tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321539762024-03-13T02:04:05.600-05:00You plus me = Lia-RoseIt's amazing that after a three year plus wait, the most unbelievable little girl is in our arms....now we are trying to catch our breathe! The party is just beginning!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger587125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-30345019464865380792010-06-20T11:12:00.000-05:002010-06-20T11:13:30.113-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w4CJ-tHYQ6a8Y0YmX3jnLIiklecXE3-qVxGx5oRKVPUrM_osYKWV7KkYZsGxyiEaiKyDuYzvp7KU8eOSK4v4r24v7bXE8OssYevrpscuYehQfJJa36Ib0CpA9lVIJjMwxjrcQQ/s1600/lia+june+2010+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w4CJ-tHYQ6a8Y0YmX3jnLIiklecXE3-qVxGx5oRKVPUrM_osYKWV7KkYZsGxyiEaiKyDuYzvp7KU8eOSK4v4r24v7bXE8OssYevrpscuYehQfJJa36Ib0CpA9lVIJjMwxjrcQQ/s400/lia+june+2010+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484889684263839250" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-81042758785240113212010-06-20T11:01:00.003-05:002010-06-20T11:11:38.104-05:00She just amazes meIn the past few weeks Lia-Rose has really become less of a baby and more of a little girl. It's just truly amazing how she is just blossoming, exploding with language, growing, learning and just loving life more and more. Sometimes when I look at her and she is quiet I wonder what she is thinking. She claims not to remember much of Taiwan. We ask her often. We talk about her Nanny and the family she has there. Not making it an issue. We want to make it just a natural piece of her life. I wonder if she remembers the neglect she suffered. The tears she must have cried as a baby. The times she ached for someone to hold her and no one came. It's a wonder that this child is as "together" as she really is. Now, Lia has her moments. Moments of sheer exhaustion for me and her. It usually happens when it's Lia, myself and someone else. (never without mommy in the room) She just wants attention. Craves it. She acts up. That's what this is about for her. Having limits. She never did. No one set them for her as a baby. For 2 1/2 years she had no limits. No structure, she was forced to survive and fight her way. Finding anyway to do it. When she acts up it's my job to show her the way. To set the limits and give her focus. She is doing well in school. She does great with her babysitter. It's just her mommy's attention and love that she fights for. I try to tell her that it's not necessary to fight for it. She has it. 100%. But in the meantime, we will work through those moments. Fill them with lots of hugs, and kisses and discipline. It is what she needs, craves and deserves.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-51674988220270864332010-06-13T18:00:00.000-05:002010-06-13T18:02:21.439-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit6dcKurtYX6QIGJ9ylXj3uGDTTbtjDwoXnokXVJQKLhSmripXAXquV0D7bZdeCseeZR5Nr_Fs0B7QgP25e-eRVNhERC7zwYqPzUlFULfGry-BKH7rj7UzdWeQO5edw0ab2D9mQ/s1600/May+2010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit6dcKurtYX6QIGJ9ylXj3uGDTTbtjDwoXnokXVJQKLhSmripXAXquV0D7bZdeCseeZR5Nr_Fs0B7QgP25e-eRVNhERC7zwYqPzUlFULfGry-BKH7rj7UzdWeQO5edw0ab2D9mQ/s400/May+2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482397363005542434" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-22493112942087536782010-06-13T17:57:00.000-05:002010-06-13T17:57:00.085-05:00I have missed you blogWow...seriously long time since I last posted. I completely forgot I had a blog. I loved my blog. I met so many friends through my blog and most importantly I documented my Lia's story on this blog. I just have not had one minute of free time since I brought that little girl into this country exactly one year ago today. Wow. One year she has been home with me. One year of sleeping next to the sweetest little girl (or shall I say falling asleep besides and then waking up in the middle of the night to sleep in my own bed) Facebook had been a great way of informing friends and family of Lia-isms. She is truly FUNNY. But, the whole story is no where to be found and I feel slightly guilty about that. So many mommy's are out there writing all down, I really don't want Lia being left out in the future. Should I make this private or public? I took of the private setting but in light of that will keep names to a minimum. I just don't want to show up in search engines. <br />
