisonne Factory and shopped in the Friendship Store. Then we headed on to the Great Wall. Today I can barely walk!

We flew out this morning for Taiyuan, Shayla's province. We will be picking her up tomorrow at 10:30 am. Today we went for a great lunch and now we are in the internet cafe.

We are leaving in a few. Just wanted to check in to say hello.

Will check in again! xoxo

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

We are off to CHINA!!!!

As you know, we are leaving very soon. We are excited. My husband is very excited, but I am very excited and NERVOUS!

We are very fortunate to have fantastic neighbors and friends who will be staying here in our home while we are gone. They will be able to take care of our wonderful 4 furbabies!!!!

I plan on updating regularly while in China. However, I am not really computer savvy, so please be patient!

Wish us much luck and stay tuned......

How cute is this stuff?

The strawberry outfit, cool bear, sunglasses and heart is from Auntie Tara and her gorgeous Olivia!
This adorable panda shirt and leggings are from Auntie Sharon and the beautiful Miss AbbyGrace.

I can not wait to see this stuff on my girl!!!!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

A Few More Photos for My Friends


This Minnie Mouse, Musical Toy and Mr. Potato Head are from Auntie Trisha, Uncle Paul and their two precious children Thomas and Julia. We recently had dinner with Trisha and the kids and had a fabulous time. The kids are such a joy.


The cute little dudette on the side is a wacky ladybug. How can you not love the hair? Auntie Meri and Uncle Joe found this cute little bugger with the help of their adorable son Lucas.

Mommy and Daddy bought the radio for Miss Shayla. We hope to pick up some more Chinese music when we are in China. We don't have a lot of cds, but we are hoping to build up her collection with time.


This awesome purse came with the bath stuff from Marsha. I bet Shayla will not be able to put it down. It is adorable.


Are these not the cutest bath towels. One is a beautiful lime green and the other is purple. Our little one is going to have a blast washing her hands with these very special towels from our dear friends Rick and Karen. Rick and Bill are on the Fire Department together. Karen and I have become great friends. She is very sweet and would do anything for you!

As you can see, I have taken most of the photos on Shayla's new toy bench. I hope she loves it like we do. I hope she uses it too!

Well that is all for now. I haven't taken a picture of the adorable cup and sippy cup from Anita. She has had these 2 cups for a couple of years now. She got them at the M&M place in Las Vegas. They are so cute. I can't wait to take them out.

I won't be taking photos of every single gift, so don't get worried. I have just been so depressed lately over some paperwork issues, that this keeps my mind occupied. If you are unaware of the issues I am mentioning, I have discussed it below in the post before this one.

I have been awful about updating!!!


This is our gorgeous little music player, Miss Shayla. Sorry for the delay in getting this photo on, but the way her photos were grouped, I was having a hard time getting them individually separated. Is she not beautiful? Yeah, I am biased.

This is Shayla's new step stool. The top opens up. I hope I never find snacks in there. LOL.

These awesome bath toys are from a wonderful woman I have met online by the name of Marsha. If you have any questions about adopting, she is who you go to. She has done it twice and is a wealth of information.


How cool are these Panda finger puppets? Shayla is going to love putting these on her fingers and ours, I am sure. She also got an awesome Dora toy. All from our sweet friends in Florida. Mrs. Catherine and Miss Paige. I just can't wait to step on all of these cute pieces! Thanks love.


As most of you know, we have had some terrible CIS issues. China is saying that they never got the exit paperwork. That is the paperwork that allows us out of the country with Shayla. I have spent a good 10 days or so now working on this issue. It has yet to be resolved. I have been too depressed to update things on here. However, time is passing and I figured I should at least post a few photos!!