Some Thoughts

Some of you asked what were the results of that nutty diet I was on last week. I lost 5 lbs. in 1 week. I must say I felt like crap during that week but now my clothes are fitting so much better! I need to lose 5 more lbs. but the memories of last week are still too fresh to start again. I will wait a little before doing it again. Mom lost 7 lbs. and Gord lst 8 lbs. My first meal was not too tasty and I had trouble getting it in, lunch was a little better and pretty normal by dinner. Now I am trying to be careful of what I eat until I figure out some sort of plan. I also continue to exercise 3 times a week. We shall see...

A couple of bittersweet moments this week:

First, I unpacked the diaper bag and retired it for good. Great news as Alexia is out of diapers... sad news as I most probably will never use that bag again :(

Second, Cara-Li scored her first goal at soccer today in the pouring rain (what a trouper!). Sad part, Mom wasn't there to witness it (I'm not crazy to sit in the rain!).

Third, for the first time I thought to myself that 2 kids is as much as we can handle. Always thought that we might go for a third but at this point I really feel that 2 is just right for our family. A little sad...

Gotta Love Anniversaries!

One year ago today, we arrived home from China with our newest addition, Alexia. I remember the amazing feeling of being home, sleeping in our own bed and just the thrill of beginning our life as a family of four. It is such an amazing high!

I mentionned this anniversary to Gord yesterday and he became very insistent that we have lunch together today to celebrate. Mondays are never a good day for me to leave the store but I figured, what the hay, he is so gung ho about it. What's up with that?? And he is leaving for Toronto for the entire week for work AND is missing my birthday. However, when I got to work today, we were short-staffed and therefore, it was impossible for me to leave. So Gord joined me for lunch in my office and over a Big Mac, this is what he handed over to me....

It was wrapped of course with a lovely card. A diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet!! To die for!! The occasion... for having Alexia. It is a lovely tradition that I heard about years ago (Gord is convinced that I made it up). Husband gives a piece of jewelery to his wife at the arrival of their child and then that piece of jewelery is handed down to them when they are older. It is a little late as Alexia has been with us for a year but one should not complain. Did you see what I got?? A tennis bracelet!!!!

This is what was given to me for Cara-Li's arrival.



In case you haven't noticed, I love sapphires. And it is my birthstone. I wonder if Gord knows that....

A Week in Review

Whew!!! What a week! I swear... this work thing really gets in the way of my personal time! Here's what we've been up to in the last week.

• Friday - 08/08/08: The Olympics in Beijing begin (old news... I know). Unfortunately, we were unable to watch the opening ceremonies as we are were on our way to our 1st Annual Reunion for Alexia's travel group. We spent the weekend at Floribell at Lac Bell, a great place to have such reunions. Each family had their very own condo in a complex situated right on the beach. Upon arrival, it was a 'Wine and Cheese' party out on the balcony for us all till the wee hours of the morning. You gotta love wine while reminiscing!

• Saturday - 09/08/08: Lots more fun is had at our reunion. Lots of fun was had at the beach as you can see. And the weather really cooperated this weekend... probably the first dry weekend of the summer. An attempt is made at dinner to take a picture of all the little ones on the couch. Tough. Tougher than it was last year as they are all mobile now! This is when the older sisters are dragged into the picture. Their job... to hold down their baby sisters!





• Sunday - 10/08/08: This is our last together as a group until we meet again next year. We sure we miss all of these wonderful families! PS: Do you think that Alexia will ever forgive me for posting this picture of her on the beach? Heehee! Sorry sweetie. I had to do it!

• Monday - 11/08/08: We finally get a chance to view the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics thanks to the wonders of PVR. All I have to say is WOW! I LOVE CHINA!



• Tuesday - 12/08/08: I flew to Toronto early morning to shop at the Gift Show for our store. I love doing this. I fly in, shop all day, and fly home with nothing more than my handbag. It is just like taking the bus downtown! I found some cute things for the store but the best part was being able to read a book uninterrupted! I fianally finished my summer read... last summer's read, that is! I started reading Red China Blues by Jan Wong last summer but never finished it as our trip to China got in the way :) I not only managed to finish it but was also able to find the second part, Beijing Confidential, athe the airport bookstore. What a score!


• Wednesday - 13/08/08: Dinner at the P. and M. This family was unable to make our reunion but we did manage to hook up with them at their home for a lovely dinner. Our girls just love their girls!

• Thursday - 14/08/08: Dinner at Cage aux Sports with C, P and G. No one in our household wants to cook! Does it show? Cara-Li and I then went to Staples to pick up all her school supplies. Did I mention she is not a bit thrilled about starting school?!?


