Tuesday night is the mid-Autumn moon festival, a traditional Chinese holiday. We'll be celebrating with a night-time tea party in our backyard after a special meal. We'll eat mooncakes and gaze at the full moon and think about those we love who can't be with us. Most especially, our dear Tian.
We've recently learned that there has been a problem with a group of files at the CCAA and ours is among them. We've been told that there were problems with a group who did translations and many files had to be redone. This has caused a delay for those files. Lucky us to get in that stack, right? Unfortunatly, there is nothing we can do, but continue to wait. We've been told not to expect anything until well after the Oct. holiday in China (the government offices shut down the whole first week of Oct.) and likely mid-Oct. It's very frustrating, since based on the usual timelines we'd be in China now, or in early Oct.
We still have two major pieces of paperwork we need from China. The next is called the Letter of Acceptance. We sign this agreeing to be Tian's family and send it back to China. After that, usually in 3-4 weeks, we get the golden ticket, Travel Approval, which means we can head out. It usually take a few weeks to get the appointments and arrangements made.
So based on all that...we likely won't be in China in late Nov. or Dec. Our agency has said they will do all they can to help us travel quickly since we've had this delay. It is sad, because we will almost certainly miss Tian's first birthday. Every child deserves a first birthday party...with the single candle and the cake to smear on their face. So, I've decided that she will have a first birthday party no matter what, even if it's few months late.
In Dane's family, since his dad was a pilot, he often missed holidays or birthdays. This has made them much more laid back about holidays than most families. They say things like "When is Christmas this year?" So, we are making that part of our family life too. It's not the exact day that matters...it's being together and celebrating!
Happy Moon Festival to all...especially our Tian!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Good Stuff...
I've been down in the dumps for a few weeks and worrying about Tian and the wait, but I want to try and focus on the positive.
Here's some good stuff that happened over the last two weeks:
Tian got her care package! We sent a second one through www.BlessedKids.com Adele who runs it sends the packages from China and is able to track them, so we know it got there on the 18th! So Tian and the orphanage know she has a family coming. We sent a teddy bear, photos of our family, treats for the staff, disposable cameras for them to take photos of Tian's daily life, and a letter including some questions about her life and care which we hope they will respond to and bring when we pick her up.
We got our Brown Envelope from the US Consulate in China. This doesn't really mean anything, except that they have our paperwork and are ready for us to come. It just feels good to get mail from China, even though it has nothing directly to do with Tian personally.
Learned that if we don't travel in Sept. as we'd hoped that we may still be able to go in Oct. It's a tough month for travel due to a week-long national holiday and a big trade fair and usually our agency doesn't send groups. Because we are in the Waiting Child program and not a big group, we MAY have the option of going in Oct. I'm still hoping for Sept. though...
Our friend Marsha finally got her travel approval after waiting 147 days! (Yikes...we are on day 52 and I'm already nuts!) She is going early August and plans to visit the SWI and try to see Tian! Also, another friend Vicki is in China now and hopes to visit the SWI earlier in Aug.
We ordered our travel Visa's. The cost is doubling as of Aug. 1 and they are good for 6 months...so we decided to go ahead and try to get them. We'll see how it goes. We have a friend whose application was turned down without a specific travel itinerary.
Here's some good stuff that happened over the last two weeks:
Tian got her care package! We sent a second one through www.BlessedKids.com Adele who runs it sends the packages from China and is able to track them, so we know it got there on the 18th! So Tian and the orphanage know she has a family coming. We sent a teddy bear, photos of our family, treats for the staff, disposable cameras for them to take photos of Tian's daily life, and a letter including some questions about her life and care which we hope they will respond to and bring when we pick her up.
We got our Brown Envelope from the US Consulate in China. This doesn't really mean anything, except that they have our paperwork and are ready for us to come. It just feels good to get mail from China, even though it has nothing directly to do with Tian personally.
