The last few weeks have been a crazy haze of closing the business and all that such a task entails...not too pretty. Thankfully, the last few days brought us a gift of great proportions. A gift that has breathed great happiness into our lives and one that all of you...my friends in the adoption blogisphere can truly understand and appreciate.
One of our adoption guides from China paid us a visit. This guide was asked by the agency that employs her to choose a family that she has worked with in the past 13 years to visit and she honored our family by choosing us!! I received an e-mail from her about a month ago asking if it would be OK to come for a visit. OK?!?!? Are you kidding me??...we were over the moon with happiness at the prospect at being reunited with this special person in our lives and somebody which we never really felt that we would have the opportunity to connect with again. When we parted in China and tearfully hugged goodbye, we told each other that we would meet again...that it was not really goodbye.... but neither she nor Marc and I ever really believed in our hearts that we really would ever be able to have that happen.
She has asked me not to disclose her identity on my blog as she would never want to offend another family by not choosing them and of course we would not want to do that either, so we are honoring her request. Therefore the oodles of pics that we took will have to stay off the blog. Suffice it to say that the visit lived up to and exceeded every expectation we had for it. We connected on a level that we had not had the opportunity to in China as this time there was no adoption stress involved ;-) We took fun day trips, ate, met family and friends, ate, held a party in her honor, ate, shopped, ate, had wonderful and revealing conversations and of course ate! The children had an amazing and special time with her.
Tonight we parted and as we tearfully hugged, we once again said that we would see each other again....and this time....
We KNOW deep in our hearts that we will.......
Sunday, March 29, 2009
What we have been up to
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Reading with Katie Starr
I had to come back from my self imposed blogging exile to post a little Katie sweetness.
I ordered a series of books for Katie called "Bob Books" They are a beginning reading series that my bloggy friend Stacey from Crazy Life blogged about a bit back. Since Katie LOVES to be read to and that is LOVES with a capitol Love, I thought the time may be right to introduce her to reading to herself. She is 3 years 11 months and here she is home sick today reading her first two books. This is only the second time that she has seen the first book and she has never seen the second one before....Yaaaay Katie Starr!!
PS: You can order the books through Amazon and they are discounted.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Taking a break
I have not fallen off the face of the earth...just off the face of the blogisphere. Things are just waaaay to busy and to be honest too difficult to blog right now.
Last week we (my dad and I) closed our family business, a once thriving real estate business on the beach here in South Florida that has drawn it's last breath. We are now in the throes of finalizing things, packing it all up and moving out. This is truly heartbreaking for our family but as many of you know I am all about looking forward and so that is what I will do once again.
My father in law is back in the hospital again. Hopefully, he will be back home again tomorrow.
On a funny note, Ethan's refrain lately has been that we are "boring!" He may be right. I do not feel like very much fun right now. I promise to be back when I can feel the joy in blogging again and definitely when I am not as "boring". I hope that will be very soon.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Who needs toys?
Of course, even more fun than boxes or paper is bubble wrap.
It costs next to nothing but the end result is priceless, as you can see for yourself in this video of the DD and their BFF's Ryan and Mia P!
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Blogger Bash in Disney was a Success!
A couple of posts ago I mentioned that Tamara and her mom, Penny from "Notes from the Zookeeper" and Donna of "Double Happiness" fame invited me up to Disney World for a Blogger Bash of sorts. Marc and I initially hemmed and hawed when we were first invited as we were just up that way not too long ago and with finances the way that they are we did not think it too sensible. Well, common sense was thrown to the wind once again (smirk) and we were off to the town that Walt built. When given the opportunity to meet with these wonderful women in addition to others that i have spoken to for years either through our blogs or Yahoo adoption support groups there is no room for anything but spontaneity.
Saturday morning Bright and early we met up with Donna, a wonderful friend from my Mei Dreams yahoo group and her adorable Catherine for breakfast... Here is Miss Catherine.
We were then off to meet the bulk of the bloggers in front of Cinderella's castle. We arrived to find Tamara and co. including her Moose, Goose and Ogre (blog pseudonyms for her three wonderful children) and before along Donna arrived with her brood. Then came a blur of names and faces that by the end of the day came clearly into focus. Tamara and I are old friends, actually more than old friends...more like extended family. We waited for our daughter's with each other along with many others in the May 2005 DTC group, but unlike many in that group we have built a wonderful friendship between ourselves and our families. We have seen each other on several occasions and we keep up with each other regularly though our blogs and e-mails. I even e-mail with her wonderful mom Penny. Another big draw for me coming was to meet Donna T. She and I have followed each others blogs for a very long time and we both have sets of virtual twins in addition to each of us having a grown adult son. Donna was more wonderful in person than I could have ever hoped for and her husband, Andrew and daughters, Gwen and Madeline were awesome as well. The girls were even cuter than their pictures show and believe me that says a great deal as their Shutterbug Mom takes amazing photos. We talked, the kiddos broke the ice and then we watched the show at the castle for a bit before we all set off to divide and conquer at the park.
