Thoughts...

As we are approaching single digits, I thought that I would reflect on some things that have been going through my mind these days. I don't feel like I am sleeping as much as I need to and I know that I am not eating right. I feel stressed and excited. Sad and ecstatic at the same time. Is that possible?? No wonder I have a stomach ache! I talked to my friend Lori today. She is Lindley's mom. Lindley and Norah are just hanging out in China waiting for their mom's to come and get them! Looks like we will be in the China at the same time getting our girls! We both should get them on the 13th at the Civil Affairs office in Nanchang.
I am sad about leaving Elias and sad that he is missing out on this event. He doesnt want to go and quite frankly I'm not sure how he would do if he was to go. Two weeks isn't forever but I sure am going to miss that little guy. I will have 7 weeks off from work, so we will really be able to bond and hang out for the rest of the summer.
I wonder if the nannies are telling her about us and showing her our picture. I wonder if they have her bags packed and I wonder if they hug her everyday. I hope that they have been preparing her for our coming. I hope that she isnt in too much shcok from it all and I really hope that we don't look like monsters to her. I hope that her little heart has peace and most of all I hope that she loves us as much as we love her.
Right now she is probably having a snack and getting ready for a nap. I think about her all the time and hope that she is looking forward to coming home. She can't really know what is going on at 18 months old, but we can wish right?
We need to book plane tickets, get the laptop from my sister, the ipod, the bookbag and the camera from Val. I need to take the MPOA to my mom as well as insurance cards and our wills. I need to leave money for groceries for us coming home. Shannon needs to clean out the car and put the car seat in. We desperately need to pack. I need to buy gifts for the officials and of course buy red bags. I need to get some nice money and also get the video camera ready. I think that is all I need to do. That's alot huh! Boy, I feel so unprepared! I work two more nights and then I am off. Hopefully we will get our CA tomorrow so we can book plane tickets before we have to start selling body parts to buy them. That's all for now. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We certainly need it! Peace and Love! SPE

Baby Shower Day!

We had another baby shower today, given by my mom. It was AMAZING. Yes, we got alot of really cool things, but it was also sort of a last get together of all the family (mine and Shannon's) before we got to China - in 12 days to be exact not that I am counting... My friend Peggy came with her daughter Gracie and it was sooooo good to finally see that sweet little girl! She is precious! It was so great to be together with everyone and thinking all the while that the next time we are all together like this there will be a new addition to the family! I will post pics in the next thread!

I can't believe it. The countdown is REALLY on!

I cannot for the life of me believe that the countdown is on! I am so nervous and happy and rediculous. We have a baby shower tomorrow and then the rest is up to us. Yikes! I just cannot believe that this is really happening and she will be in our arms soon!

We got TA!

China wants us to pick up Norah! Yeah!!!!!!! Plan is to leave the 10th and get her on the 13th! Will post more later when I know more!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait!

A Quote

I was on the Rumor Queen forum yesterday and came across this quote. It immediately brought tears to my eyes and hope to my heart. The first verse/paragraph is my favorite. Maybe my favorite quote of all times. Someone gets it and that is so very cool.

And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home...some summer and some winter... My hope is that your story will be about changing...about learning to love a child...about learning to love others more than we love ourselves...

We get one story, you and I, one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?

And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."

Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts

Baby Shower Day!

Today Valarie and Katie had a baby shower for me at the Red Orchid Chinese Bistro here in Charleston. It was absolutley PERFECT in every way - the location, the food, the friends. I could not have in my wildest dreams imagined a more perfect day really. We had the cutest ladybug cake and the party favors were small chinese boxes with Chinese candy inside and a picture of Norah with a magnet on the back. The people that owned the restraunt were amazing! If you are ever in the Charelston area or anywhere near Charleston for that matter, please check them out!!! So here are some pictures! Enjoy... I know I sure did!

The carseat that Holly and Maria got for me!


Shower Goodies! We got alot of really cool things!


Boxes with Chinese candy and a note... isn't it sweet??


The coolest lady bug cake ever!!


Here we are!!


My mom, my sister and me


Our waiter and the owner's of Red Orchids


See what I mean about perfect!!


The most wonderful place in Charleston!!

Ready to Go!!!

I started packing Norah's things tonight. It looks just perfect in the suitcase. It feels real now. We are packing to go and get our daughter. That feels just amazing to say. It really does. I cannot wait until she is in our arms!!!! We are coming Norah!!!!

100 Good Wishes Quilt

We sent off our first batch for the quilt today. Denise will put the quilt together for us. It is so nice of her to take on that job! She is a part of our family, so it makes it even more special to us! Thank YOU!!!! I have another batch that I am trying to get together now, plus ours. That is going to take some thought! But I laid most of them out on the floor the other night and took a picture to see just how big this thing is going to be. Looks more like a twin size to me, or it will be once it is done. I told Denise today that maybe we should cut the squares down a bit. If Norah really gets attached to this, I don't want to be carrying a bedspread around! I can't wait to see the finished product! I know that Denise will do a good job!