Learned that if we don't travel in Sept. as we'd hoped that we may still be able to go in Oct. It's a tough month for travel due to a week-long national holiday and a big trade fair and usually our agency doesn't send groups. Because we are in the Waiting Child program and not a big group, we MAY have the option of going in Oct. I'm still hoping for Sept. though...
Our friend Marsha finally got her travel approval after waiting 147 days! (Yikes...we are on day 52 and I'm already nuts!) She is going early August and plans to visit the SWI and try to see Tian! Also, another friend Vicki is in China now and hopes to visit the SWI earlier in Aug.
We ordered our travel Visa's. The cost is doubling as of Aug. 1 and they are good for 6 months...so we decided to go ahead and try to get them. We'll see how it goes. We have a friend whose application was turned down without a specific travel itinerary.
The Wait
I've had a hard time this past week. I feel the stress like I felt during the wait for our referral with Clio. There have also been some stressful issues at work and I'm not sleeping well...I'm sure it's all inter-related. I really wanted to hear something this week...either photos from someone visiting China or new about our travel from the agency. Unfortunately, none of the above.
Each day we don't get news from the agency means longer until we travel. While I knew August was a long shot, it is now shot. No chance we will travel then. I had my hopes pinned on mid to late Sept. and it's still possible, but getting scarily close if we don't hear something soon.
Oct. is a tough month for travel to China. The first week is a National Holiday and all government offices are closed. (Who am I to complain about government holidays...) The 3rd and 4th weeks are a big trade fair which makes travel difficult and extra expensive.
The good news is that I emailed my agency and learned that while it may cost us an arm and a leg, because we are in the waiting child program and won't be with a big group, we can possibly travel in Oct.
I SO want to be with our Tian by her first birthday. I know she won't know the difference, but we sure will.
I have been emailing a lot with one of my online friends Lisa who has very similar dates to ours. She and I have decided to try to frame our thoughts more positively. So we are saying that we don't expect to hear anything until late August and will travel "sometime before the end of the year." While we both desperately hope both things happen sooner, framing them in a more realistic to worst case scenario may help us to hope for the best but be prepared for a longer wait. I hope it helps.
Each day we don't get news from the agency means longer until we travel. While I knew August was a long shot, it is now shot. No chance we will travel then. I had my hopes pinned on mid to late Sept. and it's still possible, but getting scarily close if we don't hear something soon.
Oct. is a tough month for travel to China. The first week is a National Holiday and all government offices are closed. (Who am I to complain about government holidays...) The 3rd and 4th weeks are a big trade fair which makes travel difficult and extra expensive.
The good news is that I emailed my agency and learned that while it may cost us an arm and a leg, because we are in the waiting child program and won't be with a big group, we can possibly travel in Oct.
I SO want to be with our Tian by her first birthday. I know she won't know the difference, but we sure will.
I have been emailing a lot with one of my online friends Lisa who has very similar dates to ours. She and I have decided to try to frame our thoughts more positively. So we are saying that we don't expect to hear anything until late August and will travel "sometime before the end of the year." While we both desperately hope both things happen sooner, framing them in a more realistic to worst case scenario may help us to hope for the best but be prepared for a longer wait. I hope it helps.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Theatre or Church?
Lately I have found myself longing for more community, more friends, more connection, more discussion. Since becoming parents, Dane and I have accepted that doing theatre work as we had in the past was not possible. Although, we'd love to continue to do it, neither of us can accept being away from our family 4-5 nights a week for rehearsals.
I really miss the close friendships, the camaraderie, the community, the creativity, the discussions, the drama (not just the stuff on stage!), the belonging. So many of our friends are theatre connections and we haven't done a good job of keeping up with them without the structure of regular rehearsals and shows.
Since becoming a mom, I've also found myself thinking a lot about religion and what role it should play in our daughter's lives. Neither Dane nor I is religious, but we both were raised going to church and think it was probably good for us. I like the community aspects of it. I think there are lots of good things about church, but am not interested in a dogmatic approach, or one that treats women as inferior.
