Santa and cookies -- oh my!

In the category of kids say the darnedest things:

Who I was worried about Santa and all the cookies he eats. Not so much his waistline, mind you, but the -- shall we say, residual effects? -- of all that sugar. So she asked daddy a Very Important Question before hitting slumberland on Christmas Eve.

Who I: "Daddy, what if Santa eats all those cookies and has to poop?"

Daddy: "Um, I think he feeds some to his reindeer, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Who I: "But Daddy, what if he has to poop in our BATHROOM?"

Daddy: Speechless. Finally, "I think Santa has a trap door that he can use if he has to poop while he flies his sleigh."

Who I: "Ewww. But I don't want him to poop in our bathroom. That would be DISGUSTING!"

I'm pleased to report that Christmas has come and gone with no Santa "presents" in the commode, just under the tree as planned. We have survived a church service in which someone -- hint: not me -- decided it was a good idea to give two 4-year-olds a lit candle for the final song. I had visions of having to invoke "Stop, drop and roll" in the church balcony as tendrils of nicely coiffed hair drifted perilously close to the flame. Super Daddy survived potential hypothermia as he assembled Santa's gifts (including the aforementioned eBay toybox, which looks lovely, I might add!) in 20-degree weather in the garage. And I, mama, plan to don my kerchief for a long winter's nap this evening as I prepare for my return tomorrow to the working world after three blissful months as a full-time mom.

But before the hurly burly hits full-force, I'd be remiss not to acknowledge all we've been blessed with. Our riches can't be counted in dollars and cents; two adoptions in 18 months does not a happy bank balance make, and nearly three months with only one income is the nail in that coffin.

Rather, we have Who I, who came home from grandma's tonight with her new camera and announced she was "going to turn on the beautiful Christmas lights and take a picture to remember Christmas."

We have Who III, who might never had had a Christmas with us if not for the hard work of our adoption agency and a lot of divine intervention.

And we have Who II, our daughter who went to hell and back in her first three years, clamoring for my attention in the car on Christmas Eve. Suddenly, sweetly, she proclaimed: "Mommy? I love you."

All may not be calm in our household, but it's certainly bright. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Top 3 reasons 4-year-olds and computers don't mix

1) eBay.
2) eBay.
3) eBay.

I was surfing said auction site for a last Santa item for Baby Who, but also looking at other sites to see if the prices I saw were, indeed, good deals. While deep in the throes of power shopping, Who I called for assistance from the bathroom, so off I went to do bottom duty -- foolishly forgetting to close all windows before leaving the poor computer vulnerable to attack.

In swoops Who II, who apparently liked the looks of the pretty yellow 'Buy it Now' button and clicked. After all, you just click the button to start the educational Elmo games, right? Makes perfect sense.

The pretty yellow button has cost Mommy Santa $108.95. But Baby Who will be overjoyed with her new Nantucket toy box. Right? RIGHT????

Ack.

Let her eat cake!

Baby Who has turned 1, and we marked the occasion today with cake and gifts.

Little Miss Persnickety was having none of the throw-your-hand-in-the-cake-and-smear-it-in-your-hair foolishness that Who I embraced. No siree Bob, Baby Who just stared blankly at us when we put the cake in front of her. After about 5 minutes of me eagerly saying "Go for it! Smash that cake!" with camera at the ready, I finally got her a spoon to see if that would help. Yes! Apparently, we have a Miss Manners in the works -- it must be way uncool in Baby Whodom to eat birthday cake with her grubby little mitts.

So off she went, smearing a wee bit o' icing in the process -- but nothing resembling the Great Cake Smashing of Who I in 2004. Oh well, it saved me a bath! But she licked the plate clean!

Now, if I could just figure out how to get her to like whole milk ...

A state of neglect

I've been informed that I've been derelict in my duty to update the blog. "Nothing since Halloween???" the adoring masses cry. "What's new???" others demand.

Honestly, I don't have the energy to argue. So even though it's nearly midnight, and the wee Whos will be up way too early, here ya go.

Our big excitement since Halloween has been the big trek out East to show off the Whos to grandma and great-grandma. Over the river, through the woods we went -- stopping at every potty along the way. But we made it there and back safe and sound, and the kiddos were a hit with all who encountered their active little butts.

But I've never been so happy to see my own house and bed in my life. Close to 11 hours in a car with three kids under 5 is not my idea of a good time.

And I'm still wondering how one tiny baby can require me to pack SO MUCH CRAP. Portable crib. Portable high chair. Clothes out the wazoo, because heaven forbid she soil herself and require me to do laundry in a foreign environment. It's just unimaginable. We had so much stuff wedged in the Mazda that it lost its zoom zoom. Make a commercial about THAT, folks!

With that, I bid you adieu. Coming up: The cake-smearing festival, or Baby Who's 1st birthday.

Halloween treats

OK, I admit it. My munchkins are unique. Take their Halloween experience, for example.

Instead of racing door to door demanding candy like the other crazed goblins in our neighborhood, they wanted to stay home and hand out candy. And not just when kids rang the doorbell.

They solicited trick-or-treaters. Threw open the door and Who II bellowed, in her best Ethel Merman impersonation, "HEY, KIDS! We got a LOT of CANDY HERE!"