<br />
So where do I start? Lia is truly incredible. She is very smart. Very beautiful. Huge huge huge personality. The love of my life. She is also extremely exhausting and with one year down in this mommy world I am in now I can honestly say, it didn't necessarily come naturally to me. I don't think I am that great of a mommy. I know I was a great Auntie..but a mommy, I am not sure. Sometimes I feel to tired to make dinner and we go out. Sometimes I don't feel like fighting her to brush her teeth. Sometimes I forget to give her a vitamin. I feel so guilty. It's a horrible thing. This weekend I was exhausted. What did we do. NOTHING. I felt guilty. But, I needed it. SOmetimes I eat her popcorn when she isn't looking. I am so bad. On the plus side, I sit with her everynight and read. No tv after 6:30. We take a warm bath and wash our hair and play games in the bathtub. We take walks outside when the weather is nice. I try to be there every morning to take her to school and every night to pick her up. I think about her all day and miss her about an hour after I leave her. I dream of her. I kiss her constantly and tell her she has made me the luckiest mommy alive. I love this child. I can't be perfect. I can't do it all. But I am tryingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-45792458097480258722009-09-26T22:08:00.002-05:002009-09-26T22:12:15.862-05:00Jesus, I'm a shitty blogger:ia-Rose is amazing, beautiful, smart, sassy, tough, exhausting, delightful. lovely, smart, funny, silly, obnoxious, crazy, talented and perfect. She is an incredily strong child with lot's of likes and dislikes.<br />She is understanding english like crazy...and everyday new words--today it's"excuse me" (She picked that up on a playdate today)..."go back to bed now!" (which she claims Na Na (grandmom) and Ya Ya (grandad) taught her-they didn't...she sings songs-her favorite being Little Red Caboose. She constantly "Boo Yows" which means No..she says "Boo Yow Daddy, Boo Yow Na Na and Booy Yow Ya Ya" in one sentence..basically boo yowing her daddy and grandparents. She loves her babysitter, loving school and loves/hates her doggie Molly. She watches tv shows for 8 year olds-I Carly especially and is getting into Full House. We went to the movies today and she made it thru the previews and a bucket of kid size popcorn. My darn camera is breaking everyday as one little continues to find it and throw it.<br /><br />As for me, I'm exhausted. Full time/two jobs is tough...I feel like I can't be the greatest at either of them which is frustrating. I am overeating, my hormones are raging, and I don't feel particulary great. Yet, it sort of doesn't matter. My goal in the next week is to get myself together. Try to do three days at the gym and just feel sort of in control. BUT, I LOVE BEING HER MOMMY.<br /><br />Today we went on our first playdate, she was so bad. So was her friend. We walked out of movie because she started talking back to the movie screen about five minutes into it. We went to Target, she had fun. <br /><br />Anyway, not the greatest post, but wanted to get something up here...need to find time for this as well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-54865282572066668632009-09-08T22:19:00.003-05:002009-09-08T22:30:08.254-05:00I am going to blog againFacebook has become my new place to express myself. Those one liners are an easy way to update the world on L-R and not take up to much time. But I feel like such a horrible mother. Years from now kids will be comparing notes on how much (or how little) their parents documented their lives. With all the availablity of blogging, photosharing, video uploading these kids will have a complete documented past. My poor Lia will have nothing. I can't do that to her. So, I will commit to at least three posts a week. That will be easy enough, I think.