I somewhat jokingly told Dane a while back that we should start "Art Church" in our basement. Get a group together to do artsy stuff every Sunday. I would LOVE that! Also, I'd like to be more involved in our community and in helping others and have opportunities for our kids to learn from this as well.
So I took this quiz at Beliefnet.com and it tells me I'm a match for unitarian universalism. I've heard of that, but didn't know much about it. So I googled "unitarian and Parker CO" and low and behold found a church I didn't know existed here in Parker. www.prarieuu.org
Reading their website, I was astounded to learn that my personal beliefs and desires are really mirrored in their philosophy. As I understand it, they gather together to learn and share. They are very accepting of different religious believes or none at all. I am hoping that Dane will feel comfortable with their tenants too. I really feel "called" to see what they are all about.
I really miss the close friendships, the camaraderie, the community, the creativity, the discussions, the drama (not just the stuff on stage!), the belonging. So many of our friends are theatre connections and we haven't done a good job of keeping up with them without the structure of regular rehearsals and shows.
Since becoming a mom, I've also found myself thinking a lot about religion and what role it should play in our daughter's lives. Neither Dane nor I is religious, but we both were raised going to church and think it was probably good for us. I like the community aspects of it. I think there are lots of good things about church, but am not interested in a dogmatic approach, or one that treats women as inferior.
I somewhat jokingly told Dane a while back that we should start "Art Church" in our basement. Get a group together to do artsy stuff every Sunday. I would LOVE that! Also, I'd like to be more involved in our community and in helping others and have opportunities for our kids to learn from this as well.
So I took this quiz at Beliefnet.com and it tells me I'm a match for unitarian universalism. I've heard of that, but didn't know much about it. So I googled "unitarian and Parker CO" and low and behold found a church I didn't know existed here in Parker. www.prarieuu.org
Reading their website, I was astounded to learn that my personal beliefs and desires are really mirrored in their philosophy. As I understand it, they gather together to learn and share. They are very accepting of different religious believes or none at all. I am hoping that Dane will feel comfortable with their tenants too. I really feel "called" to see what they are all about.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
A friend in China...
A new friend of mine is in China right now. She gets her baby tomorrow....Oh my! Actually I just did the conversion and because it's already tomorrow in China she should already have her new child! She was scheduled to meet her at 10 a.m. Monday. In China right now it's 2:02 p.m.! Congrats to Kellie and Carly and their whole family! They have been together four whole hours! Hopefully they are done with the paperwork and snuggling in the hotel room!
Kellie's new baby's Chinese name is Lian Tian Shi, which means Angel. She was born on May 5th, 2006. Does her name seem a little familiar? Yes, Carly is from Lianyungang just like our Tian Xin. They were certainly in the same room together! So it is really fun for us to follow Kellie's journey and live vicariously through her!
Kellie is hoping to visit the orphanage and will try to visit our Tian and take some photos if she can! We are anxiously following her trip to see if she get approval for a visit, and then if they will allow her to see Tian. Our hopes are high that we might have new photos later this week, but we know nothing is for certain. I just appreciate Kellie being willing to try!!!
I am also in contact with a few other people who plan to travel to Lianyungang later this month. And am always looking for more...
I also promise to try to do the same for anyone adopting after us. We got early photos of Clio this way and they are very precious to us. We also had the privilege of taking photos and video of several kids waiting at Clio's SWI (that's Social Welfare Institute...i.e. orphanage) and got to be a small part of their journey's home. The connections we've made in the adoption community are awesome!
Kellie's new baby's Chinese name is Lian Tian Shi, which means Angel. She was born on May 5th, 2006. Does her name seem a little familiar? Yes, Carly is from Lianyungang just like our Tian Xin. They were certainly in the same room together! So it is really fun for us to follow Kellie's journey and live vicariously through her!
Kellie is hoping to visit the orphanage and will try to visit our Tian and take some photos if she can! We are anxiously following her trip to see if she get approval for a visit, and then if they will allow her to see Tian. Our hopes are high that we might have new photos later this week, but we know nothing is for certain. I just appreciate Kellie being willing to try!!!