Iron Chef

We LOVE the Iron Chef at our house. I think Elias would watch it all day everyday... well that and Alton Brown. We love cooking at our house and we have always encouraged Elias to cook with us. My favorite part of the day is sitting at the dinner table and enjoying a home cooked meal (usually something Shannon has thought up!) We had a friendly competition at our house last Sunday and needless to say Elias won Iron Chef! He did a great job and the salad was yummy! Good job Elias!

Update on Norah

We got an update on Norah a few days ago. This was dated June 5, 2008

Weight: 8 kg (17.5 lbs)
Height: 73 cm (2ft 4in) Also says that left side is 73 right side is 71
Feet: 11.5 (roughly a size 4)
And 11 teeth!

So that means that since she has started walking/weight bearing her 4 cm limb difference in now 2 cm!!!!! She has gained a pound since the last update when we first got our referral. We are just too excited and we are ready to GOOOOO!!!!!!!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's day to all of you dad's out there! I had the priviledge of having two dads gowing up - my step dad and my dad. They both mean the world to me and I appreciate all they have ever done for me. Thank you for the guidence and the unconditional love! I love you!

Thinking

Just sitting and thinking about Norah tonight. My mom and I went shopping for a bit last night and got her a few things. It is hard to believe that in a month she may be in our arms. I miss her so much and now that the dreams are gone, I really miss her. I cannot wait to hold her little face and let her know that she is home. She is probably napping right now. As for me, it is time for bed. Maybe she will be dreaming of me, because I will be thinking of her. I love you Norah.

Norah's Video

I made a video for Norah. I hope that one day she will look back on this and realize just how much we want and love her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzdHEYG0vu4

New Video

I made a video of all of the pics I have of Norah. Take a look :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgN4N7bvs-8

My Dreams

Lately I have been having some really crazy dreams. I remember when I was pregnant with Elias I would have these dreams. But with him I was dreaming of having puppies, him being born at a rediculously large weight, just really weird things. These dreams are different. They have come every night for the last 5 or 6 days or so. I dream that it is the day that we are going to meet Norah. Sometimes we are in China, and sometimes we are in the US. Sometimes she has the same sweet face, sometimes she looks different. Sometimes she is younger and sometimes she has been as old as seven. But I know it is her. Without a doubt.
I know that I have been under a lot of stress lately, but it has been good stress. Searching google for the cheapest plane tickets just to get an idea of how much they may be. Trying to get our visa things in order to send them off for Monday. Trying to get her room ready. Trying to get this house clean. The later has really fallen by the wayside. I would rather play in her room. Things are coming together just not as quickly as I would like them to. But I digress....
Back to these weird dreams. This morning I actually woke up and made myself go back to sleep so I could finish dreaming about her. These dreams are so real! She easily comes to us and she has never cried or seemed to be uneasy with us. It is just like she has always belonged. They are such good sweet dreams. But when I wake I am sad. Sad that she has to wake up yet another day without her family. I do not doubt that she is in a really good place! I have heard that from several people. From all of the pics that we have, she looks really happy and very well taken care of. But I am so ready to start our family of 4. She has a cute room and tons of clothes to match! I am ready to have her sit in her highchair that is already in the kitchen. I am ready to just wrap my arms around her and put the puzzle pieces together for her. She needs us, we need her.
I am ready. I was talking to Shannon the other day about going to the beach house the beginning of August with his parents at Wild Dunes. He had mentioned that he may not be able to go but just a few days. I will still be out on maternity leave and just told him that I would take the "kids". That's right, you heard me... the kids. That was the sweetest sound to come out of my mouth. He said, "Do you realize what you just said, you said kids!! Isn't that cool Pen!" Yes, indeed it was cool. Music to my ears.
I just have this longing. I was crazy excited before when we got out LOA and I knew that this was going to happen. Over the moon! But now I am ready to make all of these dreams become reality! Maker her smile and laugh. I am just ready. I can't explain it any other way.
And I know the dreams don't help, but it sure makes the sleep sweet. Sweet dreams.

After looking at this post.... I am just amazed that she is MY daughter.... I am a mess....

New Pictures!!!

My friend Mary and her daughter Danielle are in China right now bringing home their daughter Shannon (LOVE the name!!!) who is in the same SWI as Norah. I had asked her if she could get some pictures of Norah while she was there, and maybe something to the effect of just grabbing her and bringing her home. Well, I got an email at work last night about 3:30am (China time it's about 3:30pm) and Mary was able to see Norah. But what's better... they got about 30 pictures of her! I almost took a stroke as soon as I got these pics! Good thing I work in a hospital huh! Anyway, they said that she was standing and also that she was walking!! The pics that I have she is holding onto her nannies finger. I know that you dont want to read anymore... this is what you really want.....

More on our LOA

We were so surprised to get our LOA early! At least I thought it was early... I was kind of expecting that we get it in July. Looks like we will be traveling in July :) I need to get my rear in gear!!!! But here it is!!!!! All official and stuff :)