Then, they'd yell, "You have to ring the doorbell!" and slam the door, refusing to open it until the goblins did their bidding.

Who I would carefully count the number of kids awaiting treats, then dole out the appropriate amount of treats. Who II had door duty, opening and closing, hollering "BYE BYE!" as the ghouls and monsters (and a couple of girls dressed as the "Deal or No Deal" bimbos) trotted off to their next conquest.

Baby Who was adorable in her pumpkin costume and scoped out the treat bowl -- even figuring out how to unwrap a lollipop all by herself.

Imagine the disappointment when 8 p.m. came and we informed the Big Whos that all the trick-or-treaters were back at their houses, basking in sugar highs. "No, some people might still come," Who I insisted. She finally gave up the ghost about 8:15.

Now, don't think I've sucked the joy out of the ghostly activities. They DID trick-or-treat at preschool -- and came home with such a mother lode that I could have avoided buying candy at all and just "regifted" what they got. They'll NEVER eat it all in a year. And they did visit a handful of houses in the neighborhood to show off their costumes and see their friends. But their true joy was in giving out the candy.

'Tis definitely better to give than receive, even on Halloween.

Cheetah girl and the Princess

Here they are, off for a sugar-filled day at school, trick-or-treating 'til they turn into pumpkins themselves.

Speaking of which, where, oh where, is the baby's pumpkin outfit? Must find!

The sisters three

Today was a Kodak moment. Literally. I broke out my trusty camera and -- after a month of trying -- came up with a picture of all three girls looking pretty good! Usually, Who I makes a goofy face (she's a real ham -- see what I mean?), Who II pouts or closes her eyes or the baby cries and tries to get away, leaving me with a wailing blur instead of the adorable Baby Who she is.

Rest assured, we had our share of silly outtakes. But finally -- success!

Dare I make the appointment for the professional Christmas picture?

I'm thrilled to finally have a decent picture of all three. I plan to send it, along with a translated letter, to Baby Who's orphanage. We want to thank them again for all they did for her, and tell her how well she is doing -- and what better way to overcome the language barrier than through pictures? My dear dad the photographer, who never got to meet his granddaughters, definitely would have approved.

Rambling

How much can an at-home mom cram into a week? Try physicals for two 4-year-olds at two different pediatricians. A mental health appointment for one of them. A new furnace and air conditioner one day. Duct cleaning the next. Throw in a quick trip to the vet for the itchy and inappropriately peeing cat and you've got yourself a full week! Gee, and I thought I'd be bored. Doesn't leave much time for scintillating conversation -- especially when your main companion mostly says "ahhhh-ya-ya," "dat!" and "doh" -- for dumb barking dog. Then again, she does throw in a very loud "MAMA!" every now and then, so I guess it's worth it. But now it's Monday, and the Big Whos are at school, and it's just me and the squirt (who, by the way, I predict will top 15 lbs at her 1-year checkup in a couple of weeks!). We're deep in the throes of list-making as we prepare to take the herd east to introduce the newest grandbaby to her Grandma Jane. Eight hours in the car with three active but confined-against-their-will children. Egad. But I'll obsess on that later. Right now, I have to find the damn cat ears that I just had the other day. Who I insists she'll be a cat for Halloween for the second year in a row. I have everything but the ears -- and an earless cat is the stuff Halloween nightmares are made of.

Hallmark moment

Tonight, I asked the big girls, "So, what do you think about this whole baby sister thing now that she's been home awhile?"

Who II, who has had the hardest adjustment, replied, "I like her!"

Who I, naturally, snorted like a pig and hauled the baby around like a sack of potatoes. But we KNOW she's in love with Baby Who.

Baby Who, meanwhile, once again defied all logic and managed to avoid the afternoon nap so she could party with the big Whos. Egad. I did catch her once, sprawled in the beanbag chair as she searched for her second wind.

Awwww.

Birthdays

Today was the Birthday Bonanza at our house. With just three days between the big girls' 4th birthdays, we combined them for one bash that kicked our butts. But the big girls -- and even Baby Who, who partied like it was 1999 -- seemed to have a good time.

We started the day with a frenzied cleaning of the house, a mad dash to pick up the cake and pizza and a strong push for naps. "You have to nap if you want to see your friends and have the party." Yeah, it was blackmail. But it worked.

Then it was off to the nearby bowling alley, where we met their best friends -- Thing One and Thing Two and their Mama Thing -- for a rousing round of duckpin bowling.

Now, I LIKE bowling. Used to go with my folks and my grandparents, and while I was never great at it, I enjoyed it. I found it especially therapeutic when in the throes of a bad relationship: just put a face on those pins and steeeee-rike!

I'm also a bit competitive. So imagine my dismay when my well-ordered plan for which girl went first dissolved into chaos as different girls would bowl each half of the same frame, go out of order, etc. Mama Thing just rolled her eyes as I realized that in the world of 4-year-olds, the only order is "ME FIRST!"

No records were set, but no toes were crushed by the shotput-sized ball, either. All had a good time. Then it was back to the house for pizza and cake and the mayhem that is having two girls opening presents at once.