Goose, Moose and the DD
Maddy, Gwen, Gabby, Moose, Goose and the DD
The highlight of the alone time with our own kiddos came during our foray into toon town. My friend Shannon told me to head there for a Princess meet and greet for Katie Starr. OMG, it was so totally worth the price of the admission (and that is one hefty price)!! The Princesses met with both kiddos and they gave them lots of one on one. I am not sure who was more enamored, the kiddos, the Princesses or us! Ethan was like a puppy dog (he loves beautiful women of any age) and Katie who is normally pretty shy was quite talkative. The princesses were in stitches from the two of them. We got a little video but there was so much more that was not on tape. Aurora even stayed to talk to them during a short break that she had because she could not seem to get enough of their cuteness....we were so happy about the whole experience. I have been in Disney more times than I can even remember over the past almost 35 + (OMG!!!) years and I have NEVER had as magical experience as that one. Check out this video...
We had an appointed meet up time later in the afternoon. Tamara and Penny had found a restaurant that was closed at that time and we were able to invade the space with our group. Another family joined us as well. Don, Be and Joanna Mei came to the meeting spot for this second round of fun. For the next three hours the adult gabbed it up while the kids had a blast running and playing from pillar to post.They even enlisted a slightly older Chinese child who was there with her Chinese family (she was dressed as a Princess) to play with them....so sweet! Ethan was a bit out of sorts at this point as he had fallen asleep in the stroller and when he awoke to find a band of crazy little girls running around he seemed to fly the white flag and hung back to chill with the adults. He actually seems to be fighting off a cold so he honestly was not at his best. Here are a few pics of all the kids blowing off a little steam...
Mr E was not himself :(
This is a new ride at Disney World.....cost: priceless!
The plans were then cemented there for a third meet up later that evening at the Animal Kingdom lodge lounge sans hubbies and kiddos. I was not planning to attend that third soiree but with the hint at more face time with the girls I could not resist. Penny and Tamara were nice enough to pick me up as well as another wonderful woman from the group and bring us back Disney Property. We sat and gabbed for a few more hours and this time one additional blogging mama and her mama joined us as well. Beth of "ABCD Family Life," mama to the beautiful Daria and Carina was as warm and wonderful as she comes across in her e-mails and her blog. She is another friend that I made during our waiting days for my Katie Starr and Beth's Daria. it was such a nice evening and end to our to our Blogger Bash....at least for this chapter...to be continued sometime in the near future I hope :)
April Panda Mama's Beth and Lori
L-R Carol, Beth, Donna T, Lori, Tamara, Martha with sweet Hannah and Penny
Friday, February 27, 2009
"Chat to Text" has gone live on Facebook!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Heading to a Blogger Bash in the Happiest Place on Earth!
Yes, that's right, the DD along with their loyal subjects (Mommy and Daddy) will be heading 3 hours due North to Walt Disney World next weekend to meet many of my fellow adoptive mommy bloggers. Donna from "Double Happiness" as well as Tamara and her mom Penny from "Notes from the Zookeeper" were nice enough to extend an invite my way. Donna has a list of several of the bloggers that will be there. I am also hoping to meet with a few local families that have become quite dear to me while I am up there as well.
If you will be in Orlando from 2/27 through 3/1 please give me a shout out in my comments and maybe we can meet up.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Them you kids?
If you can believe it, this was the question that was posed to us at the check out in Wal Mart last evening. Marc and I both stood there flabbergasted, with our mouths hanging open, at the ignorance of the statement. Quite honestly, it was the ignorance of the statement that prompted us both to say yes in unison and walk away while the woman actually scratched her head in confusion at the sight of GASP!...two Caucasian parents with two Asian children. This woman was obviously and unfortunately so ignorant that there was definitely no educating her and there was no need for me to make a stink about it with the end result being that she could possibly lose her job in such a unforgiving economy.
Oh, how I wanted to do what I usually do when I get the occasional less than intelligent question or response to a question. That would be to gracefully educate the person if possible or dryly put them in their place if not. In this case though, it was woefully apparent that there was no reason to try either option. If I cannot even quantify that you have an IQ then why even attempt it?