• Friday - 15/08/08: I am finally at home in front of my computer. It has been a long week! We decided not to go to the cottage this weekend since I have to work tomorrow and Cara-Li has a birthday party to go on Sunday.

Hopefully, I will not have to wait another week before my next entry. We'll see what the following days have in store for us.

5 Years Already!

Another memorable weekend! It was our 5th year reunion with Cara-Li's adoption group. This weekend we loaded the SUV up and headed for the campground. Well actually, we rented a bunch of cabins up in Morin Heights (yes, that's 7 minutes away from our cottage!) and we camped in luxury! These tiny but practical cabins sleep 5 people, has a full bathroom with shower, has an eating and living area and a complete tiny kitchen. Outside, each cabin has a picnic table and fire pit. One couldn't ask for anything more! Heehee... I say that because I was the one who planned it this year and so I thought the place was great.

Once everyone settled in on Friday night, we had a wine and cheese party while the girls got reacquainted. It was early to bed for most as we had an early departure in the AM for the forest adventure I had planned. The girls went on the junior circuit while some of the adults did the adult run. And then it was poolside for the rest of the day for most. Some did have to take a nap after their 3 hour adventure! It was a potluck dinner in the evening and marshmellows and 'smores by the campfire.

It is always great to see these families every year and to see the girls grow up. I remember each one of them as babies in China as if it were yesterday. They have changed... but I could still see that little baby in them. Until next year!

The Girls and the siblings

The Moms

The Dads

310 Days

Today is a very important day in our household. It marks 311 days since Alexia joined our family. Which is one day more than she was in the orphanage. We can officially say that we are the people she has known is the longest! She is so much a part of our lives that we cannot imagine life without her nor can we remember life before her. She is an utter joy!

Last night, Mommy and Cara-Li had a date with Mortimer's Mom and Dumpling. WEll, actually, the girls had a date and the moms were the chaperones. We went to see Slava's Snowshow. It is basically a clown show and what a show it was! We were engulfed by a giant web (actually a huge piece of cotton, but I mean HUGE!), we endured yet another huge snowstorm or two (like we didn't have enought this past winter), we experienced a flurry of bubbles and we were harrassed by clowns during intermission. The show was great and the music was even better. And at the end they dropped and released at least 10 massive, larger than life balls with many smaller ones for the audience to toss and hit around. Needless to say, the girls had themselves a blast!

The Infamous Call

Just this past Sunday, July 6th, marked our one year anniversary since we got ''the call'' informing us of our new daughter, Guang Yun Xia who was merely 8 months old. Our lives have not been the same since. See our original post here.

Friday, July 6, 2007

IT'S A GIRL!!

Yes, we have a girl! We got the call today and we have been floating on cloud nine ever since! Her name is Guang Yun Xia born on October 27, 2006. She is presently at the Guangchang SWI in the province of Jiangxi. She is a little over 8 months old... just a baby! We will have her file and photos some time next week. I know, I know... it's difficult. We must wait as the files are translated but at least we have some information to get us through the week. And we did not have to wait until Monday. For this, we are thankful!

Cara-Li is thrilled to have a baby sister! We have been preparing her for the possibility of a brother. We could almost see a sign of relief when we told her it was a girl. We have a very, very happy 5 year old right now.!

I am in panic mode. We don't have any clothes for such a young baby as Cara-Li was 16 months when we brought her home. Must go shopping! I have not prepared a care package to send to her in China despite the 20 months we had to prepare. Must go shopping! We must get some suitcases. Must go shopping! She is 8 months old... do I need a smaller car seat? Must go shopping! What about a baby carrier? Must go shopping! What in the world have I been doing for the last 20 months? Apparently, not much!

Here is a map of China so that you can see where our girls are from. Cara-Li is from Guangxi and Yun Xia is from Jiangxi... a couple of Southern Belles!

P.S.: I know some of you are afraid of blogs and do not know how to Comment. Here is a quick how to for those who don't blog! At the bottom of each post you will see a number with Comments . If you click on this you can read comments others have made AND add one of your own. Type your comment in the big box, click on the Other bubble, enter your name and finally the Publish Your Comment bubble. It is just that simpe.OK... I am off to, you guessed it, SHOP!!!Oh, geez! I guess we should name her too! Goodness, where is my ''To Do List''...

Posted by Susie & Gordie at 11:11 PM 32 comments
Labels: Mei Mei, Referral

Travel Day #1 & 10 months old

The first leg of our trip is done. We are in Toronto after a very long 1 hour flight.... HEEHEE! Everything went super well and even though we are not much further ahead in our journey, we are one step closer to Alexia. Tomorrow we will certainly make some headway.