It's now 9 p.m. and Baby Who -- who refused an afternoon nap because she, too, got caught up in the hype -- has crashed at last. The Big Whos are still going strong, fueled by sugar and the joy that is being 4. Mr. Fixit and I are dragging -- and cringing at the realization we get to do this all again in less than a month, when Baby Who turns 1.

And then comes Christmas!

More wine, please!

Casting a spell

We've always thought our big girls were brilliant, and Baby Who shows much promise as well -- she loves the remote control, the power button on the computer, and is fascinated by everything she sees (except a diaper at changing time, when she becomes Octopus Baby and wriggles away).

But proof of the big girls' brain power came recently when Who I decided she wanted to "spell daddy's shirt."

I'd brought home the T-shirt as a souvenir from a weeklong work trip to Utah. The T-shirt celebrates a popular beverage and cultural elements of the Beehive State.

Who I got off to a great start: "P-O-L-Y-G-A-M-Y P-O-R-T-E-R," she spelled proudly, never missing a letter. "What's that say, daddy?"

"Polygamy Porter," we told her. Now, why do I think we're soon going to have to explain what polygamy means -- and that, please please please, it's not for her?

Who II was not to be outdone. But instead of reading daddy's shirt, she decided to read mommy a story. Out came "The Cat in the Hat," her favorite book to read with grandpa.

Page by page, she captured the story line beautifully -- right down to the dialogue of "Sit, sit, sit!" Grandpa would have been proud.

Our big girls are getting bigger -- they turn 4 on Saturday and Tuesday. It's hard to believe. Soon they'll be asking for the keys to the car and staying out past my bedtime (which is getting earlier and earlier with three kiddos!).

Happy almost birthday, big girls -- and watch out for Baby Who. She's sneaking up on you!

The not-so-great pumpkin

Daycare was closed today, supposedly because Christopher Columbus decided to sail the ocean blue in 1492, so here I was, three Whos in hand, once again. Snot was flowing freely, but sanity was teetering on the brink. What's a mom to do? Go to the pumpkin patch, of course!

So I loaded up the Who van and we trekked up the road to meet Thing One and Thing Two and their Mama Thing. Up in the hay wagon we went (it was 90 degrees in October -- what's THAT all about?). Out to the pumpkin patch we lurched, only to have Baby Who promptly decide that she was hot and hungry and highly annoyed by this quest for the great gourd.

We made fairly quick work of finding little pumpkins for the little pumpkins. Then back in the wagon we went for our happy trot back to Whoville.

No Whos fell out of the wagon. Who I did at one point decide she couldn't get out of the pumpkin patch by herself. so Who II went back in and got her (a rousing RAH RAH for big sister, who recovered nicely from her earlier episode of biting Who I's thumb because Who I wouldn't cede the hand sanitizer to her). All in all, a success. Baby steps, yes. And yes, the Mama Thing took my big girls to the port-o-potty because I had Baby Who strapped to me like a hot, sweaty grenade. But darn it all, we had our first outing without two parents to herd the brood. And we all returned alive.

Naturally, I came home and celebrated with a wee glass o' wine.

Other highlights: Baby Who discovered the baby piano. Jerry Lee Lewis, eat your heart out. She also discovered the Asian baby doll that's Just The Right Size. Who is this creature, she seemed to be wondering. (Hey, it doesn't pee, poop or urp -- it's my fourth child!). Oh, and I heard myself yell at the Big Whos, "Put the magic wand down NOW and no one will get hurt!" A fine moment indeed. (OK, I'm still rough around the edges here.)

Happily, all the tots are snoozing now. The snot has flowed to a trickle. Tomorrow is a school day for the big 'uns. And I have clean laundry -- a shirt with no snot/drool/dribble/urp on it is quite the luxury, no matter how ratty the fabric.

Ah, life. It's good, no?

Go Baby

Maybe it's because I'm older, or because I'm already chasing two nearly 4-year-olds. But Baby Who seems to have an unusually high level of energy -- puts that pink bunny in the battery commercials to shame.

She has two speeds -- warp and stop. She'll go full-tilt until she is exhausted, then crash to recharge. Then she's up and on the move again. Ack!

She came home in amazing shape -- crawling up a storm, pulling herself up on the furniture and scooting along, nearly ready to walk. She wants to crawl up the stairs constantly. She's managed to remove nearly half of our door stoppers (she has some intense dislike for them, I think).

In a nutshell, she's BUSY.

I'm thinking I need more caffeine.

But I do have a proud badge of honor -- yesterday I kept the big girls home because they were under the weather, so I flew solo with all three for the first time. I have to confess, it scared the bejeepers out of me at first. I so admire at-home moms with multiple children who just make it seem so effortless. I can tell you, for me it was NOT effortless. (Though I did manage to bathe before DH left for work.)

But everyone was fed and changed, and only I seemed the worse for wear. Who II even spent some time playing with Baby Who one-on-one, which was beautiful to see. I think they're growing on each other.

Last night, the pups were all tuckered out. Who I decided she wanted to sleep in baby sister's room, so we let her. She was thrilled!

Today, it's just me and the squirt. I'm off to the laundry wars (how can one tiny
baby generate so much more laundry?) and then to copy all our paperwork so we can register her adoption, since I traveled without DH. I'm sure she'll be a BIG helper for that (Kinko's, watch out!).

