Waiting for Springtime

Just some scenes from one beautiful day we had last week. The crocuses are blooming now and we always get pictures of the kids when the crocuses bloom. I am really looking forward to warmer days and time with friends at the park.

Katie Mei had her catheterization procedure done this week, and now she's back to playing and having fun. Her open heart surgery is being planned now by the cardiac team at CHOP. It will probably take place in the next few weeks.

Happy last few weeks of winter,

Petrie

Flashback Friday

Okay, it's not quite Friday yet, but I'm having flashbacks and it will be Friday in about four hours. Enjoy some scenes from February 2005. Jacob wasn't with us yet, so it's just Girl Number One in these pics. She had been with us for eight months when these photos were taken, and she was 22 months old. The same age Katie Mei is now.

Our little family

Every girl has bed head now and then...

Hanging out.

Helping make some brownies.

One fine February day...wish we had one now!

Semper Fi, Daddy!

Do go takin' my sippy cup, ya dirty dog!

Brief recap of our first week

My Monday has begun, and I've got to get back to getting these kids schooled, so this will have to be somewhat short. The public school system would probably take my kids away if they knew Merrilee hasn't been hard at work since before Christmas. I do have to add, however, that she has been doing her reading and some math. Mommy just hasn't been playing teacher very consistently. Fortunately I had us about four weeks ahead of schedule when we stopped for the China trip.

Katie Mei's adjustment has been going so well and I couldn't be happier about it. She was somber the first couple days, but has become enough attached to Jay and I at this point that she definitely prefers us over others. Last week she was willing to go into the arms of strangers; yesterday at church she demontrated that though she's willing to give a stranger a brief moment of being held, the moment is over within seconds and back to Mommy's arms she wants to go. Such a good sign!

Jay came home Friday after five days away, and we both wondered if she'd be frightened of him or just uninterested. But once she saw him she went right up to him and held her arms for him to pick her up. She really likes to be held by him, often even preferring him to me. I think it's because she loves his larger holding capacity and strength.

She's enjoying finding all the toys in the house and testing them out. She really enjoys playing with the cooking stuff and mixing with a spoon and bowl. Every now and then she'll walk up to me with a pretend piece of food and hold it out for me to try it. We pretend tasting it back and forth and then I tell her to put it away. She's getting the hang of putting the dishes and food back in the toy room. Daddy's not fond of any toys in the living room, so we have to nip that one in the bud.

She had some medical tests done at Walter Reed last week and we head to CHOP in two more weeks. In the meantime, we're just living a normal life. Saturday Daddy took us to Bob Evans for breakfast, and she had no problem keeping up with the rest of us in eating. So far I haven't found much that she won't eat. Cheese isn't a favorite, but she'll eat it if she's hungry.

Jacob finally got to meet Katie Mei on Saturday morning, since she was already in bed when he returned from Grandma and Grandpa's on Friday night. He was initially interested in her, but once he realized she wasn't too fond of playing by his rules, he lost interest. When he is asked to entertain her or play with her, he mostly stands there with that deer-in-the-headlights look. He just doesn't know what to do with her because she won't conform to his method of play. I completely understand where he's coming from...he's that way with me and totally confounds me as well.

Katie Mei likes to play with toys that make music. I went up in the attic this weekend and pulled down the toy piano that Aunt Jo gave Merrilee in 2004. Ever the perennial favorite, it is once again being enjoyed by all. Merrilee says it still makes her want to play with it. Katie Mei seems to agree.

A fondness for the cats is also developing. Once or twice last week I had Katie Mei on my lap only to notice her arm wrapped around me patting on the cats. She's even getting a little too brave and has started to pull tails and try to hold paws. I'm afraid Linus the Siamese might not go for that too much, so I've actually had to start telling her to leave the cat alone when she gets too friendly. Elsie, our old maid who is approaching 18 years old, couldn't care less. She's just glad to have a pat on the head or where ever.

On Sunday we finally had some nice weather and Katie Mei had the opportunity to go outside and explore a little. I had been told that one of her favorite toys at the orphanage was the riding toys, so I was eager to let her try ours. She knew exactly what to do and pushed herself around in the driveway. I also put up the baby swing and though she initially seemed a little sea sick with the motion, she soon started laughing when she realized she could kick me in the head with each upswing when I ducked down. What it is about little babies and the joy they find in bonking and kicking people?

And finally, we're back to today. She didn't know she was in for school this week! With a little help she was able to figure out stickers and adhere a few to the paper she was coloring on . It kept her busy for about 10 minutes and then she was ready for more Cheerios. Time for me to get the 'Fridge Phonics out again. I'm not so sure I'm ready to listen to the song over and over, but I think she's ready for the fun.

Bye Bye for now,

Petrie and the Gang

Getting settled in

Chinese New Year Party

Artists at work

Crayons keep her busy when I'm cooking or washing dishes

We're coming 'round here. Today we managed to sleep in until 5:30 am and are slowly working our way out of living like nocturnal creatures. I will be so glad when I finally wake up to see daylight instead of darkness. Both girls crash early, and I'm wiped out by 7 pm. Katie Mei falls asleep anytime we ride in the car.

Katie Mei is shining more and more each day. She's finally patting the cats and say "guh" whenever she's around them. This is actually her baby pronunciation for the Chinese word for dog (guo), but it's close enough for me for now. At least she's petting them instead of screaming and trembling around them, so I'll let her call them whatever she wants. She saw a little bear on her diaper today and called it "guh", too.

