Centergy Saturday

What a great way to get Saturday started....

Downward facing dog
The flexibility we all dream of...
Stretch up!

CSA Week 11

One of the things that the Noodle loves to do is help put away groceries. Usually that is helpful...sometimes, not so much (think eggs). This week with the CSA we got: a cabbage, a kohlarabi, 2 yams, an onion, a cayanne pepper, an acorn squash, 5 Gala apples, a yellow pepper, 2 pobalano peppers, 2 tomatoes, bok choy and a cucumber.



Typically, in the morning, while one of us is in the shower, the other one is downstairs reading to the Chinese Noodle. Sometimes the books come upstairs and she camps out in the hallway, right in the middle of everything. This photo was taken yesterday morning. I think she's looking rather "zen", don't you? Ha ha.

12 month post-placement and doctor update

Today we have our 12 month post-placement visit with our social worker. After this visit, all the requirements regarding the adoption will be finished. Yeah! Thankfully our social worker is great and it is really more of a "catch-up" visit than anything else.

I had also talked, a few months back, about how the Noodle had developed a fistula after her surgery. We went back and saw the surgon at the beginning of September and I'm thrilled to report that it seems that things have healed (at least mostly). We hadn't seen anymore liquid escaping and so took that as a good sign, but when he looked in her mouth, he said he felt that things had pretty much healed over. What an answer to prayer! While he's not convinced that the hole is completely closed, it hasn't grown any bigger and if it is not impacting eating/drinking or speech, then we'll just keep an eye on it. We go back to the cleft clinic in December, for a 6 month follow-up and then annually after that, just to monitor. Just wanted to update...a few people had asked.

Fun Friday

CSA Week 10

There is definitely a crisp, fall-like quality in the air these days. The CSA reflected that with the bounty we got this week. Included were: ears of corn, a cuke, a jalapeno pepper, 2 cayenne peppers, purple kale, cauliflower, bib lettuce, a pattipan squash, an acorn squash, a Chinese eggplant, a tomato and cilantro. Earlier in the week, our local paper ran a few recipes that uses greens (especially kale) as the primary ingredient, so I think we'll give one of those a try.

Hello?! Hello?! Can you hear me?
My, what big eyes you have.

Gotcha Day--1 year anniversary

One year ago today we were anxiously watching the clock, wondering whether we would make it from the airport to our hotel by 4:00, in order to get the Chinese Noodle. We shouldn't have worried. God had everything under His control and we made it there without a problem. I'll never forget arriving, dropping our bags in our room, washing our hands and grabbing our paperwork before we were ushered up to a conference room on the 18th floor. There were 2 other families (not with our agency) who were also receiving their daughters (from a different orphanage than the Noodle's). Those little girls were in the room already, looking so calm, content and happy with their nannies. Watching the exchange, the fear in their girls' eyes, the tears of joy from the other parents and the tears of terror from the little ones was a totally surreal experience. I was crying and it wasn't even our turn yet.

Then there was some bustling outside the room and our guide excitedly told us that the C.N. was outside!!! We peeked out and saw her being held by her nanny. All of a sudden, it was our turn. They brought the Noodle in and immediately put her into our arms and wanted us to pose for our first family photo (actually it was to be used for some official paperwork, but we didn't know that at the time). She went from this docile little peanut, to a writhing, screaming, hysterical child who had ABSOLUTELY no idea what was going on. She was a mess. We were a mess...and all the while, they kept saying "Hold her up more, tilt your heads together more, look this way, etc., ect.". Our hearts literally were breaking for her. Her little world that she knew and felt comfortable with was being turned upside down and she had no understanding as to why. It still makes me tear up when I think of it.

Us with two of the nannies from the orphanage.
Look at how she's gripping Babo, her stuffed animal that we gave her.
The first bottle.
A little playtime before bed.
Our first family picture. Someone collapsed due to exhaustion.