Random Musings (or, diary of a tired mom)

We're on our third day as parents of three Whos, and today was definitely a challenge. The baby napped a total of 1 hour. Yup, ONE HOUR. She's having crib phobia -- not sure why -- and screamed hysterically last night every time I tried to put her in bed. So she finally fell asleep strapped to me in the baby carrier as I tried in vain to stay awake. I propped myself up so I wouldn't roll over, and eventually I was able to get her in the crib. But oh, my aching neck and back!

The big girls didn't nap either today. Who II tried to pick up the squirming baby and wound up dropping her on her head. Who I had massive meltdowns. It's time to get them back in their routine, so off to school they go tomorrow. Mom and Dad need a day to recover!

The best part of the day was when I put Baby Who in her special Baby Who-sized bathtub. Who I decided she wanted in the tub too, so the two of them hung out and splashed each other and laughed. It was great to see the baby engage big sister. Who II was mad that she couldn't get in the tub too, but there simply was no room for 70 pounds of two big sisters and another 14 pounds of baby sister, plus the baby tub. She gets the next turn!

Switching to a zone defense after playing man-to-man isn't easy. I find myself constantly stopping to think, "How am I going to fix lunch for the big girls and feed the baby at the same time?" or "The baby's wet but the big girls appear poised to play with sharp kitchen utensils. What to do?" Bedtime is a challenge while Baby Who has her anti-crib fits; if I put her in the crib, she screams bloody murder. But it's important to have time with the big Whos, especially Who II, who has four songs we sing nightly as our bedtime ritual. Hopefully we'll get the baby into a routine where she's asleep before the big girls, and it all will be easier. Cross your fingers (and feel free to clear all knives, forks and other utensils from my kitchen).

On a different note, I know many people have speculated that the Olympics next year are part of the reason for the slowdown in China. I don't know whether that's true or not, but our coordinator in China indicated that our agency expects families to continue to travel during the Olympics. But instead of going to Beijing first, she said families would go straight to their province. Not sure if other agencies are saying the same, but it's what we were told.

I also want to say something about the people we met while in China. We were blessed with a travel group that brought wonderful perspective to our journey. There was the family who adopted a 12-year-old girl who sings like an angel -- yet has no sight. There was another couple who came to adopt their eighth child -- a little girl who didn't speak English, yet told our coordinator (who translated) that she loved her new mom and dad and that the sad times were over. Every single person in our travel group was special.

We also met a couple with another agency who met their daughter, only to realize something was terribly wrong. Their agency helped them get medical advice and it turns out she had severe cerebral palsy. This was an NSN adoption. They agonized over what to do, but because of family circumstances at home, decided they had to decline the referral. It was heartbreaking to give up the daughter they'd fallen in love with.

The woman wanted to come home empty-handed. Her husband urged her to continue and see if the CCAA would give them another referral. Ultimately, that's what happened. They came home with a daughter, just not the one they expected. They chose a new name. And they still grieve for the first daughter, even as they hope getting her condition diagnosed will mean she finds a family able to adopt a child with her special needs.

Many of us have read the account of a similar case in which no new referral was issued. It's a scary prospect no matter where you stand. But to see this family, witness their heartache personally, all I can say is that I hope never to judge another family for the decisions they make. And I wish them -- and BOTH their daughters -- the best.

Day 1 as a family of five

The most important advice I can give anyone returning from an international adoption is this: Naps are your friend. Your BEST friend.

It's not just when the new baby naps, or when the siblings nap. It's when YOU nap.

Today, as we marked Day 1 as a family of five, I loved my nap. The big girls and little girl went down, and daddy fell asleep too. I was puttering around the house and it suddenly dawned on me: SLEEP WHILE YOU CAN! So I did. Aaaahhh!

Cate had us up sporadically from midnight to 2 a.m., then from 2 to 4 a.m. solid. She slept from 4 a.m. until almost 11 a.m., when I finally woke her up. But she still took her afternoon nap, and I'm hoping she'll do better tonight.

Her cold seems better, but her cheeks -- irritated by the White Swan baby bedding -- are still red. I'm sure we still have ear infection issues, but she's managing.

Her big sisters have mixed reactions. Who I adores her, lugs her around, wants to help feed and change her -- even the poopy diaper, which we'd waited three days for. She tells us, "She's a sweet baby, Mama. And she's cuddly!" Who II is less sure of what it all means. Her nose has been a bit out of joint today, understandably. When I asked both girls if they were glad I went to China to bring home baby sister, Who I emphatically said "Yes!" at the same time her sister shook her head "No!" Ah, siblings!

Cate is warming up to daddy but still gets anxious if I leave the room. She seems pretty content to play with her sisters and explore the house. Tonight she crawled up the stairs from the playroom. Egad!

Tomorrow will be interesting on two fronts. First, we bring the dog home from the kennel. We'll see how that goes! Then we plan to attend our FCC Moon Festival. It'll be our first outing with three children. Attention, friends -- if you see a grown woman sucking her thumb, that's probably me!

I'm off to take my own advice -- to sleep while I can. Enjoy!

Better late than never

We finally made it home today, about 20 hours later than planned. And it was no fun.

