Christmas LICE/MOOSE

This evening we drove downtown to see the lights. They were beautiful and Sara kept saying "China no good Christmas lice, oh my gosh, COOL!" We found a chocolate store open and bought the girls, and us of course, some chocolate. Sara got a chocolate Christmas Moose sucker (reindeer) and Ruth some dark chocolate. The girls were sleeping by the time we got home.

Ice,tow truck,bikes

Today we went to see our friend Tami and her daughter Lauren. We went to the Gaylord hotel to see the ice sculpture display made by men from Chins who work on the Harbin Winter Festival. It is a constant 9 degrees in the display and luckily they give you large parkas to wear over your coat. I brought gloves and hats too. The girls had fun together and at the end, there is an ice slide that they went down a few times....then out because it was getting very cold.

By this time, Sara was too hungry and she crashes when she needs to eat. We went to the restaurant and were told we had a 30 minute wait, so we got the pager and went to get our free Christmas cookies and apple juice. Then we were not starving and wanted to save some money, so when they paged us, we told them thanks, but we needed to go. As I waited with the now crying Sara, Tami took the girls to the garage to get the car, and we waited, and we waited.....finally we met up and the car had died. It was in for maintenance the day before, and now a dead battery...coincidence, we think not. SO, back to the restaurant, a sports bar, and they seated us immediately, brought food within 5 minutes, and tended us like royalty! Sara got some, what else, chicken into her and she shared with Ruth and I. The meal was great and the service wonderful. Tami went ahead to see about the car, tow truck and loaner car coming from the dealership.

We met up with Tami as her car was leaving piggy back on the tow truck. On the way home we stopped at a park by her house and the girls played until it began to get too cool. Back to the house for the girls to make cookies. Then I took the training wheels off Lauren's bike and Lauren and Ruth both learned to ride!!!!! They were off like the wind, and Sara had to show them a few finer points on the bike.

Then back to the house and an end to a very fun day. Oh yeah, it was the battery on Tami's car and she called saying that she was on her way to get the car.

Dress-ups

This evening I caught the girls being girls...playing dress up. It was so much fun sitting back and watching them. AHHHH childhood is wonderful and we all need to keep a little in

our hearts to keep us smiling. Sara was watching a Chinese video of little girls doing ballet dances that she picked out in Guangzhou and she was pretending to be a ballet dancer. Ruth was a hula dancer along with just a sweet silly girl.

There were laughs all around.

Teeth and tears

Well, today was the teeth doctor, aka dentist. We stopped at McDonald's on the way for a little lunch and relaxed play-it is cold and raining outside. Sara was thrilled to see the dentist had video games to play while she waited, Ruth is old hat at all of this. Then it was time and to the back they went. Parents are NOT allowed in the back! They were there for a long time, then out comes Sara in her silent cry with tears running down her face. Her teeth were bad, but not terrible. They had to push back her gums to get to the crud. They are so much whiter too. Down the road will be braces and fixing a few chipped teeth. They played video games a little after the appointment and were all smiles by the time they left.

Ruth did great as usual, but needs two more teeth pulled to make way for her eye teeth. Her baby teeth usually do not want to leave and have to be pulled, the first 4 at a time when she was 4, and it did not phase her! SO....back to the dentist next month for Ruth's extraction and to work a little more on cleaning Sara's teeth.

Company Christmas Party

Today we drove an hour to Jeff's work for their company Christmas feast. Sara wanted to see where her Baba worked, and Ruth has fun there. We feasted, and the girls played in Jeff's office for a while....what artists we have.

New Bicycles

For Christmas we decided to get the girls bicycles early so we could tell what size they need. Sara has been asking for one since she came home, and Ruth needs to learn how to ride. I ended up getting both of them a bike and I am glad I have a van! Of course we bought helmets too, Ruth a purple, and Sara picked out a ladybug one.....go figure.

We took the girls to their school, since there was soft grass for Ruth to learn on, or so I thought. Sara began in the parking lot and took about 5 minutes to fall and take the skin off her knee. Luckily Jeff had followed me and ran back to the house for band-aids. I did have a wet cloth, but not enough. That taken care of, off we went with Ruth. Unfortunately they had watered the mud, and well, that did not turn out well and I am still cleaning the mud off the shoes! I decided we needed a break and we stopped at McDonald's....yes, Sara love hamburgers....an all American girl! Then off to our local park. Sara was off like the wind, and Ruth is trying very hard and is very close to being off like a small wind. I guess that once they are both up and going, I will have to get a bike, bad knee willing, to keep up with them. Our town is putting in miles of linear parks, all connected, and they are beautiful. They spent some time climbing on the vines too.