<br /><br />Life has definetly been hectic. My FB status tonight was about having not enough hours in the day. How true. I feel like I can never turn myself off. If I'm not working, I'm doing something for Lia. If I'm not Lia'ing I'm doing something for Joe and the house and my dog. I am not complaining but it is hard being a mommmy, holding a busy job and just keeping the house going. Feeling organized is very important to me. Paying my bills on time makes me feel great. The fact that I missed two bills that were sitting in my to open box for the last six weeks makes me sick. Fortunetly they shouldn't hurt my credit or anything like that but I can't let that happen. <br /><br />Lia has been good. Just a little wound up lately. Tomorrow she goes back to her schedule of three days in daycare and two days at the sitter. I can't wait to get back to the normal schedule. I just have so much to do and it's been hard feeling like I can't get it done. Then I find myself working while she is in the room and she gets upset and throws things or comes over and tries to turn the computer off. It's very frustrating. So the goal will be to work when she is in daycare/school and to be with her when she is not. I need to get her in bed by 8:30 (it's been really hard but with the days getting darker earlier that should help.) If I can have some time to myself from 9p-11p I can get last minute work done and personal work done. Sounds like a plan.<br /><br />Her cute Lia'ism today was when she was on the toilet. I know TMI but it was cute. Her tummy must have hurt as she poo'ed and she said "mommy no more ice cream no more pizza...Lia full."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-83294951349622173882009-09-02T22:35:00.001-05:002009-09-02T22:39:03.935-05:00I have been away so long my blog is inactive<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZk0kahjpbPi9D7OU6goK7d8ssfuBOdiBCYcBxkG2NBzFozAMMXHm4cj9CdjFIXJmrpKOokx1EpUd4C-KlOzp-z6sDoGYtta8y77EW2WoGvQPqGWHK86KqPW1mVqf3TGXngHKDQ/s1600-h/bathtime+at+barbaras.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZk0kahjpbPi9D7OU6goK7d8ssfuBOdiBCYcBxkG2NBzFozAMMXHm4cj9CdjFIXJmrpKOokx1EpUd4C-KlOzp-z6sDoGYtta8y77EW2WoGvQPqGWHK86KqPW1mVqf3TGXngHKDQ/s400/bathtime+at+barbaras.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377080588744889058" /></a><br />I can't believe it's been almost two months since I blogged. This summer has flown by. I waited all that time to bring Lia home and now the time is just slipping away! Unreal. Lia is amazing. Hello, can you say the funniest, smartest, cutest kid in the world. I may be slightly biased but she is pretty sensational. Motherhood is wonderful, hard as hell. Working motherhood, simply challenging. I go to bed late and wake up early. It's a juggling act for sure. I am exhausted and Lia-Rose can be challenging. She loves to throw things and tonight she innocently almost chocked me to death. She of course found it very funny. She really is an amazing, strong child. I love her with all my heart and soul. I want to start blogging again. I just have to find the time. And now I hate the way the blog looks!!! Why did that happen? Anywa, I better shut this off for now and I'll be back...gotta hug my big four year old as she sleeps.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-91968631090789201012009-07-18T21:25:00.002-05:002009-07-18T21:29:08.067-05:00Just so I rememberSome cute things Lia is doing or shall I say saying to express herself:<br />When she says goodbye it's "Bye bye, Happy Birthday to you, I lub you"<br />When she see an airplane "Mommy Up-plane..Happy Birthday to you"<br />When she sees a train "Mommy...choo choo"<br />When the radio in the car is to loud: "Mommy, baby sleeping"<br />When she wants something "Lia do Lia do"<br />When she wants a drink "Lia's coffee" (That's because everytime I drink something I say coffee..thinking she would know what that was!)<br />When she is bad she screams "Ice-a-cream" because she knows I'm going to say that she can't have any<br />When she wants Ice cream she pretends she is licking a cone<br />When she sneaks up behind me and she thinks she is being cute (which she is) she whispers "Hi, how are you?"<br /><br />She is my life and my love. The feelings just get stronger and stronger each day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-32872853037877307512009-07-17T21:35:00.002-05:002009-07-17T21:41:47.563-05:00She continues to amaze....The words are just exploding. She understands, how does that happen? She is so smart.