I am also in contact with a few other people who plan to travel to Lianyungang later this month. And am always looking for more...
I also promise to try to do the same for anyone adopting after us. We got early photos of Clio this way and they are very precious to us. We also had the privilege of taking photos and video of several kids waiting at Clio's SWI (that's Social Welfare Institute...i.e. orphanage) and got to be a small part of their journey's home. The connections we've made in the adoption community are awesome!
Great news from an online friend...
A friend indeed!
The connections I've made through adoption have been absolutely awesome! We made such good friends with people we met through Clio's adoption and I've "met" so many great people online. Our first trip we got to meet up with some of my online buddies in China! It was great!
I guess because parts of adoption are different and people who aren't doing it don't always understand, many adoptive parents seek each other out. There are tons of online groups of people from various agencies, people adopting at the same time, people with kids from the same orphanage and it goes on. I am currently a proud member of 64 such groups! Although I can only really keep up with about a dozen that I regularly check and respond too.
With the adoption of Tian, I joined several new ones including one for adoptive parents of kids with limb differences. There, I found a really wonderful, supportive community. Many of them gave me information and support when we were reviewing Tian's file. They sent me photos of their kids feet and videos of them running and doing karate! You can learn a lot from the Doctors, but you get the real story about what it is really like from the moms who have been there before.
I "met" my friend Wendy on that group. She has a beautiful little girl named Madeline who came home from China a little over a year ago. Madeline has very similar hands and feet to Tian and Wendy has been a wonderful resource and support. I've learned about Madeline's surgeries and what to expect for Tian.
Madeline goes to one of the top pediatric hand surgeons in the country, Dr. Scott Kozin in Philadelphia. Wendy volunteered to take Tian's photos to him at Madeline's surgery last week. Through this contact, Dr. Kozin agreed to consult with us and, if we are willing to travel to Philadelphia, to be Tian's doctor!
You might be wondering how that is possible or affordable...Dr. Kozin is a surgeon for Shiner's hospital. A wonderful organization who provides free care to children with orthopedic issues and burns. I didn't know anything about them until researching for Tian, but they are an awesome organization supported by the Masons. You can check them out here: http://www.shrinershq.org/
We are excited to get to talk to Dr. Kozin once we have Tian home!
The connections I've made through adoption have been absolutely awesome! We made such good friends with people we met through Clio's adoption and I've "met" so many great people online. Our first trip we got to meet up with some of my online buddies in China! It was great!
I guess because parts of adoption are different and people who aren't doing it don't always understand, many adoptive parents seek each other out. There are tons of online groups of people from various agencies, people adopting at the same time, people with kids from the same orphanage and it goes on. I am currently a proud member of 64 such groups! Although I can only really keep up with about a dozen that I regularly check and respond too.
With the adoption of Tian, I joined several new ones including one for adoptive parents of kids with limb differences. There, I found a really wonderful, supportive community. Many of them gave me information and support when we were reviewing Tian's file. They sent me photos of their kids feet and videos of them running and doing karate! You can learn a lot from the Doctors, but you get the real story about what it is really like from the moms who have been there before.
I "met" my friend Wendy on that group. She has a beautiful little girl named Madeline who came home from China a little over a year ago. Madeline has very similar hands and feet to Tian and Wendy has been a wonderful resource and support. I've learned about Madeline's surgeries and what to expect for Tian.
Madeline goes to one of the top pediatric hand surgeons in the country, Dr. Scott Kozin in Philadelphia. Wendy volunteered to take Tian's photos to him at Madeline's surgery last week. Through this contact, Dr. Kozin agreed to consult with us and, if we are willing to travel to Philadelphia, to be Tian's doctor!
You might be wondering how that is possible or affordable...Dr. Kozin is a surgeon for Shiner's hospital. A wonderful organization who provides free care to children with orthopedic issues and burns. I didn't know anything about them until researching for Tian, but they are an awesome organization supported by the Masons. You can check them out here: http://www.shrinershq.org/
We are excited to get to talk to Dr. Kozin once we have Tian home!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Clio's 2nd 3rd Birthday!