Christmas parties X2

Today I attended both Christmas parties, luckily Sara's began first and ended as Ruth's began, and luckily their rooms are down the hall from each other, or I would be in need of roller blade, and a good health insurance LOL. Both girls had a blast, and Sara is thinking this Christmas is not so bad. She also is under the opinion that the Christmas stocking belongs on her foot, after all it is a stocking. The girls came home early with me....only 20 days until school begins again!

A Star

Ruth has been in the school theater club since school began and tonight was the production. It was great. The drama teacher wrote the play and the 20 children acted it out, not just read the lines. Ruth was a detective named Kat, a nervous type with a phobia for germs (haha-just got over chicken pox-GERMS) and the acting was great and full of expression.

Toys for Tots

This week the girl's school has been collecting Toys for Tots, a local toy drive organized by the Marines to get Christmas presents for deserving children. Of course it was made into a competition and Sara's class came in third. In the afternoon, two helicopters, one with some Marines and professional baseball players and a second from a local TV station, arrived at school. The kids all got to shake hands (or Hi 5) the ball players and Marines.







This evening the local news ran the story and there was Ruth and her friend Nikki. They were the stars of the news report. We were all screaming...look, there's Ruth.

Camp Hope in Fuzhou

We got an email today from our friend Misty and it included information about a camp that Sara and Misty's pending daughter Fu, Dan attended this summer in Fuzhou. It looks like they had a great time.

Sara's eyes

Today and yesterday Sara had an appointment with two cornea specialists. Her favorite part of course was the chair that went up and down....wonder if we can get Santa to bring her one for Christmas because she has been very good. We will see about getting her glasses in the next few weeks.

This evening the girls decided to dress me like a queen and don't I look beautiful!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY

Today we celebrated my birthday, since it falls on Tuesday and all will be scattered. I got breakfast in bed, and beautiful home made cards. Also beautiful flowers, a cake, and tonight dinner out.

SCHOOL

Today was Sara's first day of class. I decided to stay with her all day to make sure she was comfortable. Her teacher Ms. Ridelhubner helped Sara get her binder and all of her school supplies put away, assigned a locker, and a buddy to show her what and how to do things. Yesterday Ms R had time to tell the class a little about Sara so they were not overly inquisitive when we arrived---BIG HELP!!! Ms. R read a book to the class, and Sara got a book to follow along, just like the rest of the class. During Social Studies, she got a book with the rest of the class, but she did not need to do the open book test, but she did not stand out by not getting a book from the shelf. Sara did a project "tell me about you" and she listed her favorite things as eating watermelon, watching TV, jump roping, and doing hackey sack. They had their morning snack.

I took some time away and ate lunch with Ruth.

Back to Sara's class. They went to music and I wish I had a movie camera with me. Today was free dance day-to make sure they get the required PE time, since the schools are cutting down on this. One child got to choose a dance off of the list, and off they went. Sara had about 7 girls hovering around her to help. She would look at me with the biggest smile and giggle. Next off to gym. She had a blast there too. Next to lunch, and no problems. Next to recess, and I went home for the day.

I feel confident that she is in good hands and is comfortable. So far Sara has taught her class how to count on their fingers the Chinese way, yes it is different from ours. We took one of Sara's Chinese CDs in and they listened to it during snack, including ABC and Happy Birthday in Mandarin.

I can not wait for the girls to come home and find out how the rest of Ruth and Sara's days went.

ALMOST SCHOOL

Yesterday we took Sara and Ruth to school, the first day for Sara and the first day back for Ruth since getting the Chicken Pox. Ruth settled into class, but we found out that today the 4th graders are going to see the Nutcracker, so Sara will officially begin tomorrow. We did meet her teacher and took a picture of her. She is very nice. We developed the photo and Sara put the picture of her teacher and herself up in her room to look at. When Jeff came home, she ran down to him to show him her teacher. I think she is excited about school. Since our lunch boxes were packed, we went to eat lunch with Ruth, another practice run.

At the recommendation of the school nurse, we called a local children's hospital and requested a Mandarin interpreter for Sara's eye doctor on Monday, and it was approved. We felt this was VERY important because every time Sara thinks they are going to do something to her eyes, she says and motions the cutting out of her eyes. I think that she misunderstood what they were talking about in China, and feel that she must be told in her language as they examine her eyes.