It is now 10:00PM and we have a very wound up 5 year old who just wants to be in China right now. So I best try getting her to sleep as we must be up at 6:30AM!

And Alexia turns 10 months old today! Happy Birthday sweetiepie!

Unbelievable!

A little while ago, a fellow blogger wrote a post about how she was in awe to learn that other adoptive parents were so special, generous, helpful and kind to one another even though most of the time these are people that we don't even know that well. Having already been through one adoption process, I was already aware of this. Other adoptive families that have already been there, done that, are always SO willing to share their stories, help with issues and make sure that the new adoptive family has a great experience. This brings me to my story.

Some months ago, during our waiting process, a fellow adoptive mom, whom I originally met in a Yahoo group only to find out that she was a Montrealer and that her first daughter was from the same orphange as Cara-Li, offered to lend me her mei-tai sling (baby carrier) for the trip to China. I received an e-mail from her earlier this week informing me of the fact that she was unable to locate the said sling. Too bad, I thought as I would have liked to have it for the trip. No biggy. But as I continued reading her e-mail, she proceeds to say that she decided to sew one for me (she is great at sewing). I was dumbfounded! Here is a person that went so much out of her way. Not only that... she delivered it and demonstrated how to use it using her own very lovely daughter, SQ. This act was not necessary, totally unexpected and so, so much appreciated! Thank you so much, MM!

Is it Monday yet?

No, I guess it isn't :(

Time is just not going by fast enough. I wish we could just start our journey towards China. I want to be in my daughters' country of birth. I know we will have to wait another week before we actually get to meet Alexia but I think that being on the same side of the earth as she, it will make us all feel closer to her.

Did I mention that my dear, dear friend, Laure, will be joining us for this voyage? Yes, she is coming with us to experience the magic of adoption, to enjoy the beautiful country, its people and its culture, and well, to help us with the kids should the need arise ;) ;) Heehee! Someone may need a vacation after this trip! And, it won't be the girls running her ragged... it'll be her super-high-maintenance friend (moi!) that'll get to her!
Sorry, Laure... I pre-apologize!

PS: Our itinerary has changed somewhat. We will be flying to Nanchang only on Sunday and receiving the babies as soon as we land. Laure has already started doing her job... she was right there for me when I started to freak out and talked me down from the ledge. Heehee! Thanks Auntie Loula!

The 'TO DO' Lists

Once you get that long-awaited referral call, the 'to do' lists begin forming fast and furious. I keep a notepad next to my bed as I inevitably wake up in the middle of the night with something to add to it. Of course, it is a miracle if I could understand my own handwriting the next day! We are now 11 days away from departure and I must say that my 'to do' list is rather small.

Book airline tickets... DONE
Book hotel in TO & Shanghai... DONE
Get Visas... DONE
Complete vaccinations... DONE
Go to Immigration... DONE
Prepare all documents needed... DONE

Packing has begun. All medications and toiletries are already packed. This part usually stresses me the most so this time I packed it first instead of my usual last minute. All snacks/food for the kids and us are packed. Toys are packed. We just have to pack our clothes and we are off!

We are still in town for 2 weekends but there will be no cottaging for us. We have our travel meeting with our group this Saturday followed by an interview with CBC concerning our adoption of Alexia. On Sunday, we will have our 'last supper' with my family followed by a visit with Baby Noah (Gord's cousin's baby) who is just a week old. Next Saturday is packing day as we will be busy on Sunday. My baby brother Michael and his lovely fiancée Tanya are having an engagement party. Congratulations!

And then Monday is going to be the big day where we say bye-bye to our little family of 3 and say hello to our big family of 4!

We're going to China.... FINALLY!

We have been desperately awaiting our TAs for all of last week and without knowing, I wore my lucky shoes on Friday. The last 2 times I were them, we got our referral call and the call to pick up our files and pictures. So when I realized that I was wearing the lucky shoes, I was certain that we'd get the TA call. Well, we did get the call. That was the good news. The bad news was that the group would more than likely be travelling on August 31st instead of the 24th as there were no seats available on the return flight from Beijing for the entire group. This would be confirmed on Monday. I must remind you all that my dear husband has done only one thing during this entire adoption process besides signing on the dotted line when asked... he booked our tickets on airmile points. However, we believed that the group would be leaving the 24th and therefore he booked our tickets for the 20th. There was lots of scrambling and we decided not to do anything until today when FUF confirmed to us the actual travel dates. Once confirmed this AM, we easily changed our tickets (with a small penalty of course) and will be travelling to Toronto on Monday, August 27th where we will spend the night followed by a flight to Shanghai on the 28th. We will be staying until Saturday, September 15th just 2 days shy of my 40th birthday. There is a huge weight off my shoulders now that this is written in stone. We are having our travel meeting this coming Saturday so we will not know when we will actually get our sweet Alexia. I am guessing it will be Monday, September 3rd. I am bummed about not getting her on the 27th which is her 10th month birthday. Oh well! Now I can settle down a little as we have 2 weeks before departure. I must say that I was pretty much ready to leave at the drop of a hat. Here we come Alexia!

