Sunday, October 4, 2009
Surgery Day!
Well surgery day is tomorrow, October 5th. We are expected at KU Med Center at 6:30am which means we have to leave the house at 5:00am. Hope is healthy and doing well today. She is in good spirits. However, she has no idea what tomorrow brings. We delayed the surgery by three weeks to have access to the newest cochlear device and implant that was released by FDA on September 8th. The new device and implant is 40% smaller. YAY! We are excited, yet very nervous for this next phase! Please pray to guide the doctor's hands, smooth surgery with no complications, and quick recovery!! We will check in to let everyone know how she is doing!!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Well it has been a great day...our insurance company has approved bilateral cochlear implants for Hope! Surgery is scheduled for September 15th. Paul and I are trying to wrap our brains around all that God has done in our lives but also in Hope's life!! Just to think that 9 weeks ago she was sitting in a remote orphanage in southern China and now she is enrolled in preschool and will be blessed with wonderful medical technology. It is hard to believe that technology is so advanced that the most profoundly deaf child will become a hearing child. Don't get me wrong...she won't be "fixed" like we hear necessarily but she will be able to discriminate sound over time. Also, over time, with much endurance, perseverance, and training, she can potentially learn to talk!!! God has brought us this far....He continues to work miracles in this little girls life. So many people say that she is sssooo lucky to have been adopted but the lucky ones are Paul, Megan, JT, and I. She is such a blessing in our lives.
She is enrolled in the regular preschool class in the morning and then goes to special education preschool in the afternoon. She has shed lots of tears but the great thing is that she sees me come and pick her up and feels secure in that. The great thing about working in her district is that I can see her many times throughout the day. I eat lunch with her everyday and drive her to afternoon preschool in a neighboring district.
I am prepared to take time off work during implantation and then activation. Probably the most difficult time for her will be the time of activation. She will likely struggle with hearing for the first time and will want to take it off but it will have to be mandated much like a seat belt in a car.
I would be lying if I told everyone that I was not scared and nervous about the whole process. It is a major undertaking and we, as a family, are committed to the process.
In the meantime, our whole family is going to take a sign language class at the Kansas School for the Deaf. It will be an intermediate course and is very cheap. We need to continue to learn ASL because Hope is learning so fast that she may pass us up if we are not carefull.
Please continue to pray for the entire process and that God guide and comfort us during this most difficult time!!
Praise God for all He has done...We are just a blessed family and words cannot describe this experience of adoption! I will post pics soon when I can get a chance to download pics!
She is enrolled in the regular preschool class in the morning and then goes to special education preschool in the afternoon. She has shed lots of tears but the great thing is that she sees me come and pick her up and feels secure in that. The great thing about working in her district is that I can see her many times throughout the day. I eat lunch with her everyday and drive her to afternoon preschool in a neighboring district.
I am prepared to take time off work during implantation and then activation. Probably the most difficult time for her will be the time of activation. She will likely struggle with hearing for the first time and will want to take it off but it will have to be mandated much like a seat belt in a car.
I would be lying if I told everyone that I was not scared and nervous about the whole process. It is a major undertaking and we, as a family, are committed to the process.
In the meantime, our whole family is going to take a sign language class at the Kansas School for the Deaf. It will be an intermediate course and is very cheap. We need to continue to learn ASL because Hope is learning so fast that she may pass us up if we are not carefull.
Please continue to pray for the entire process and that God guide and comfort us during this most difficult time!!
Praise God for all He has done...We are just a blessed family and words cannot describe this experience of adoption! I will post pics soon when I can get a chance to download pics!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Off to work I go!!!
Hello everyone!! Sorry for the delay in an update...life with the new little one takes a lot of my time!! I will get new pics posted very soon I promise.
Hope has an ABR test tomorrow at Children's Mercy Hospital. She will be put under to measure the brain waves in relation to sound. The behavioral assessments that were completed by the audiology department were inconsistent so they opted to do this procedure to determine a more accurate level of deafness. This will also be the final step in determining what the insurance will cover as far as cochlear implants. Paul and I are still gathering information and advice regarding this procedure. However, we are definitely leaning towards having them implanted.