Today Clio had her second party of the week. Her birthday is on the 4th of July which means she is treated to fireworks each birthday. She thinks they are just for her! It's a good holiday to share a birthday with, especially when it means she gets a second party the weekend after.
I wanted to give her a "real" birthday party this year with other little kids. We hadn't done that yet and instead celebrated with family. This seemed like the right opportunity before we bring her little sister home, but of course none of the party places are open on the 4th and all the kids are doing family stuff. So two parties it was. I sure hope she doesn't expect this every year!
We had the party at "Party On," our local bounce house and it was a big hit. The little ones went wild without having to fight through the big kids as usually happens in public bounce houses.
The theme of this years party seemed to be "dress up." She received all manner of sparkly, girly, pink and frilly princess, dancer and fairy costumes! I think we'll be having a princess party soon and parade a bunch of dressed up little girls throughout our neighborhood! I'll post a fashion show soon!
As a mom who did not originally embrace pink or princess stuff, I have to say I've turned the corner. With one little princess in residence and another on the way, I've decided to embrace it. My friend Kena who told me this would happen is proud. And really what is so bad about pink?
Thanks to everyone who came! It was really great to see all of you!
Sunday, June 3, 2007
The Wait, Waiting Children and our timeline...
Adoptions in China are taking a very long time right now in most cases. We were so lucky to wait only six months after our documents got to China in 05 for our referral of Clio. (Of course, those who knew me at the time will laugh because it was all too long back then...I was very stressed and impatient.)
Since that time, the wait for families has increased significantly and it now about 18 months and those turning in paperwork now are being told it may go as high as 3 years! Ouch! That really hurts when you are longing to hold a little one!
During our first adoption, we had the privilege of meeting several families who adopted through the Waiting Child program, which places children with medical needs and older children with families. We also had a family in our first travel group discover their little girl had a significant heart condition. We learned there are no guarantees and our hearts were open to many special needs.
In Nov. 2006, we didn't know that halfway around the world a beautiful little girl was born. But we did know our hearts were telling us it was time to begin the journey to our second child. We began preparing our paperwork right around that time and after Thanksgiving, turned it in to our agency, Chinese Children Adoption International (CCAI.) I like to think that the red thread that the Chinese believe connects those destined to be together, had already been spun and was pulling us toward our little Tian.
For the waiting child (WC) program. We filled out a Medical Condition Checklist where we listed which needs we were open to and the age and sex of the child we hoped to adopt. The wait to be matched in this program has been running around 8 mos. -- 1 year for most families. So we were very surprised to get the call only 1 day short of 6 mos. And for a 6 mo. old little girl under 12 mos. Many families ask for girls under 12 mos., so I was pretty sure we'd be matched with a little boy around 2 years old.
So we were surprised and delighted that we were matched with this beautiful little girl so young so soon. We can't wait to bring her home! Here's our timeline so far...we'll update as new milestones occur.
11.02.06 A lovely young girl is born somewhere in China and the Bragg/Torbenson family begins paperwork for their second adoption.
11.03.06 The little girl arrives at the Lianyungang SWI and is named Lian Tian Xin (Heart of Heaven.)
11.27.06 We submit an Application and Medical Condition Checklist to our agency.
12.11.06 Application approved. We start on all the reams paperwork for our dossier.
3.26.07 We are done paperchasing! Our dossier arrives in China.
4.10.07 We are logged in with the CCAA (the agency in China that handles adoptions.) Now the wait begins in earnest.
5.24.07 We are surprised and thrilled to get a call with a possible match. (See blog entry "The Call" for the whole story!)
5.25.07 We spend a very LONG Memorial Day weekend researching and networking to learn more about Tian's medical needs. We are unable to reach any Doctor's who specialize in her condition. Despite this, we are staring at a beautiful little face and know we want her to be out daughter. We just need to know that we can provide the care she needs.