Men!

I ask you... why did God create man (if you believe in that)?

Here I am running from store to store gathering every last little item for this trip to China, washing all of Alexia's itty-bitty clothes, reducing the packaging of the food and medications for China in order to save space in our suitcase, thinking of who is going to water the plants and pick-up the mail while we are gone, planning dinner for our last weekend at the cottage (there's more, I just can't think straight right now). NOT Gord! He just sits there watching TV as I zoom up and down 3 flights of stairs with my arms filled with stuff about 100 times in an evening. He doesn't even bat an eyelash. Actually, I think he is sleeping! At 9PM, as I am running up and down, up and down (I'm going to sell this house!) His response to me once confronted by a mad woman is, 'Susie, you know that I don't have the same energy as you and you are much younger than I am. I'm tired after dinner.'

Well... if we all keep this same pace, we will make it to China with everything neccesary (no thanks to Gord), except that I may have to be carried over there. No problem... Gord is REALLY well rested!!!

And no... no TAs yet :(

Where are those darn TAs???

OK... we really need to receive those TAs if we want to leave on the 2oth! I was betting that we would have received them yesterday but now I am confident that tomorrow is the day. Please, please! I really do not want to change our tickets.

What have we been doing lately, you ask? Well, we have been busy preparing, purchasing and organizing for this trip. Everything needed has been purchased. Purchases have either been organized in a bin by category in Alexia's room or it is in the laundry room being washed. Gordie went to Ottawa today to get our Visas and final vaccinations have been received. I am trying to tie up loose ends at work as I will not be there for several months eventhough I will be working from home. Home office is pretty much set up except for some computer glitches that need to be ironed out.

I just want to get to China ASAP... I am done with waiting... I am done with preparing... I am just done! I just want this little precious baby of ours to come home!

Happy Gotcha Day and Happy Birthday!

Today, July 27th, is a very special day for both our girls, our Southern Belles.

Four years ago today, Cara-Li joined us and we became a family. It is hard to believe that all this time has gone by! I cannot remember life before her... what did we do with all our free time? It has been the 4 most wonderful years of our lives and we are about to start all over again with the arrival of Alexia very shortly. Happy Gotcha Day, sweet baby Cara-Li! We love you! Wo ai ni!

And today, is also a very special day for our little Alexia who turns 9 months old! We will be there soon, sweetiepie, so that we could begin our lives together as a family of four. Hopefully, we will have you in our arms on the day of your 10 month birthday. Happy Birthday, sweet little baby Alexia! We love you! Wo ai ni!

Other news... my dear husband has decided to book our airline tickets to China today. That's right... we don't even have an exact travel date but we have airline tickets. Go figure! He decided that we should get our tickets as they were available today on airmile points and they may not be later once the travel date is decided by the agency. We can change them should we have to for a small fee but hopefully we guessed right.

Drum roll please...

It has been 11 days since we had our first glimpse of our precious daughter, Guang Yun Xia who is waiting for us in the province of Jiangxi. She is described as an active and smiley baby who loves to play with her favorite rattle and loves to listen to music. She sleeps very soundly and gets excited when she sees food... much like her mother!

Some time ago, we asked for suggestions for a name for our daughter and this weekend was the weekend where the decision was to be made. So here it is.... her name is .... Alexia Yun. I think that we did OK in trying to use her 2 Chinese names. Thanks to everyone that sent us suggestions!

Last Thursday we met up with a couple, Mary and Eric, that we will be travelling to China with. It is wild to think that our daughters are together right now as we speak. It'll be so nice for them to have this connection right here in our city. Mary and Eric are great and we cannot wait to start our journey together! Mary... I am still working on a master packing list. I will let you know when it is done so we can compare.

Four years ago, we were getting ready to leave for China. It's funny because back then just before departure, I had to renew my driver's liscence and medicare card. I renewed these again last week. Also, back four years ago, I had a terrible toothache that had to be dealt with just before departure. Guess what? Four years later, same tooth, same ache. This is going to be dealt with this week as it has been aching for over a week. Is this a coincidence or does this mean that it is time for us to go China?

I say... China here we come as we cannot wait to hold our little Alexia Yun in our arms!!