We had uneventful flights from Guangzhou and Hong Kong, even made it to Chicago early. But O'Hare was a nightmarish gauntlet of immigration, customs, long security lines and trying to find the right elevator to take us to the right concourse. We finally made it to our gate and were resting up, so after getting us something to drink and changing Cate, I decided to go to the ladies room to freshen up. I hadn't done more than doze on the plane, and mom hadn't slept at all, but we were almost home, and we were keeping the prize in sight. Still, I figured a clean shirt and a little deodorant wouldn't hurt.

I came out five minutes later and found Mom nearly unresponsive, slumped over on the bench as Cate looked up worriedly from her perch on the floor at her feet. It was obvious that either exhaustion, or something else, had taken its toll, and we had a problem.

The flight attendant called the paramedics, and instead of hopping on the 6:05 flight, we dodged planes on the tarmac as an ambulance took us to Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago. Mom kept insisting that Cate and I come on home. There was no way I was leaving her, so Cate and I hopped into the front seat of the ambulance while mom rode in the back with the medics.

It was not where either of us wanted to be, and mom, after reviving sufficiently and hearing that her CAT scan showed no evidence of stroke, decided she was checking herself out against doctor's orders. So we spent the night in an extremely overpriced hotel, where the second bed amounted to a horrible pull-out couch, then rented a car today and drove the 3.5 hours home (mom couldn't fly because United would have demanded medical clearance, which the doctor wouldn't give).

Talk about a dramatic end to the trip.

I never imagined my reunion with my family, to introduce their long-awaited baby sister, would take place in the parking lot of a car rental company. But it did, and the fact that we were all there -- especially mom -- made the location not matter a whit. No, there are no sweet photos of the girls meeting Cate for the first time, and there's no hysterical video of us trying to find the van or use a car seat for the first time. But we all made it home, and that's what counts.

I'll post photos tomorrow when I'm conscious. Here's hoping Who III sleeps well into the night.

Almost home!

Well, it's our last official day in Guangzhou. We had our famous red couch pictures, which I'll try to post from the Blenz coffee shop that's letting me use its computer for free, and we'll head to the consulate this afternoon. Then it's off to the airport at 7 a.m. tomorrow, with estimated arrival at home at 8:08 p.m. via United. PLEASE let everything go smoothly, as Miss Squirm Worm will be a challenge to keep occupied.

Mom's coming home with a bum left wing -- she took a tumble at the Chen family temple yesterday. Scared the daylights out of me. We had one of our travelmates, an orthopedic nurse, look at it. Don't think it's broken, though there could be a fracture, but she has limited range of motion. But she's a tough bird and is coping.

Leaving China this time is more emotional than before. Partly because we fought so hard for Who III, partly because I know we won't be back for many years -- until the big girls are old enough to understand. We've been blessed with so much from this country that it's hard to say goodbye. Yet no one will be happier than I when we hit US soil.

One of the best parts about this journey, besides getting Cate, was that our coordinator, Catherine, was the same person who guided us during our 2004 trip when we met both girls who eventually became Who I and II. It brings us full circle, and it's been so special to have her with us.

We've also met many lovely people. Today I explained the China adoption process to an older British couple who were dining at the White Swan and wondered why there were so many Caucasian families with Asian babies. We have been blessed with a wonderful travel group. And our friends and family at home have kept us going even when things seemed impossible.

Thank you, all, for what you've given us. Our blessings extend well beyond the Three Whos.

Next post will be from HOME!

Guangzhou

Greetings from Guangzhou, where it's hot and steamy but we're glad to be out of the big cities and away from the traffic.

Our flight out of Nanchang was a nightmare -- China Southern had a 6 hour delay, no reason cited (certainly not weather!). We didn't arrive at the White Swan until 2:30 a.m., with lots of babies who hadn't slept and very tired parents. But the babies were real soldiers, did a great job.

We passed our medical exam with flying colors, despite a runny nose that hasn't quit and has evolved into an ear infection. We stopped by the White Swan clinic last night for some good Chinese medicine and hope to be on the mend before we hit the plane Wednesday morning.

The shopping in Guangzhou feels different this time -- I'm not buying everything in sight, but being selective and opting for quality over quantity this time. We found a beautiful painting of a Caucasian mother with Chinese daughter (and cat!). I'm thrilled, but my greatest Chinese treasure is Who III, who continues to amaze and delight despite her cold.

Today we strolled through the park and saw people doing Tai Chi and ballroom dancing. It was absolutely lovely.

Yesterday saw us visit a very expensive jade shop. Nice to look, not so nice to buy on our budget. But I did get a picture of the Lamborghini Guangzhou dealership for hubby. He'll be thrilled!

Later today we'll go bargain for pearls. Whee!

Mom's been a great traveling companion, willing to see everything and go everywhere. But I"m sure she'll be glad to get home to the super pups.

Probably our last post from here, as we'll have our Consulate appointment and try to pack all our goodies up for a safe flight home.

USA, here we come!

Of Temples and fries

Today we visited the Teng Wang pavilion in Nanchang, where we watched a wonderful show with dancing and singing -- and a special performance of "Oh Susannah＂on the Chinese ertu. Pretty funny! Afterward, we made our way back to the hotel on our own, fending off a beggar woman who apparently took offense at my telling her "no."　We're pretty sure she called me a nasty name in Chinese. Oh well, you can't please 'em all!

