Sunday, December 19, 2010

Common Questions

What happened to her right hand?

Meili was born without a right hand. She has a wrist and can pick up a cheerio and put it in her mouth by capturing it in her wrist. She also has some “little” fingers that have feeling but don’t seem to be able to move independently. The most likely cause is that the umbilical cord wrapped around that part of her body and inhibited growth of her hand. This is called amniotic banding, or amniotic band syndrome. It is possible that she may want some type of prosthesis when she is older. For now, she is a happy girl learning to use what she was born with like anyone else.

How is she adjusting?

Meili has an overflowing joy for life. She seems to prefer dancing or running to walking and likes to speak loudly. Meili and I have a game where she says “da-da” and I answer “Meili.” Then she says it a bit louder, and I answer in kind. Eventually she is yelling at the top of her lungs and of course I oblige. We love it. She likes to hang upside down, be thrown high, and be surprised. She still really likes rice but also eats just about everything we do at dinner. Of course we have been eating more rice.

How is she attaching?

There seems to be no question who mama and baba, or dada, or daddy, or dad are. She continues to want to spend most of her waking hours with one of us. If another girl snuggles up to dad on the couch she will say something very loudly (maybe Cantonese) and try to push her away. She is OK with staying with Leanne, so Laura and I are able to get away from time to time for a date..

Does she talk?

Meili started with “ay!” which means “yes” or “right” in Cantonese. We would say “hi” and she would say “ay!” She now says both “ay!” and “hi.” Before we left China she was routinely saying “mama,” (the same in Cantonese) and threw in an occasional “baba” (Cantonese) and “dada.” She now says variations of “kitty,” “all done,” and “bye.” She also has been using some very distinct combinations of sounds lately to express herself, like when a sister is too close to dad. These are often combined with body posture and arm motions that convey displeasure and, seemingly, authority. She has always conveyed a lot through non-verbal communication. The morning after we were handed this little girl, she was making eyes with dad and even gave him a smile at the breakfast table. She has continued adding to her repertoire of antics which now include what we call “stinker face.” As you might guess, this is the face she gives when she decides that she doesn’t want to do what Mom and Dad are asking and is currently contemplating her alternatives. We are reminded at these times that we adopted a little girl, almost two years old, not an infant.

Where was she?

Meili was found at the entrance road to a hospital January 9th, 2009 when she was about six days old. She was taken to the Welfare Institute of Lianjiang City, an orphanage in Southern China. This is where she spent her first twenty-one months. We were not able to visit the orphanage but have seen a number of pictures. The orphanage is a four or five story building with continuous balconies on each floor. There are crib rooms with stainless steel cribs. The babies sleep on plywood and have a blanket. They also spend time in a playroom and on the balcony. There were about 25 babies her age and about 100 in the orphanage. The first couple nights after we returned home and Meili was jet-lagged I would sleep on the floor next to her pack-in-play. This seemed to be just what she needed. When she woke up she could see that someone was there.

Do you know anything about her parents?

We know nothing of her birth parents. It is illegal to put a child up for adoption in China. If parents find themselves in a position where they cannot, or are not willing to care for a child their alternative is to abandon the child.

Why is her hair so short?

Her head was shaved in the orphanage. It was a little surprising when we saw her the first time. We expected to get a little toddler with a full head of hair. Instead, we were handed what seemed to be an infant with no hair. She looked just like the referral picture which was taken almost a year earlier! They shave their heads because either they believe their hair will grow in thicker or because they are easier to take care of that way, probably both. We found out later that it is common for the babies to revert to infancy behavior on gotcha day. They are experiencing so many new things, they’re in a state of shock. Their whole life has consisted of a couple rooms and a balcony until this day. On gotcha day she took a five hour bus ride and was handed to strange people.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

One Month in America







We've been home for one month now, and Meili continues to blossom. She now lets her brother and sisters carry her around the house, which they love. Meili is simply a very happy little girl who loves to laugh and listen to herself make noises. She is discovering so many things for the first time and soaking it all in. The other day Scott said that if she were any happier we might think it was fake.
I was thinking about some of the changes that have taken place since we were in China. Meili had only received 3-4 bottles a day with rice cereal in them but had not eaten solid food to our knowledge. In China, she would drink her bottle in about 3-4 minutes and just cry when it was gone. I know she thought this would be it until the next bottle feeding. As we began to accompany each bottle with solid food, she gradually learned that the bottle was a supplement to a meal. Today, she hardly drinks much from her bottle and mainly eats solid food.
We are so thankful for the way she has transitioned into our family and accepted our love.

