Hump Day

Well, typical of many things about my middle-aged self,  I seemed to have worn out faster than I expected.  Today was the half way marker of the trip.  Tonight I have been sad.  Before I decided to be sad, I was just grumpy - that is the way it usually goes with me.  I remind myself of an over-tired toddler actually.  And I think that is probably half of it.  I am a little weary of Julia's cold which woke her often in the middle of the night and keeps her on my hip the large portion of the day.  I have long lists of many things to do before the rest of the Depret-Guillaumes come home.  I hope my expectations can meet my reality soon, otherwise it could get uglier....


                                

Here is tonight's version of the other half of the family.  The internet connection was worse today so the picture is rather fuzzy, but I am still so happy to see them for a few minutes each day.  It sounds like all is still going well.  Ellie looks a little floppy in this picture because about two minutes later she was asleep.  She just falls asleep anywhere, I have seen it twice now and it reminds me of puppies who will all of the sudden drift off where ever they are.   

Tomorrow night the Nortons are coming over to help me set up Ellie's crib.  Julia's crib had Maggie and James in it and then went to India with the Richmond family where two of their children used it.  For some reason they chose to bring it back and we still had it in our basement (not suprising for those of you who know us) when Julia came along.  I enjoyed setting it up for her, paint chipped and all.  It had history.  Loved children had rested there.

Happily, Julia is still in that crib, so we needed a second.  Ellie's crib comes from precious friends of ours whose four children used it.  Two of the Cochrane clan were adopted from China.  Their third child, their Julia, was inspiration for our whole adoption journey so I just love that Ellie will now be using something from them!

 

Doing Well....



I know I have not written any thing deep in awhile ... but these three are just so distracting!  Isn't that just the cutest picture?!  I know I sound like "all the other adoptive mother bloggers" out there but I can't help it.

And this one is great too!!!  Too bad I do not know how to crop the photo in this format.

They had another good night of sleep!  Serge actually had to wake her this morning he said.  (I love this child already!!)  She was much more animated today when we talked.  At first I thought she was going to make a nice audience for Julia, tonight I am thinking they might have to share the stage.  You can see the physical delays for certain, but she loves to be held which is a great sign and is starting to make eye contact with them - also good. 

The other half of the family is doing okay too.  Ginny, the dog is pretty depressed and Julia cried when we had to say good bye to Serge and James this morning.  Maggie and I have enjoyed all of our time to talk, talk, talk and watch "chick flicks", but are ready for them to come home too.



Ellie again

Here is today's Ellie picture.  It is hard to know what else to write.  I mean, sure, I could look at photos of her all day ....

Apparently she slept through the night without a peep which is more than I can say for Julia since they left!  I am still feeling like I have the easier end of the deal though.  Serge and James seemed to be doing okay - perhaps a little tired of Chinese hamburgers, but other than that, good.  Tomorrow they are going to tour the "Ancient University" and see some relics of a famous dead person.  (Obviously I am forgetting some key point to the second half of that agenda.) 

The distance is growing as the days go by and I am feeling like the remainder of the trip is going to feel pretty long - at least on this end.  I want to say, "OK you got her!  Can you come home now?!".  

I miss my boys too. 

A lot.

First Day as a D-G

Here are two photos from yesterday.  When they went back to the hotel room they discovered that she had three pairs of pants on!

Makes you want to run over and get your own doesn't it??

We are hoping their first night together is quiet.

More photos soon??  I hope.

She found them

Well obviously the picture quality is not good, but there they are all together!  She looked happy by the time they called me anyway. 
If James has time he will send more photos.  I did not get to hear much of the story of how it went.  She had a LOT of clothes on.  Serge said she was sweating underneath them all!  They think she is close in size to Julia but have not weighed her or tried on any of the clothes I packed for her yet.  Hopefully there will be more to say tomorrow, but for now am glad they all looked O.K.

Silent Night

I have experienced a lot of different kinds of silence.  The beautiful kind with deep friends or family where you do not have to talk to be comfortable together.  The awkward kind where people aren't responding to your phone calls or emails and you wonder what you might have done or said wrong.  The angry silence between husband and wife or parent and child, where one is trying to punish the other.
Tonight, I have the anxious kind. 
At around 9 pm our time the guys should be receiving Ellie.  There will be procedures and paperwork and who knows what, such that they may not get back to the hotel room to communicate with me until midnight or later.  I have told them to wake me up though!

Please pray for all three of them. 
It is likely that Ellie has never seen a man before.  I'd bet money that she has not seen a bearded Italian looking guy!!
It is not unheard of for the children to cry for hours after being given to their parents.  Sometimes even days (I may have left that little piece of information out of my notes for Serge and James...).  The alternative reaction is for them to "shut down" - they sit and stare and won't interact with anyone.  It is kind of spooky (there is a video about it on this forum I am on).  Either way the next day or two is likely to be hard.

I have been praying that the Lord will give her a vision of her father and her brother (and the rest of us, but mostly them).  He did that in the Bible.  I see no reason why He would not for her.  May her dreams right now be that they are safe and warm people that she can trust!  May they have strength and patience and communicate in the universal language of love to her:  
"You are wanted, Ellie."

Photos from China

Serge and James at Tiananmen Square.

James at The Great Wall.

Well, of course there are others, but we are having technical difficulties in loading them.  If tomorrow proves faster, I will try for some others.  They were also able to go to the Forbidden City and an acrobat show.  Last night included the traditional Peking duck dinner, though Serge seemed most fond of the dumplings on the breakfast bar.

They are now on their way to Ellie's province!