Cate slept through the whole thing. Her cold and the teething really knocked her out today. She's generally a very happy baby, so we knew she was under the weather when she was fussy. So we let her sleep.

Later, we bundled her up (it's actually COOL in Nanchang and very breezy!) and headed to drop off the disposable camera with pictures the orphanage took of her. Can't wait to pick it up tomorrow. We then went to a pedestrian mall, where we were definitely a sideshow. Mom thinks she gets stared at a lot with her white hair. I think any white faces are a novelty. It won't be that way when we arrive in Guangzhou Friday, so we're enjoying the experience. I'm also looking forward to less traffic -- crossing the streets here with a baby stroller is a death-defying experience (almost as harrowing as riding in the taxi yesterday!).

We managed to order double cheeseburgers at McDonald's, and they tasted pretty much like home. It was a nice change from rice!

Tomorrow we'll visit a park and a porcelain shop. Jiangxi is known for its porcelain, so I hope to find something special for Cate to remember her homeland. This country has given us the most beautiful gifts -- our three daughters -- and we want to celebrate that heritage whenever we can.

We can't wait to get Cate home to meet the big Whos and daddy! We're halfway there!

GOTCHA!

We have Who III! Little Miss Cate came into my arms about 10:40 a.m. Monday in China (10:40 p.m. Sunday for most folks back home). She never cried, studied me, looked out the window and quickly was cracking smiles. What a joy she is!

She's soooo tiny, but strong. She reminds us so much of Who I as a baby -- full of life, active as can be and a great sense of humor. Mom and I are in love, and we know Whos I & II and Baba will be too.

Monday was an exhausting day. After meeting the babies, we went to register the adoptions, get the passport photos taken and then to the notary. The registration office was swarming with adoptive families and it took more than two hours for us to have our turn. Then at the passport office the official discovered an error in our paperwork, which meant we had to come back today after the orphanage fixed the problem. We finally got the babies back to the hotel around 6:30 p.m.

Today was much more relaxed -- a trip to Walmart. Cate stayed with Mimi at the hotel napping while I went to find Huggies in the smallest size possible. Our third Who is TINY, and none of the clothes or diapers I brought fit her. The dresses will stay on, but pants ... she has no waist, no bottom ... it's a riot. One of our travelmates gave us her 3-6 months clothes that didn't fit her daughter, and I'm giving her our 6-9 months.

Our group is great. More maturity here, with 3 sets of grandparents among the 5 families. All but one couple (who got twins) are experienced parents. It's just really cool to see.

Our coordinator, who was with us on our first adoption journey, says Who III reminds her of our first daughter. We can't agree more, and I see now all the reasons for the delays. We were meant to have THIS child. And if we'd gotten a referral months ago, as we originally thought we would, she wouldn't have been ours. It's simply unimaginable.

Ni Hao from Beijing

Greetings from Beijing, where it's a lot cooler than our 2004 trip but we're just as exhausted as before!

We had a long but uneventful flight to China on Wednesday/Thursday. Yesterday took us to Tiannanmen Square, the Forbidden City and then to a Chinese acrobatics show that my Big Whos would have loved. Today saw the Great Wall, where a crew was filming a Visa commercial (Visa -- it's accepted everywhere, even on the Great Wall!). Pretty interesting!

Mom did a great job making it up the wall. We did a little power shopping too (when in Rome ...). Now our bags are packed for our morning flight to Nanchang, where we'll meet Who III Monday morning (Sunday night EDT). We can't wait!

We got an update on our newest Who: She has a little cough but is healthy, and is described as very active. She should fit right in!

And we're off!

The time is FINALLY here -- in about 12 hours, mom and I will be on our way to China to meet Who III! This has been an agonizing wait, much harder than our first trip (which went SO smoothly!). It's taken us 9 weeks since we first learned we had a new daughter to even get on a plane, and that's simply too long.

I've spent the last two days running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Can't remember whether I packed something or not. Struggling to get online. Still no confirmation from Panda phone, but travel agent says they got confirmation. I figure I'll just show up bedraggled in Beijing and say, "You got a phone for ME?"

We're scheduled to land in China just after 3 p.m. on Thursday -- that'll be 2 a.m. to most folks back home. Sleep tight!

I hope to be able to update the blog while we're away, but we had to scrap the laptop plan because our home Internet connection has been faulty since we "upgraded" to fiberoptics. I wasn't willing to haul another 8 pounds of gear in the off chance Mr. Fixit and the Big Whos could actually read it. I plan to hit the business centers and Internet cafes instead. Wish me luck!

We could not have done this without the support of our friends and family, who have kept us fed, entertained and clinging to our sanity these last few months. We are incredibly blessed by the people in our lives, and to have the opportunity to make a difference in another child's life. It's an awesome job.

Countdown

Most folks spend their last weekend at home before heading to China doing something relaxing, or packing, or cleaning the house. Us? We ripped out the dining room carpet, painted the walls, and laid hardwood floors.

Nothing like a little deadline pressure to get our rumps in gear.

Seriously, with the arrival of Who III imminent, reality set in -- the time for home improvement projects will be gone for many months to come. The almost 4-year-olds are big helpers -- Who I hammered in boards while her sister ran the sweeper. But Baby Who isn't going to be allowed around power tools until she's at least 18 months old. No child labor available there!