PLAY DAY

Today is the last day off from school. I took the girls to a local park to enjoy the beautiful day and since Sara's legs were still sore, I thought it would help work out the stiffness. We had a picnic lunch so Sara could get the concept of a lunch box for school. The girls played, then we walked down the new linear addition to another park. There the girls played some more. We were exhausted and walked all the way back to the car.

SHOTS!!!!!!!!

Today Sara went in for test results and the unspoken shots. All of her blood, and other bodily fluids came back fine. No intestinal parasites, all fine. Then for her shots. Poor thing, we did not tell her about them until the nurse was about to come in. She pretended to faint LOL!!! Since her arms are too thin, she got the 5- yes 5- shots in her legs. I was lucky and got to hold her down, and she did not cry!!! Of course she walked stiff legged the rest of the day. I gave her a hot bubble bath with toys, hoping the heat will work the pain out some. I KNOW that getting so many shots must hurt. Poor baby.

She is now legal and able to begin school.

The Boyz are in town

We had some very special company this weekend. We met Rodney and Angel in Beijing as we both began the journey to our new daughters. We bonded quickly and became close friends. I am trying to convince them that they belong in TX! With the BBQ we fed the boys this weekend, I think we have won them over. Chase is Rodney and Angel's oldest son. Chase and his friend Gordon were in town for some try outs and we had the privilege of hosting them. They were great boys and we truly hope they come again, maybe in the summer when we do not have to avoid ice. LOL. Maybe Rodney and Angel could come too, and of course the little one. There are a lot of Malls here that we need to.......check out for quality control hehehe. Sara slept in Ruth's room while the Boyz were here in a barbie princess tent, and I may NEVER get her out of it. The girls slept with the gifts that the boys brought for them. Love the shirts....THANKS!

Today I took Sara for her chest X-ray to check for TB. Since she was given the TB shot as a baby, as was Ruth, they do a chest X-ray instead of the skin prick to verify. With the shot there is a good chance the test will come back positive. On the way we stopped at Mickey D (McDonald's) and that put smiles on both the girl's faces....Ruth is not cleared to return to school until maybe Wednesday. The school nurse took a look at her in the afternoon when we were turning in the paperwork for Sara to begin school. Tomorrow Sara will begin her shots....and I'm not going to tell her until the last minute.

Did I forget to mention the cat is being properly spoiled by the girls. I found her tucked into my bed!

Chicken Pox, Snow and a special Birthday

YES! Last night Ruth commented that she had 11, no 17 mosquito bites. Of course this caught my attention immediately! I knew right away what it was....CHICKEN POX. She had the required shot as an infant, but the pediatrician said it prevents 80% of the cases, and the other 20% get a milder case. SO, we are home for a while which is OK because this morning we had.....

SNOW! You must understand that Texas snow is not like in other places. We have one flurry and they bring out the sand trucks. Our big problem is the ice under the one flurry, and usually there is a lot of this. The schools will let out early since the temp keeps falling and is well below freezing.

AND....Happy birthday to my DH Jeff!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving 2006

Happy thanksgiving to everyone. We stuffed ourselves like turkeys. My mother makes the best homemade everything. We did come home one day early since I had the mother of colds. Maybe I should have stuck around for some homemade turkey soup! Sara got to meet many of her cousins and two of her aunts and uncles. She adjusted well the the family all around and learned a card game that we have been playing since kids. Today she was playing it with Jeff and beating him! This child is quick. Ruth learned the game last year and beats us all the time.

SISTERS

Nothing else needs to be said.....Sara and Ruth looking so sweet...plotting how to wear their parents out.

Eatting American style..finally

This morning Sara had an all American breakfast of biscuit and scrambled egg, picante sauce, and cheese. She loved it

Late morning we went to the Dallas Arboretum...a trip that due to traffic took well over an hour. Of course by the time we arrived, poor Sara was in tears and car sick again. She quickly recovered with her first hot dog, feeding half the bun to the starving (fat) birds. They were having a tree house exhibit designed by architects. They were.....very interesting. We loved the flowers and Jeff, Sara, and Ruth all got soaked when playing the the huge frog fountain! We had a good time, but were ready to leave. The day was gorgeous and the girls wore jeans and sleeveless shirts....eat your hearts out those of you up north! I would love to see some tree houses designed by kids!