<br />This morning I left her a daycare and she cried. I nearly lost it but ran out of there quickly. I called the school about 90 minutes later and they said she was fine. I picked her up at 2:30 in the afternoon as she was waking up. One of her classmates screamed, "Lia, your Mommy is here." She was napping quietly and woke up peacefully, not scared at all. Her babysitter (our blessing) Barbara and her 10 year old daughter were with me. We all celebrated with ice cream and iced coffee! I'm so proud of her. The teacher said, she did great. Even knew the alphabet when they started to say it. She is amazing. <br /> <br />Just so proud. <br /><br />Putting her in daycare makes me sad, but I know the interaction, education and routine is great for her. I want to give her every single advantage in life. I pray that I do.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-55321187468603309342009-07-16T21:23:00.001-05:002009-07-16T21:23:45.856-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaam3canHIm7cxcjv7m7OhCEGG55MmUw_VY2Lsy5NzBwU6xPAkuIv_H9sMd4lTJeYegtAUdj6SCwCcstRrhpYaSi9f0sLMzYgMOFYNnKqsV9YjcuaDbaoIZyA8dCua6cwuMPiig/s1600-h/LIA+Rose+at+home.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaam3canHIm7cxcjv7m7OhCEGG55MmUw_VY2Lsy5NzBwU6xPAkuIv_H9sMd4lTJeYegtAUdj6SCwCcstRrhpYaSi9f0sLMzYgMOFYNnKqsV9YjcuaDbaoIZyA8dCua6cwuMPiig/s400/LIA+Rose+at+home.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359249005547906514" /></a><br /><br /><br />I love this photo of Lia. This is just so her. Intense..thoughtful. My god I love this child.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-24932859421023119432009-07-15T21:46:00.002-05:002009-07-15T21:52:04.819-05:00So much to sayI am so tirede. But, I need to write some updates! Things are really settling in. I am more relaxed which makes everyone else...especially Lia more relaxed. She is amazing. EVERYONE loves her. She starts pre-school/camp/daycare next week. We did a few trial runs. It was awful last week. I was with her and she wanted nothing to do with anyone...but me. Today, I left her. She was amazing. I was outside spying and saw her playing and smiling and actually being with kids and not be aggressive. When she is with me will hit for some reason. The teachers told me she was perfectly fine. Quiet and observant. And no tears. I came to get her and she cried out and ran to me and held me so long. I am so proud of her She goes to my wondeful neighbor/babysitters twice a week. She loves it and they love her. She is fantastic. Beautiful, sassy, funny and perfect.<br /><br />Some words to date:<br /> <br />Oh my god, you've got mail, Lia do, Mommy's, Daddy's, ice-a-cream, happy birthday to you as a good bye greeting...stop it... molly don't (to my dog) wash my hands, wash my feet, poo, pee, coffee (anything you drink)....<br /><br />We love her so much. I'll post more photos soon. <br />I've learned that motherhood is really exhausting. So off to sleep I go....next to Lia who is snuggled in bed with her papa!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-8623435190319650272009-07-10T12:33:00.005-05:002009-07-10T12:34:17.965-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw091sW8WvrVOFZ_flJFhx8yhy7wpwKI2COOMyYmKeRjLoWsurOdfrFKcEekiheiWyA6xnkDV6fOedXAglO7bIYIFCfIvEJ0oJR2HsqX1ajUCA-5J29LWlWDM4DeI7KxnA9QXnrA/s1600-h/gorgeous+girl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw091sW8WvrVOFZ_flJFhx8yhy7wpwKI2COOMyYmKeRjLoWsurOdfrFKcEekiheiWyA6xnkDV6fOedXAglO7bIYIFCfIvEJ0oJR2HsqX1ajUCA-5J29LWlWDM4DeI7KxnA9QXnrA/s400/gorgeous+girl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356886114696343058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFwGgQ2BuSzYzq5-GwCWcaLpD8mNUTiRt3Ap77Xb26_M4ycogEYOtAwUk00Y-i7PZtDlrVg50nT24uKlQeudkZdIwSgwsscwmTzvjWStodVe_e8W_qSE0VRNg0gXfFv3XgTtFOw/s1600-h/cousins.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFwGgQ2BuSzYzq5-GwCWcaLpD8mNUTiRt3Ap77Xb26_M4ycogEYOtAwUk00Y-i7PZtDlrVg50nT24uKlQeudkZdIwSgwsscwmTzvjWStodVe_e8W_qSE0VRNg0gXfFv3XgTtFOw/s400/cousins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356886058806185058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic21XbXZ_-zINZMcVuzXSBgDY65EagmlDWagdu7Dyiq5VdLHdrRhV_Nq97j3CJTboLMJOrOzrvfGBD76PbI2qBmTKu8miaLGwin63dNebbGHoBFtyYGBL-yl1jdL830El-VP8j6A/s1600-h/lia+seeing+her+first+sunset..jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic21XbXZ_-zINZMcVuzXSBgDY65EagmlDWagdu7Dyiq5VdLHdrRhV_Nq97j3CJTboLMJOrOzrvfGBD76PbI2qBmTKu8miaLGwin63dNebbGHoBFtyYGBL-yl1jdL830El-VP8j6A/s400/lia+seeing+her+first+sunset..jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356885981212145266" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-39698546469664385542009-07-09T21:27:00.003-05:002009-07-09T21:34:03.765-05:00It