5.26.07 Jeannene does extensive research online and make contact with several families whose children have similar hands and feet to Tian's. She get photos and video of these kids, not only walking but running, doing gymnastics and karate. It sounds like her feet will likely be totally functional.
5.29.07 We talk to Dr. Laurel Benson at Children's Hospital in Denver. She confirms what Jeannene has learned from online families. This little girl will need some medical care, but will be able to do whatever she wants to! We accept Tian's referral. We have a new daughter and Clio has a sister!
5.31.07 Our official match day! We submit our Letter of Intent to China. Clio is very excited to be a big sister! We get to tell everyone!
6.7.07 We get our Pre-Approval (PA) from China! Wow that was fast! Let's hope the rest of our paperwork goes as quickly!
Now we wait...the next step is to get Travel Packet II from our agency. This means that our paperwork has moved to the Match Room at the CCAA in China. This could come really anytime in the next 1-3 mos. This is the variable part of the wait.
Based on other folks timelines, the earliest we could possibly go would be around Aug. 20. This is looking highly unlikely the more time goes by. I am really hoping for Sept. as there is a Chinese holiday and trade fair in early Oct. which will delay travel. If not Sept., it will be mid-Oct. or later. I really really hope we are with her for her first birthday.
Since that time, the wait for families has increased significantly and it now about 18 months and those turning in paperwork now are being told it may go as high as 3 years! Ouch! That really hurts when you are longing to hold a little one!
During our first adoption, we had the privilege of meeting several families who adopted through the Waiting Child program, which places children with medical needs and older children with families. We also had a family in our first travel group discover their little girl had a significant heart condition. We learned there are no guarantees and our hearts were open to many special needs.
In Nov. 2006, we didn't know that halfway around the world a beautiful little girl was born. But we did know our hearts were telling us it was time to begin the journey to our second child. We began preparing our paperwork right around that time and after Thanksgiving, turned it in to our agency, Chinese Children Adoption International (CCAI.) I like to think that the red thread that the Chinese believe connects those destined to be together, had already been spun and was pulling us toward our little Tian.
For the waiting child (WC) program. We filled out a Medical Condition Checklist where we listed which needs we were open to and the age and sex of the child we hoped to adopt. The wait to be matched in this program has been running around 8 mos. -- 1 year for most families. So we were very surprised to get the call only 1 day short of 6 mos. And for a 6 mo. old little girl under 12 mos. Many families ask for girls under 12 mos., so I was pretty sure we'd be matched with a little boy around 2 years old.
So we were surprised and delighted that we were matched with this beautiful little girl so young so soon. We can't wait to bring her home! Here's our timeline so far...we'll update as new milestones occur.
11.02.06 A lovely young girl is born somewhere in China and the Bragg/Torbenson family begins paperwork for their second adoption.
11.03.06 The little girl arrives at the Lianyungang SWI and is named Lian Tian Xin (Heart of Heaven.)
11.27.06 We submit an Application and Medical Condition Checklist to our agency.
12.11.06 Application approved. We start on all the reams paperwork for our dossier.
3.26.07 We are done paperchasing! Our dossier arrives in China.
4.10.07 We are logged in with the CCAA (the agency in China that handles adoptions.) Now the wait begins in earnest.
5.24.07 We are surprised and thrilled to get a call with a possible match. (See blog entry "The Call" for the whole story!)
5.25.07 We spend a very LONG Memorial Day weekend researching and networking to learn more about Tian's medical needs. We are unable to reach any Doctor's who specialize in her condition. Despite this, we are staring at a beautiful little face and know we want her to be out daughter. We just need to know that we can provide the care she needs.
5.26.07 Jeannene does extensive research online and make contact with several families whose children have similar hands and feet to Tian's. She get photos and video of these kids, not only walking but running, doing gymnastics and karate. It sounds like her feet will likely be totally functional.
5.29.07 We talk to Dr. Laurel Benson at Children's Hospital in Denver. She confirms what Jeannene has learned from online families. This little girl will need some medical care, but will be able to do whatever she wants to! We accept Tian's referral. We have a new daughter and Clio has a sister!