She is following me around a lot, but is starting to be content to stay where she is if Merrilee is in the room with her. Merrilee has been a HUGE help to me, and I cannot fathom how I managed Merrilee at 14 months alone. Merrilee used to follow me everywhere and beg for me to pick her up. She'd cry if I walked into the next room even if she could still see me.

Fortunately Katie Mei doesn't cry much, but when she does get mad she's got a temper that brings down the house. Neither one of our other two had this kind of temper, so it's an interesting first for me. I'm glad we don't see it too often. A couple days ago I put her in her crib for naptime and she went berserk. We had tried before, but didn't let her cry too long. I'm afraid of letting her get too worked up. But I've noticed she's starting to take advantage of that and starts to pretend cry whenever she doesn't get her way. So I held out and made her stay in her crib. After about 10 minutes she gave in and fell asleep. The next day I again put her in her crib and followed the same procedure of lying her back down whenever she stood up. It took only about two minutes of crying for her to realize we were repeating the previous day's experiment, so she just gave up the fight and put her head on her pillow and went to sleep. I'm hoping that means she's a quick learner or at least realizes who's in charge here.

Yesterday it snowed and Merrilee went outside to play. I decided to let Katie Mei go out for a little while just to experience it for a bit. We don't get snow often enough to let an opportunity pass by. She seemed accepting of it, and we even got a couple smiles when she was pulled in the sled. Merrilee loves being the big sister and getting to pull the sled.

We'll see what today holds. Without a routine yet, each day is a surprise.

Love,

Petrie

Finally home and random photos

We got home safely late Friday night and are so thankful that we made it. There were some really tight layovers and a bit of stress over getting oxygen for Katie Mei on the flights, but other than total lack of cooperation from China Southern airlines, and fantastic help from United Airlines, we got here in one piece, with all our luggage to boot!

Katie Mei is doing well, but we're all tired and working on the jet lag problem. Fortunately Katie Mei, Merrilee and I are all messed up together, so it isn't quite so hard to handle as it would be if Jacob were here already and was 13 hours out of our schedule.

So far the only tough issues we're facing are Katie Mei's fear of the cats and her absolute dislike of being in the crib. She fights it tooth and nail and we've had to resort to putting her in Merrilee's or my bed. She sleeps well as long as she's not in the crib. Normally I wouldn't give in very easily on this, but with her already low oxygen levels, I don't feel it's in her best interest to force the issue and let her cry. She's had enough turmoil in the past two weeks and doesn't need us to tell her she can't be with us, and then allow her to cry and get bluer than she already is. If she sleeps well with Merrilee, then I'm just going to let it be. Merrilee doesn't seem to mind at all. Of course, Merrilee wants to sleep with me, too, so tonight I had all three of us in my bed. I'm rather too tired to care much, anyway.

Here is a smattering of photos from the past week before we left China. Hopefully I'll get back to posting more regularly once we get back in to our routine. We went to a Chinese New Year party last night (for just a short while, since the three of us were way too tired to endure much longer) and I'll post those photos later. Right now it's just after 3 am and I'm not going to get the camera hooked up to download photos.

Just enjoy these photos for now.

Love,

Petrie

Photos taken at our hotel room before we left.

On the red couch at the White Swan hotel in Guangzhou.

Early morning full moon on our flight from Beijing to Jiangxi to pick up Katie Mei. I was so nervous that morning, and am so thankful for all that has transpired since that morning.

Hero Card for Merrilee and Jay for walking up to the top of the Great Wall in Beijing.

One week today

Well, we are on the downward side of our trip and have been with our daughter for one week.   Today we went to Shamian Island where she had her medical check up, and she was found to have bronchitis.  We got some medication for her and pray that it will take care of her congestion and restore her to health by the time we have to fly out on Friday.

Yesterday we visited the Chen Clan Temple and Katie Mei got some time to run amok.  She likes to lead us around and play chase with Mommy.  I really like these times because I don't have to carry her 24.7 pound patootie around.  I love holding her and  carrying her, but my back needs a rest.  It's fun to play chase, anyway.

Here are a few photos to hold you over until the next time.

Daddy sportin' his new daughter in her new stroller.

Looking at the gold fish in the giant porcelain bowl at the Chen Clan Temple.

Checking out Big Sister's books while on her first flight.

Chinese New Year decorations at the hotel in Jiangxi.

Walking and being independent for awhile.

Feeling kind of lousy today.

Merrilee checking out the lucky carp at the White Swan Hotel.

These orange bushes are in front of lots of shops and are covered with fruit now.  Makes us all want to reach out and pick some. This one had lucky red envelopes for Chinese New Year all over it.

Our week in Jiangxi

We're at the end of our time in Jiangxi province and will move on to Guangdong to the city of Guangzhou tomorrow.  This is where all Americans must go for the final portion of the adoption.  We will go through the medical examination, get Katie Mei's visa to go to the U.S. (she's still a Chinese citizen) and take an oath of citizenship on her behalf for her return to the U.S.

While in Jiangxi we've visited the Teng Weng pavilion, gone porcelain shopping, and visited the orphange and a people's park.  It has been nice and slow, with most afternoons back in the hotel room.  I think this visit has been easier than both our other ones.  Enjoy the photos.

Bus rides are so BORING when you're this little.

Cemeteries are packed.  Bones are buried in little boxes to save space.

Merrilee does a little Tai Chi in the People's Park.

Performance at the pavilion.  Traditional music on old, traditional instruments.

View from the pavilion.  You can see the suspension towers of the Ba Yi bridge leading in to the City of Nanchang.

So proud of herself for becoming competent with chopsticks.

 Katie Mei already knows what TV is and had no problem getting fixated with a DVD.  There was a TV in her room at the orphanage.