hasn't all been perfectI read some bloggers and they talk about how incredibly perfect their child is. How blissful they are. How easy everything is. Who are these people? I was tempted not to write any of this. I mean, his blog is supposed one day be read by Miss Lia. Should she know that her mother nearly had a breakdown today because she wouldn't brush her teeth,take a bath or eat her breakfast. To tell you the truth, I think I did have a breakdown. The tears flowed. I called my friend Judy who has years in childcare and she calmed me down. I felt better afterward. <br /><br />This is challenging. Lia right now is going through her own adjustment. As am I. We are a family for a month now. So much has happened. I am not going to sugarcoat this. It hasn't all been easy. Not at all. Yes, we have beautiful moments of bliss. Of laughter of smiles. But Lia is very tough. She is strong. She is exhibiting lots of curiosity. She also will show her anger and frustration in different ways...by hitting, screaming, pinching and biting. It breaks your heart. She is just confused and anxious. And it makes me cry.<br /><br />I go back to work next week. Preschool part-time starts soon. I can't imagine not being with her, yet, there is a big part of me that knows it will be great for us both. <br /><br />As Lia now says..."I love you so much." I do I do I do.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-89442939967824392992009-06-28T17:37:00.001-05:002009-06-28T17:37:22.655-05:00Lousy blogger.Just so much to say and so little time. I do feel like we are sort of getting into a groove. Forgive me for not phoning some of you or emailing. Life is truly a whirlwind. I have a new appreciation for stay at home mom's and those with more then one child...aka my sister. But it's great...I love her. She is mine. She is such a little Wendi at times. She imitates me. She carries a big bag like mine. She is very nosy and a little naughty. She is delicous. I can't get mad at her without smiling. She is so cute. She loves to wash her hands, in fact cleanliness is very important to my daughter. She now occasionally hits my dog. Every day she says another word in English. She puts puzzles together in a second. She babbles on her fake telephone. She is truly sensational. Today she ate her first bagel, had her first trip to Central Park. Yesterday a birthday party. She seems happier at home right now, to be expected. Did I say, she is sensational.<br /><br />I really want to be able to blog more. I am going to try.<br /><br />I have to say to all of you again, thank you. Thank you for supporting us through this journey. Thank you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-37540334756385328222009-06-18T05:14:00.001-05:002009-06-23T18:50:28.883-05:00Lia-RoseShe is impossibly cute. Undeniably delicious. Smart, tough, independent, and yes, I'll say it exhausting! It's been a very crazy week and half since we returned home. The jetlag was rough. I'm not going to sugar-coat this. It was hard. A few nights of literally up all night. Emotions running raw. Eating minimally and just plain exhausted. Things have definetly turned the corner though. Normal sleep patterns are returning and appetitites as well. It did help to kick start my summer diet that is for sure.<br /><br />Lia is truly unreal. It's weird. It doesn't feel like she doesn't belong. It's like this she was meant to be here the whole time. She fits so perfectly with us.<br /><br />She is so smart. She has a few favorite english words to say...yummy, happy birthday to you, bye bye, mommy, 'you've got mail' and of course...no. She definetly understands more then she actually speaks. It's pretty amazing actually. I've gotten over the feeling of crying everytime I think about how hard her life was and how she was almost lost in the system. My daughter is not a victim. She is tough. The doctor even said it...this kid is strong.