5.31.07 Our official match day! We submit our Letter of Intent to China. Clio is very excited to be a big sister! We get to tell everyone!
6.7.07 We get our Pre-Approval (PA) from China! Wow that was fast! Let's hope the rest of our paperwork goes as quickly!
Now we wait...the next step is to get Travel Packet II from our agency. This means that our paperwork has moved to the Match Room at the CCAA in China. This could come really anytime in the next 1-3 mos. This is the variable part of the wait.
Based on other folks timelines, the earliest we could possibly go would be around Aug. 20. This is looking highly unlikely the more time goes by. I am really hoping for Sept. as there is a Chinese holiday and trade fair in early Oct. which will delay travel. If not Sept., it will be mid-Oct. or later. I really really hope we are with her for her first birthday.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Meet our youngest daughter!
Welcome to the Family Tian!
We are delighted to announce the referral of our newest daughter and sister. Her Chinese name is Lian Tian Xin (which means Heart of Heaven!) We are planning to call her Tian Xin Bragg Torbenson. She was born on Nov. 2, 2006 and lives in Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China.
Here are some additional photos we were given in Tian's package. These were actual photos so we had to scan them. The quality may not be great, but boy is she cute!
Her most recent updates on May 10 and 12th, 2007 are brief but tell us:
"When Lian Tian Xin entered the orphanage, her height was 46 cm, weight 2.9 kg, chest circumference 30 cm, and head circumference 31 cm. A physical exam found that her left middle finger was missing, she had syndactyly of her right hand, and both feet were forked with three missing toes. Her physical exam found no other abnormalities. According to her physical condition, we estimated her birth date to beNovember 2, 2006 . We named her Lian Tian Xin. “Lian” is the same “lian” as in Lianyungang
We are delighted to announce the referral of our newest daughter and sister. Her Chinese name is Lian Tian Xin (which means Heart of Heaven!) We are planning to call her Tian Xin Bragg Torbenson. She was born on Nov. 2, 2006 and lives in Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China.
Here are some additional photos we were given in Tian's package. These were actual photos so we had to scan them. The quality may not be great, but boy is she cute!
Her most recent updates on May 10 and 12th, 2007 are brief but tell us:
- Weight: 15.65 lbs.
- Height: 2 ft., 1.6 inches (25.6 inches)
- Head: 16.14 inches
- Feet: 3.94 inches
- No teeth yet.
- She has had x-rays and been seen by a physician. Her health is good.
- She can use her fingers to grasp things.
- She is a good sleeper!
- She is a happy baby!!!!
"When Lian Tian Xin entered the orphanage, her height was 46 cm, weight 2.9 kg, chest circumference 30 cm, and head circumference 31 cm. A physical exam found that her left middle finger was missing, she had syndactyly of her right hand, and both feet were forked with three missing toes. Her physical exam found no other abnormalities. According to her physical condition, we estimated her birth date to be
- She wakes up at 6 a.m., has nap from 11:30a.m. to 2 p.m. and goes to bed at 8 p.m.
- She eats at 4 a.m., 8 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and midnight. With supplemental meals at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- She has a good appetite.
- She eats milk formula mixed with rice formula (that's goopy rice cereal mixed in with formula in a bottle usually served piping hot for those not in the adoptive community), plus water. Her supplemental food are egg yolk and fruit juice.
- She poops 1-2 times a day and pees 8-10 times a day plus 1-2 at night.
- Her favorite activity is listening to music.
- Her favorite toy is a cloth doll.
- She holds her head up while lying on her tummy and rolls over on her own.
- She visually follows moving toys and locates the direction of sounds.
- She laughs aloud.
- She is active, restless and fond of imitating.
- She has a ready smile and quick reactions.
- She is impatient sometimes.
- She loves her caretaker.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Clio's new room!
Clio's room is finally done! The broncos border and dark blue walls are history after four coats of bright pink paint.
I have to say, I'm really pleased with how it came out. Especially since I did most of the matching myself. The border was a total find that matched the colors perfectly. The dots on the wall are reusable stickers. How cool is that?