This evening we had pork chops and green beans and Sara ate this too. Of course you understand that everything is topped with her pickled cabbage stuff from the Asian Market....sort of like ketchup on everything China style.

Sara got to call her friend M who lives in FL and came from the same SWI and were adopted the same day. They just chattered on for the longest time and giggled the whole time. Sara told me some of what was said. They were comparing the number of pets, TV's, bathrooms, 1vs2 stories, and how many times they have missed a bath since home....this they thought was particularly funny!

Fortune cookies

The second day home, we went to a local Chinese Restaurant and this was in our fortune cookies

Mine: Your ability to love will help a child in need
DH: You will be rewarded for your efforts within the month
DD Ruth: You will be rewarded for being a good listener in the next week
DD Sara:You will make many changes before settling satisfactorily

I would say that this is all too true for all of us!

looking back, heading forward, school

This is part of Sara's room. She shared it with many girls.

If I understand correctly, this is the woman that cared for Sara and Sara smiles happily when she sees this picture. Notice the shirt that we sent in Sara's care package. It says "Somebody in Texas loves me" How right she is................

This afternoon I took Sara to the school to test for the ESL program. Sara was a little scared when the woman took her from me for the testing. Yes, she did qualify. The woman said that Sara knew the word dog, then nothing else so she stopped at question #6. Next we need to get a conference with the English Mandarin ESL teacher in another school and get Sara registered and transferred there. This should make morning carpool interesting, but not impossible.

My PlayList
BestAudioCodes.com

This, that and the other

I am pleased to say that the girls get along so great! We have found Sara's favorite meal-dirty rice with pork, a bowl of grapes and watermelon, and a handful of chicken wings, of course topped with her mystery stuff from the Asian market. Ruth tried the stuff and was OK with it, but she did not want any more.

I have found that Sara sleeps better when the room is not silent, so I got a small personal fan and run it at night and she sleeps like a gem! I had to wake her up this morning in time for carpool because she was snoozing right through her alarm.

Today we went to Wal-Mart to print out some of our photos. We got to #436 and it stopped. Apparently it cannot handle the 700+ photos we have on our huge chip, and it is too large for it to copy onto a disk.....probably need to buy more computer equipment to do this at home. We should have stuck with 2 smaller chips for the camera instead of one large one...another lesson learned. Still trying to settle the DVD programed for Region 3, of course now I know we are in Region 1 and our DVD players can not read region 3! Should have picked up a DVD player in China along with everything else, some of which is being shipped to us in a few month on a slow boat from China......hahaha.

We had lunch at school with Ruth. Sara is the big walking, talking show and tell in the class. Everyone is very nice to her and Sara is beginning to recognize the students. Tomorrow I will take her to the school to be tested to qualify for the ESL program and unless she has become proficient in the last 5 days, she should qualify, but who knows with this school district! We will wait and see.

And the fun begins

This is our first meeting. So glad we had the magna doodle because it was sure an ice breaker, and we could draw pictures of what we were talking about. Too bad Sara can draw better than me.

WE ARE HOME

We are home! We had so much fun that it would have been easy to stay another week...


SARA-she is shy at first, then so outgoing and funny and loving. There were tears when we first met, understandable. By the first night, it was all hugs and kisses. Her sleeping cot was next to my bed and each night she fell asleep holding my hand. She did not want much when we went shopping. Her favorite color is white and we did find two traditional Chinese outfits for her. We did not need shoes until we were in Guandghou and they mostly had baby shoes on the island we were staying on, but we did find one pair at Sherry's and she could not be happier.

While in Nanchang, we went to the six banyan temple and had all the children, and parents , get a Buddhist blessing. Sara was a willing participant in everything. She loves the coy fish. She loves HOT everything. Jeff and Sara are out at the local Asian market looking for more HOT foods while she transitions to our food. We have hard boiled eggs and rice ready. She loves her congee---over cooked watery rice--should be easy for me to cook.


We have over 700 photos and will work on getting these going.

Oh yes, the tour part of the trip was fantastic. We has a wonderful guide, Cindy, who was a local and could rattle off so many facts. The Great wall is great and was VERY difficult to climb.

Sister Ruth is having fun with Sara, who is teaching her chinese version of hackey sack. When Ruth got up for school this morning, she checked on her sister and told me that she was OK. Sara did sleep in her bed upstairs by herself and was fine. When I checked on her at about 11:00, she was up because she was hot, then slept fine.

Much more later. We need to do some laundry, etc.