<br /><br />She sleeps now hopefully more peacefully. She will only drift off to sleep if I'm holding her hand. Tonight she smelled it. Like trying to memorize it. She is beautiful. People stop and smile at her. She gives out lots of hugs. SHe is truly amazing. She is Lia-Rose. It's so wild. It's Lia-Rose.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-29183388742161999482009-06-15T15:32:00.001-05:002009-06-15T15:33:17.743-05:00All good!Just tired. She is amazing. She is Lia-Rose...how does this happen? Will write more when I have some energy :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-12003731365583147082009-06-10T02:00:00.001-05:002009-06-10T02:00:32.086-05:00video cutting paper<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/dXAcUeQjkjs' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/dXAcUeQjkjs'/></object></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-70661706646592577282009-06-09T18:32:00.002-05:002009-06-09T18:40:05.868-05:00Wednesday,I thinkThe days all blur together I must say. With the time difference makes it even crazier. But it is Wednesday. We are scheduled to go back to the Embassay today. Well, scheduled is not the right word. We go back because our paperwork that wasn't finished on Monday due to Orphange mistake, should be done today. I sure hope so. I just want this part done so we can finally say...all is complete. You can never breathe in this process. <br /><br />Lia continues to amaze me. I met some mother's yesterday by the pool who couldn't believe that we had only been together a few days. She is very comfortable with me.<br />She is very talkative, although I can't understand her she is certainly expressing herself with her expressions and on going sentences and hand gestures. You can tell she is a fighter. Tough as nails. And a certain amoung of maturity about her. It's hard to explain. She is almost four but something about her. SHe is also just beautiful. I can honestly say I have a gorgeous daughter. Her skin is a gorgeous olive and is already browining up. Her hair is now way past her shoulders and just is beuatiful.<br /><br />The other night we said goodbye to her Nanny. Nanny and I were sobbing privately. Lia is very blessed ...well, I should say Joe and I are, to have had Nanny and her family love Lia so much. She was very well taken care of and it shows.<br /><br />She definetly is testing me. She will run off at a moment's notice and is very over-friendly to strangers...common issues you see with kids in this situation.<br /><br />But all and all, she is the Blessing that is Lia. I can't believe this is happening!<br /><br />Taiwan is a beautiful, friendly and kind country. We have been treated very nicely. Plus met a bunch of Westerners here who are are leaving here and absolutely love it. Lia is from a beatiful country. She is a beutiful child. I am so blessed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-4649107897501411472009-06-07T17:25:00.002-05:002009-06-07T17:33:31.722-05:00Watching her sleepWe are here in Taipai and it's been an amazing few days. Yes, it's exhausting and between the jetleg and just running around to get from point a to point b by 9am this morning, truly the Amazing Race. <br /><br />Lia Tsz-Huei is my daughter. I mean, truly my daughter. Saturday morning was just surreal. I'm trying to remember it now....I remember being really scared and cried on the van right over. We met her at the orphanage and as we rode the elevator up my heart was bounding. The elevator opened and there was a screen door that I could hear babies crying and suddenly a little voice, Mommy mommy mommy. I screamed back Lia Lia Lia when the door opened she ran into my arms. She absolutely remembered me like I had just left her the day before. The webchats and the photos and all Nanny and I did to keep the connection has been vital. It was sad. She looked for Daddy and then said "daddy didn't show up." We told her that Daddy was getting the room ready for her arrival. She smiled!!<br /><br />She holds my hand. Looks for me with others around. I am definetly her mommy.<br /><br />On Saturday after our reunion we went to party they were having for us. There we met some important people in Lia's life...I'll talk more about this privately.<br /><br />I have to go..but will write more later! xoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-50463418606843314762009-06-03T05:13:00.002-05:002009-06-03T05:21:28.470-05:00UNREALSo last night I am in bed. Showered, relaxing, trying to fall asleep. It's aboutthe 9:30. The phone rings. Dina. "Your appointment is at 9a on Monday morning." "Excuse me?"