Gotcha Video

Here is some video from Gotcha day. A happy day for us, a sad day for Meili.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Hood River apples 10/08/2010


On Friday, we took a drive to Hood River and enjoyed breathtaking scenery and wonderful apples.


Meili loved the experience.


Meili seemed to love this form of travel.


Karis


Leanne

Elena had her own method of collecting apples.


Nathan and cousin Landon admire each others "braceless" smiles.


Our sister-in-law, Naomi with Landon, Luke and Kippling.




On Friday, 3 weeks after we first met Meili, she decided to walk for us. We were told that she walked at 14 months, but it often takes them time to come out of their shell and show you what they know. What will be next?

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Sunday 10-03-2010

Meili has her first meal with her whole family. She loves corn on the cob. She reached for Scott's when were still in China.

She loved the hot tub, especially if she could sit all by herself. (and yes, it was turned down.)

On the way home from the airport, Nathan asked if we could adopt another girl.

Good-bye

Beautiful Saturday 10-02 & Some Airport Shots 9-30-2010






It was a beautiful Saturday in Oregon!

We took a trip to a farmer's market. It seemed a bit strange to not be stared at...




We also spent some time in the back yard. The girls made quite the spread for Meili's initiation to the lawn and rabbit and all.










Here are a few shots of our welcome home at the airport. Scott's family and the Haas' welcomed us back to Portland.








She looks a bit out of words meeting Nathan.
















It was an emotional meeting for Karis.

Friday, October 1, 2010

The newest US Citizen 09-29 through 10-01-2010

Before we leave the China Hotel - a little dessert.
Who can turn down chocolate mouse or cheesecake for under $2?

And a little dessert for Meili

On the road to Hong Kong (09-29-2010)

Look who is ready for 23 hours of traveling! (09-30-2010)


This is the moment that Meili touched US soil and became the newest US citizen. She looks like she knows it!

Here is Elena and Karis with Meili (10-01-2010, yes, it is merged - I didn't have one good picture that showed everyone.)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

America World Travel Group 09-28-2010

It has been a wondrous time in China. Friendships formed around a common cause, great food, amazing accommodations, and world class facilitators.
Today we went to the US consulate and took an oath that all this paperwork we've been filling out for the past nine months is true. Tomorrow we pick up our little Meili's Chinese passport and US imigration paperwork and get on a bus to Hong Kong.

We leave from Hong Kong on Thursday morning, our plane stops in Tokyo and then continues on to Salt Lake City. We will be on this plane for over 17.5 hours! I don't think I'll get a blog post in before Meili is a US citizen but this picture of Meili sleeping on dad will be pretty typical.
Thank you all for following our travels. I expect the next post to be the whole family at the Portland airport.

For the love of God and our neighbors,

Scott


PS. I wish I could post video because it is 9:15 PM and Meili is in her bed just hamming it up - making it very clear that she has no intention to go to sleep!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Cantonese Dinner 09-27-2010

When you are traveling picture menus are great. But we have found something even better! It is Cantonese style. You just point to what you want and they bag it and cook it up! Here are a few choices. (btw, the Cantonese are known to eat, well everything)

duck

really big shrimp

turtle

eel

frog

sand worms

tell him what you want

bag it

yum.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Shamian Island 09-26-2010

Models and brides-to-be are a common sight here on Shamian Island. The surroundings are beautiful and seem to attract a lot of photo shoots.

Honestly. Scott and I were really just trying to find a little toy for Meili to chew on. When we went to dinner with our friends, we noticed that she had put it on her handless hand. It wasn't meant to be a prosthesis.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Personality Emerging 09-25-2010

Leanne took some great picture today. We can really see more of Meili's personality coming out.

Chen Family Folk Art Museum 09-24-2010

This man is writing Meili's name in Cantonese.

Courtyard in the Folk Art Museum

A man selling a coconut drink

Fresh produce


Meili has been giving us many smiles the last couple of days. When she laughs her whole, little face laughs. Tonight she had some cheesecake for dessert. We're going to do a high fat diet for her!