Thankfully, she did finally settle somewhat, but it was only due to the fact that she was in shock. We finished the paperwork and then went back down to the room to begin our life as a family of 3. She was shell-shocked as were we. We spent the rest of the night soothing her and trying to encourage her to eat, drink and play a little. I think the pictures speak for themselves in describing how she was feeling. What a blessing that by the third day, she started "coming alive" and that the shock started wearing off.

Fast-forward to today. What a difference! I continue to stand in awe that God's plan for our family has unfolded the way that it has. Yesterday during my quiet time, I was reflecting how throughout the wait, I knew in my head, that God's plan was way better than mine, but I had no idea how much better it was going to be. Even though I'd read the scripture, I still couldn't fully grasp what the Lord had in store for us: "This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth's, so are my ways higher than yours and my thoughts than yours."--Isaiah 55:8-9 Why, why, why do we question God? I guess the only answer is because we're human and our finite selves can't comprehend what His infinite self can accomplish.

So how did we celebrate? We got dressed up, picked up J from work and went into Chinatown to eat. We had picked up some dresses for the Noodle while in China, so she wore one of those (a bit big, but somehow I'm sure she'll grow into it eventually). We had a delicious dinner and found out that our waitress was from Fujian Province, where the Noodle was originally from. Then we came back home for cake and to watch our video from China. The C.N. was quite taken with the fact that the 3 of us were on the TV and she loved watching the "special movies". Then she opened up her gifts from us: a S.S. panda bear for her charm bracelet and a Ni Hao Kai-Lin DVD. The charm, she could take or leave but she was very excited to watch the DVD, even though she has no idea who Kai-Lin is. Guess we'll do that tomorrow.




The character for love is piped on the cake.
(Disregard the fashionable outfit on me)

Remembering back and looking forward

One year ago today, we were getting ready to head to the airport to begin one of the biggest adventure of our lives...the trip to China to pick up our little Chinese Noodle. So many emotions were coursing thorough us--excitement, joy, a HUGE sense of thanksgiving, nervousness and definitely some fear. What a ride we were in for.




This weekend, I will be MIA. After 15 years+ of taking the early morning exercise classes, I finally am getting trained to instruct. Might as well earn a little extra money. The Centergy (yoga/pilates) training is a 3 day, INTENSE program. 12:30-8 today, 9-6 Sat. and 7:30-4:30 Sunday. You can see a preview below, just make sure you mute the music on the blog. I think I'm going to be one, limp noodle by the end of the weekend. It will be just J and C. Good times.

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful today that we got two clean bills of health from the dentist today. Last time we went, the Noodle was afraid and less than cooperative with the whole procedure. This time we did more front-end prepping and by the time they were finishing up with me, she was all ready to go.



We also participate, once a month, in a program at our local theater where children can "see and touch" the music. This month's instrument was the guitar. While both the acoustic and electric guitar were featured, I'd say that the C.N. liked the acoustic guitar better...not quite as loud.



Lastly, I'm thankful that the yellow seersucker dress that I started last March is finally finished and that the Noodle could wear it before the snow starts flyin'! This was certainly waaaay more ambitious than I had originally realized. Ruffles, a zipper which wouldn't cooperate, godets (heard that term on Project Runway while on vacation and actually knew what they were talking about!) and sleeves. I think I'll go back to the simpler A-line jumpers which is more my speed. I've also been eyeing some pillowcase dresses...perhaps one for Halloween?

Labor Day weekend

Have a nice and restful Labor Day weekend.








Playing the piano with my cousin.

Vacation Part 3

Driving down and back we always stop midway and stay with my grandma, Nana. Going down this year, the Noodle got a taste of farm life by visiting my Aunt's farm, who also lives in the same small town. The pot-bellied pigs, goats, rabbits and all the cats were certainly a thrill, but I'm not sure we have a farm girl on our hands just yet. Enjoy these last photos.

Vacation Part 2

Now that the scene has been set, enjoy these pics.

Running off steam somewhere on I-65 headin' south.