<br /><br />Wendi get your bags packed....I'm off in less then 24 hours. I don't know how I did it. Booked flights, hotels, made huge arrangments. Today I need to pack, clean up my work for a few weeks, go shopping and just try to breathe. This is unreal. I went to bed about 3a last night. That is three hours sleep if ou are counting. I clung to Joe. This is is. The last night we will be just the two of us. Everything is different now. It feels sort of sad. I cried. I can't explain. Goodbye to the wait, the frustration, the not knowing. Goodbye to just my hubby and I. I looked at my doggie and felt guilty. She won't be the center of my universe anymore. <br /><br />Goodbye to it all. And hello to my daugther. <br /><br />So, not sure if this is the end of this blog.One which I created almost three years ago. This blog was about our journey. <br /><br /><br />I will try to post from Taiwan. As many of you know I'm one Facebook, so I'll be status updating and adding some photos over there.<br /><br />In the end, I will admit that this was hard. I feel like the adoption system needs to be retooled for both parents and child. I hope that after Lia comes home I'll find some time to work on ideas to help make that happen. I am enternally grateful to all those who showed me so much love and compassion and partnership through this.<br />I wish those still in process good luck...your dream will most definetly come true.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-27817694435169049922009-05-25T09:42:00.001-05:002009-05-25T09:43:13.200-05:00And the answer is...Certificate is in hand!<br /><br />Well, not my hand, but in Taiwan. And I should be leaving the week of June 8th to bring our little princess home! FINALLY!!!!!<br /><br />Thank you so much for your support...everyone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-81199401821475463422009-05-24T15:49:00.002-05:002009-05-24T15:52:38.017-05:00Are we at the end?I sure hope so. It's almost morning almost 5am the morning of the 25th in Taiwan. In a few hours Mr. T. who is the administrator for the orphange will got to the courthouse. Will the certificate be ready? Or will we have days more to wait? No one knows. I am so nervous that I'm unhappy. This has been such an up and down experience. A true rollercoaster. But, we are almost at the end. Lia-Rose will be home soon. But, how soon is the question. It's weird. You know it is true. But then you wait for the bomb to drop and for more weeks to be added into the equation. Time flies yet it truly creeps by as well. <br /><br />I hope I will have some great news to report VERY SOON!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-76113794944752079412009-05-19T11:15:00.002-05:002009-05-19T11:15:38.532-05:00May 25thThe date we are supposed to get certificate...then we can book travel and visa appointment. <br /><br />Let's see...I really feel positive!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-8232851479929021232009-05-15T17:05:00.002-05:002009-05-15T17:06:18.168-05:00"I LUB YOU"My daughter is so smart. She "lubs me". And she tells me when she sees me online! What a girl!<br /><br />No updates...but here's the good news...it's been three weeks now...will next week be it! YES, remember, positive thinking! <br /><br /><br />Thank you for yours!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32153976.post-52028540598538870482009-05-12T20:55:00.001-05:002009-05-12T20:58:14.061-05:00Still ...Just need this certificate. Come on. I have to ask all of you a huge huge favor. You have all been so wonderful to me during this journey. Can I ask you for one big favor. Please ask G-d or whoever u may believe in to help us get that final piece of paper. <br /><br />I am going to imagine that the judge has signed it. That she is handing it to her clerk. The clerk has folded it and put it into an envelope and has sent to Ms. K. Ms. K is putting it on her fax machine and sending it to D our facilitator. D is picking up the phone and scheduling our appointment with the Embassay. She is then putting the phone down and calling me. And so it is!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3