The room looks good, if I do say so myself. Burgundy walls (all 8 coats -- THAT was a brilliant color choice!) on the bottom, "linen tint" on the top. I even rehung the curtains!

Wish I could say mhy packing was going as well. Still searching for the perfect combo of bags, still unsure if the laptop will actually work in China. We made the not-so-bright decision to switch our Internet and TV service to our neighborhood's new fiberoptic service. Seemed like a good idea until the installer arrived and said we were just beyond the recommended distance from the box. But he thought it would work, so here we are.

When it works, it's great. But our Internet has been really unreliable since it was installed, so I'm panicking that I may haul the beastly laptop to China for naught. The whole point was to use Skype and call home and use the Web cam to see my big girls and let them see baby sister. None of those functions is working well right now. So I'm agonizing. Nothing like having a Libra trying to make a big decision under pressure. AAAACK!!!

I keep telling myself to breathe. In a few days, none of this will matter. T-minus 60 hours .....

Gonna Getcha Day

In adoption circles, many families refer to the day they meet their children as "Gotcha Day." Others object, saying "Gotcha!" is something you say when you squish a particularly annoying bug. Many in that camp prefer "Family Day" or even "Metcha Day."

What it's called will be the last thing on my mind the morning of Sept. 17, when we're to meet our new Who at the Civil Affairs Bureau in Nanchang.

She will have traveled from the only home she's known, to meet a stranger who looks funny, sounds funny, smells funny. She and I, we won't know what to make of each other. I'm trying to expect the worst -- screaming, crying, withdrawal, rejection -- so I can view anything less than that as a blessing. But I know it won't be easy, for her or for me.

Our first Who was stoic and curious when we met her -- which explains why our tender moment of union as a family quickly dissolved into video of the ceiling when she grabbed the video camera. We didn't even try to recover. She rode quietly on the bus as the babies around us cried, content to look out the window at the world passing by. We marveled at her calm demeanor.

Only later, when we watched the video back home, did we notice how haunted her eyes were.

This was a child in shock.

Only later, when we thought about it, did we realize that when she did finally cry, she was crying "Ayi! Ayi!"

She was crying for the only caregiver she'd ever known.

I hope I'm more attuned to Who III's initial reaction. I hope I remember the words to the children's songs I know, instead of singing verses from the Gilligan's Island theme song, as I did for Who I. (She got a rousing rendition of the Beverly Hillbillies song, too.) I hope she lets me help her, that she quickly finds comfort in a soothing voice, a warm embrace, in knowing that if she is wet, if she is hungry, if she is crying, her mother will be there for her.

Sleep well, my sweet. May your tummy be full and your dreams be happy ones.

$$$$$$$

We have travel approval! We have plane tickets! We have no more money!

Ahhh, the joys of the final weeks to adoption, as the gentle sucking sound that has been your finances becomes a raging vortex determined to drain every last penny you have. Need to eat when you come home? Live off your fat for a while. Want to stay home with your precious bundle at least until your clock resets and the days are days and nights are nights? Forget about it. Strap that little angel on you and get back to the sweat shop.

And you know what? You don't give a damn about money. Because this journey is like one of those credit card commercials: It's priceless.

We will be one of the last groups of July referrals to travel, I think. Not sure why it all worked out that way, and it's frustrating to know some folks will be home long before we ever get on a plane in September. But I just have to keep my eye on the final result: Who III at home where she belongs.

The mouths of babes

My two girls had a rough week. Mama was out of town on a business trip, and their routine was disrupted in a big way. I wasn't there to take them to school in the morning or to sing the dreaded braindead-purple-dinosaur song at bedtime. No big-big hugs or big-big kisses to be had. Singing it over the phone just didn't cut it
-- but thankfully none of my colleagues witnessed my performances!

It sucked for me at least as much as it sucked for them. Who II told me on the phone, "I cried for you, mama." Ditto, baby. Ditto.

Coming home has been hectic but sweet. DH is grateful to have another set of hands. The Whos are putting me through my paces while being especially affectionate. Even the cat seems happy I'm back.

Last night, Who I was talking about baby sister still waiting for us in China, and about my trip, when suddenly she put her head on her daddy's shoulder and announced, "You're my FAMily." I nearly bawled.

Children bring a unique perspective to our lives. They let us peer through the looking glass with them, delighting in things we might otherwise dismiss as ordinary. They enchant us with their imagination, their laughter, their innate goodness. They hold up a mirror so we see our true selves -- a picture that might not be as flattering as we'd like. And sometimes, they bring us to our knees with the simplest of statements.

We may look different. We may have different backgrounds, different life experiences, different hopes and dreams. But we are family. It doesn't get any better than that.

Deja Vu

It appears we're playing the waiting game yet again. Tick, tick, tick ... is that a TA I hear? Nope, just another "no news today" post from my agency. I can't believe it's been 3.5 weeks since we first heard about Who III and there's still no news.

Admittedly, we were spoiled by our first adoption -- TAs arrived 2.5 weeks after referrals came in. Given that nothing on this adoption train is moving quickly anymore, it stands to reason that we're going to have to wait longer to see our precious bundle.