Since mom isn't doing theatre now, I had to use my creativity to stage this photo shoot! Its the next best thing to doing set and costume design...even a little bit of directing in there!
Friday, May 25, 2007
The Call
We got the call on the morning of May 24th, totally out of the blue. What a huge and joyous surprise in so many ways!I had just returned from a business trip to Las Vegas the night before. It had been a long, tiring trip and flights were delayed on the way home. Finally got home around 10 p.m. and crawled into bed. The next morning, I called into work and said I needed the day off. I was groggy, had no clean clothes and hadn't seen Clio for four days. Dane was off to work early as usual. I spent some extra time with Clio, got her off to day care and then (yes, really) went back to bed.
At some point the doorbell rang. I'm dead asleep. I try to find a robe to go answer it, but by the time I did, no one was there. Then my cell phone starts ringing. More fumbling around with my unpacked luggage and I find it, but miss the call. The caller ID shows it was for our housecleaner Jeanie, so I'm thinking she must have forgot the code to get in and rang the doorbell and then called. I'm trying to call her back and the phone rings again. I assume it is Jeanie and I'm feeling a little annoyed so I say, "Hey..."
And instead of Jeanie, I get, "Jeannene...this is Pam from CCAI." Holy cow?!? Am I dreaming? Nope, I'm now fully awake. This is about two months earlier than I had predicted we'd get a call. What is going on? Maybe an issue with our paperwork? Or maybe....
Pam asks me some questions about our openness to physical differences. I say we are pretty open to stuff on the outside...it's some of the internal stuff I'd have a harder time dealing with. She asks about limb differences. I say yes, we're open to that but don't know a lot about it. She says she has a file for a child with pretty severe differences to all four hands and feet. I start shaking and my heart is pounding. This is a referral call!
I'm excited and terrified all at the same time. This is IT! Or is it? It sounds like this child's needs are something that could be pretty significant and I don't know if we can handle it.
Pam describes a beautiful little girl (surprise #2!). We were expected a little boy. There are less people who request boys in the waiting child program and we are open to one, so I was sure we would be adding a son to our family. She describes that she is missing fingers and toes and that her feet are "cleft." I ask if she will be able to walk and Pam says she doesn't know.
She said another family turned down this file as they felt she would need too many surgeries. She asks if we are interested in seeing it and I say, "Yes," We are really open to physical differences, but a child who couldn't walk might be more of a challenge then we are ready for.
She asks if I want all the photos and I say "Of course!....why would you ask that?" She says the other family did not want to see her face until they decided if they could deal with her medical needs. I am stunned by this. I want to see who this little girl is! A person is so much more than their differences and I have to decide if this little one is meant to be ours. I want every scrap of information I can get.
I ask a few other routine questions. We almost hang up and I remember, I haven't asked her age. She's 6 mos. says Pam. (Surprise #3). Again, I am stunned. Most of the children in this program are older. I was expected a referral for a 2 year old little boy in about two months. Instead I'm on the phone now and am being asked about a very young little girl! Good thing I love surprises!
Pam says she'll email me all she has. I call Dane. "Hi Sweetie....I think we just got a referral call!" He is shocked too. I tell him what I know and we agree to pull up the email together. Only problem is, no email. We wait. Still no email.
I call Pam back...she's at lunch! Oh my. How are we supposed to wait? I spend the next hour doing some basic research into hand and foot differences. Pam calls. Resends the email. (The original one arrives a few hours later...what was that about???) I tell Dane that I am going to want her once we see her. My only concern is if she will be able to walk.
Dane and I open it while on the phone together. She is absolutely beautiful! So plump and so cute!
We see photos of her hands and feet.
They are different, but not nearly as severe as I'd expected. Her feet have deep clefts. That continues to be our concern. We both want her right away, but Dane says we need to do our homework and make sure we have the medical resources she'll need. He's right of course. So the research begins...
We decide not to tell anyone, including Clio, until we've made our decision.
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