This amazing little bubble buster came at the end of a fun filled evening at a local carnival. I will blog about those sweet moments and return to regularly scheduled programming when I can stop the involuntary head shaking that continues to plague me.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
I can see it now....your dad does what?!?
Today as we were driving home from Katie's preschool, Marc called me. I was stopped at a light and handed the phone to Katie so that she could say hi to daddy. Here is the conversation that ensued. Keep in mind while reading it that Marc runs a mobile Disc Jockey business.
Katie: "Daddy, where are you?"
Marc: "I am in my office."
Katie: "In your office at home?"
Marc: "No, sweetie, I am working in my office that is not at home."
Katie: "Daddy, are you doing the Chicken Dance in your office?"
Marc and I were hysterical. You gotta love the mental picture that Katie must have of her daddy's work day. Hmmmmm.....Daddy not only entertains at parties...he must also be entertaining in the office as well. Now that must be one fun job!!
There was lots of explaining again about what daddy does when he arrived home. Of course, Katie thinks that the only reason that I go to work is to see her Papa(my business partner) and her Auntie Kira (my best friend who also works for me) She obviously thinks it is all fun and games in the work place ;-)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Look who got her ears pierced today......
When Katie Starr first came home from China, we decided against getting her ears pierced because Marc was against it and I respected his feelings on the subject. He felt that an earring could come loose and fall off and since she was a baby she could easily put an earring into her mouth and swallow it. He was also worried about her touching it and it getting infected. His thought was that it was unnecessary and that as she understood more that he would be OK if she wanted it. Since I am a big believer in the team method of parenting (we both agree or it is a no go!) I was fine with that decision.
As she has gotten older and in the past few months Katie has noticed earrings and asked about them. I have explained how it works and asked her if she would like to have her ears pierced and she has always said "No!" All of the sudden, a couple of days ago, she began asking us if she could get her ears pierced and we decided to see if the request persisted.....it did! Today, Marc asked her if she understood that when she got her ears pierced it would hurt (like a shot, just for a few seconds) and then it would be over and she would have earrings in her ears that she could not take out for a long time. She said that she understood. Then I took it a step further and told her that I would have to clean the ears twice a day and turn the earrings and it may bother her a bit and was that OK? She not only said yes but she was insistent that she wanted to go get it done immediately, so off we all went to the Mall to have the deed done. I told her that she could bring her treasured friend, Snotty Baby with her so that she could hold her tight while she was having it done. Snotty baby was the soft stuffed baby that we sent to China in her care package. Katie came to her forever day clutching Snotty baby and has slept with her every night since (except for one night when we forgot to bring her on an overnight trip...bad mommy and daddy!) Snotty Baby was named that because as Katie Starr transitioned into our family she cried and grieved for a very long time and she would always wipe the baby against her nose and face as the tears flowed and her nose ran :( It became our pet name for her baby and it stuck.
Once we got to the store, Katie happily picked the style that she likes (14K Rose colored stone in a flower shape) and we paid. There was a young woman having a cartilage piercing and Katie watched intently and when they pierced her ear, Katie got a scared look on her face. Now it was her turn and I brought her in. I told the ladies that ran the store that I wanted them to do both ears at the same time because I knew that if they did one they may not get the chance to do the other, unless under major duress.....I was not chancing it. When I was a teenager, I worked in the same store piercing ears, so I know from what I speak.
At this point, Katie told me that she was scared. I actually think that I was more nervous than she was, as I knew that it hurts a lot for the first 10 seconds. I told her that she had said that she really wanted to do it and that it is important to do things that you really want to do even if it means that you are scared. I told her that she would have a moment of pain for a lifetime of beauty...LOL. Here she is waiting for the piercing. Such a sad and thoughtful face.
She seemed better and then the wonderful women cleaned her ears, marked the spot that they would pierce, checked with me and as she clutched Snotty Baby and my hand, they double teamed her...
Here is the moment the ears were both pierced.
She howled in pain and then in about a minute with the help of a lollipop and a look in the mirror, to see how beautiful they looked she was just fine. Then she smiled coyly and talked about how much she loved them. Ethan then looked at her and asked her, "Katie, are you happy now?" When she said yes, he then asked if he could get his done.....uh no Ethan...that will have to be a decision made much much later, like when you are 18!....LOL Here is the lead person who pierced her ears. She and her partner were so enamored with Katie and were wonderful to her.
We left with a happy and glowing little girl who stopped to tell anyone and everyone that we came into contact with that she had gotten her ears pierced and that she just loved her new earrings. I think that deep down she was quite pleased that she did what she had set out to do......job well done Katie Starr!