But in the interest of perspective, I met a woman today who is adopting her first and only child from China. She's 45, DH is 55. She's 14 months into the wait and her agency tells her to expect to have at least that much more to go.

When you think about it that way, I guess a few more weeks is nothing.

Oh, who am I kidding? I WANT MY BABY!!!

Pound for pound

The first three weeks after referral are some of the hardest you'll endure. Now you know your child. You've seen her face. You can feel her in your arms. You worry -- is she getting enough to eat? Is she healthy? What will she need when we finally meet? You're waiting for TA. You don't know when you'll travel. You're trying to plan, yet find yourself running around in circles, waiting for China to say, "OK, come get her."

When we received our referral for Who III, the first thing I seized on was how small she was. She had gained only 2 pounds from birth to 4 months, according to the informaton. She was almost four pounds lighter than the other two babies from the same SWI. So I've worried more about this one, hoping she's OK.

Today we got updates, and they are wonderful! Pictures and measurements taken this week show she's still tiny but has grown at a much faster rate. She's finally knocking on the door of the Chinese growth chart (though still not in the 3rd percentile). Better yet, she looks GREAT!

More good news: Some agencies already are receiving TAs! I think ours won't come just yet, as our acceptances didn't go over as quickly. But they're coming, and I can feel that insane mix of panic/excitement begin to take root. Euphoria, here I come!

Random musings

It's hard to believe it's been almost two weeks since we got our referral. It seems it's been eons, yet just yesterday. Right now we're in that strange state of suspended animation. We're running around like crazy, trying to get the "China shopping list" knocked out, the baby's room ready, finish all those home-improvement projects that have been sitting around for months. Rip out dining room carpet and install hardwoods? No problem. Paint kitchen? Check. Replant entire yard killed by Midwestern drought? I don't THINK so.

Naturally, we're anxious for news of travel approvals. When will we leave? How much time do I have to train my replacement at work? How much longer will I have to feign concentration? And when will I figure out how to use the new laptop and Web cam so I can see my big girls while I'm in China, and they can see their baby sister?

At any given moment, it feels like there's too much time, and not enough.

When I'm not charting out the days between now and blastoff, as my girls call it, I'm thinking how different this trip will be from our first. There are five families in our group, instead of nine the first time. Six babies -- one set of twins -- from three orphanages. Last time, all nine came from the same SWI. Three of us will be traveling without our spouses due to obligations on the home front. Most of us already have children; on our first trip, most of us were rookies.

So, will we bond as a group? Will we be as amazed at our babies' bodily functions? Somehow, I think baby poop just won't have the same mystique it had when I was a first-time mom. Oh, I'll be happy that everything works. But if grandma Mimi wants to change her -- well, she can do the honors!

I've been fortunate to already get to know one of our travelmates via e-mail. She and her husband were trapped in the same limbo we were, coming off hold and unsure whether we'd ever see our daughters' faces. I was so overjoyed when they received their referral too; it wouldn't have been right for us to get the call and them not to.

The bonds you form in China are part of this amazing red thread. Without those bonds, we would never have our second daughter, or some dear friends who I'd trust my girls' lives with. I'm sure we'll come away from this trip with many of the same feelings.

So now, it's off to check my to-do list, hoping it didn't grow while I was typing this.

Comparisons

My three girls all had different looks in their eyes in their referral pix. The Original Who had a twinkle in her eye, a sign of the mischief that is her very nature. Who II seemed wide-eyed and observant, waiting to see what life had to offer. Who III has a look in her eyes that I've decided is much older than her age warrants. She looks like an old soul, one who already knows too much about life's sorrows and not enough of its joys. The more I study her picture, the stronger the connection I feel. I have a fierce Mama Bear need to get on a plane now, to get her out of those clothes, to put a sparkle in her eyes. To hear her laugh in the way only babies can. To see her in her sisters' arms, the three united, small, sturdy testaments to the power of love and perseverance. Survivors, each of them. Joys beyond belief.

These will be long weeks, waiting, wondering.

She's a peanut!!!

We have photos and more information! Miss Bo Qi is an absolute peanut -- less than 9 pounds at her 4-month checkup. Likes music, deep sleeper, active and obstinate (oh no, she's like her daddy!). Doesn't she look MAD at all those Michelin man layers?

Mama has to go shopping for teeny tiny clothes now.

Update: Look closely at her clothes. The word "Happy" is embroidered on her chest. Um, maybe someone should have told her to smile!

Beware, FedEx Man!

To the poor guy who has the honor of bringing me my baby's picture tomorrow:

I apologize in advance for stepping on your feet. For invading your personal space as I jump up and down and hug you. For demanding that you give me your name for her lifebook. For taking your picture if you're having a bad hair day. For all of it.

But you have my baby! Consider yourself the stork in a purple and black shirt.

I had a dream a year ago that one of our office's regular FedEx deliveryman brought me our referral. Won't it be cool if it's the same guy?

T minus 13 hours until we see her face. Delivery is promised by 10:30 a.m. HURRY!

And thanks to all for your wonderful comments on my other posts. I have always believed adoption is the biggest leap of faith I'll ever take. And I believe we've traveled the path we were meant to. I didn't always have directions, but I know the journey is taking us to the place we're supposed to be.