She is sssooo smart. She recognizes and understands 70+ signs and is actually signing 30+ signs to us!!! She has only been part of our family since June 29th. That is 6 weeks people!!! I am thrilled with her progress. She has adjusted miraculously. She isn't the same child we brought home 4 weeks ago. Each and every day, I fall more in love with her!! She is darling. Her personality will knock your socks off and you will laugh for hours watching her!!! It is amazing how God orchestrated our family to include a child who fits so perfectly into our lives!! Thank you God for my wonderful family!!!
I start back to work on Friday. I am ready to get life back to normal and to get her started in preschool to see her shine even more. Her BIG IEP meeting is August 21st. It is a rather strange feeling being in the role of the parent as opposed to the Director!!!
Everyone has adjusted very well to the addition to the family...JT and Megan are fabulous with her. I thank God that those two have accepted her from the start and they are a huge help to me in getting her adjusted.
Hope has an ABR test tomorrow at Children's Mercy Hospital. She will be put under to measure the brain waves in relation to sound. The behavioral assessments that were completed by the audiology department were inconsistent so they opted to do this procedure to determine a more accurate level of deafness. This will also be the final step in determining what the insurance will cover as far as cochlear implants. Paul and I are still gathering information and advice regarding this procedure. However, we are definitely leaning towards having them implanted.
She is sssooo smart. She recognizes and understands 70+ signs and is actually signing 30+ signs to us!!! She has only been part of our family since June 29th. That is 6 weeks people!!! I am thrilled with her progress. She has adjusted miraculously. She isn't the same child we brought home 4 weeks ago. Each and every day, I fall more in love with her!! She is darling. Her personality will knock your socks off and you will laugh for hours watching her!!! It is amazing how God orchestrated our family to include a child who fits so perfectly into our lives!! Thank you God for my wonderful family!!!
I start back to work on Friday. I am ready to get life back to normal and to get her started in preschool to see her shine even more. Her BIG IEP meeting is August 21st. It is a rather strange feeling being in the role of the parent as opposed to the Director!!!
Everyone has adjusted very well to the addition to the family...JT and Megan are fabulous with her. I thank God that those two have accepted her from the start and they are a huge help to me in getting her adjusted.
Monday, July 20, 2009
We're Home!!
Okay...I need to start out by apologizing to all of you who follow for not posting! But I think I may be back in the groove of life with our new addition!
Hope is doing wonderful. She is such a joy to have in our home! She is sleeping at night very well. She is not getting up through the night. She stills kind of needs a nap but does not get one every day. She gets pretty defiant when there is no nap. She is attaching to all of us. We were out the other night at our friend's house and it was late. She signed "drive home" to us and wanted all five of us to get in the vehicle and go!! She is a hoot!
She has no trouble with communicating with us. However, she does have temper tantrums when told no sometimes. When she tantrums, she has ALOT of anger. I think that is when we see the frustration of the communication barrier!
We have had numerous appointments with physicians. The ENT would like her to get cochlear implants asap. We go to a consultation and evaluation this Wednesday at the KU med center. She also has a CAT scan scheduled for tomorrow morning in which she will be put under for the procedure. The ENT needs to make sure the inner ears are properly structured before going any further with cochlear implant consideration. She finishes her audiology testing on the 27th. At this point, she is declared as profoundly deaf which is just what we suspected.
Out sign language tutor comes tonight for our first meeting with Hope! I'm afraid Hope is going to pass us up at some point because she is so smart!! She knows several signs already!
I plan on staying home with her until preschool starts!! Our goal is to provide a full day of preschool services including regular ed and special ed. Hopefully she will be able to do it. If not, we will reevaluate to determine which placement is most effective and appropriate. Otherwise, I have babysitting set up if needed.
We took Hope swimming last week and she loved it. We took her out on the boat yesterday and she tubed with Paul and then with JT. She definitely fits in well with us. She tells it like it is confident. I wouldn't want it any other way for her life here in America!
Please continue to pray for proper attachment and bonding with all of us.
Hope is doing wonderful. She is such a joy to have in our home! She is sleeping at night very well. She is not getting up through the night. She stills kind of needs a nap but does not get one every day. She gets pretty defiant when there is no nap. She is attaching to all of us. We were out the other night at our friend's house and it was late. She signed "drive home" to us and wanted all five of us to get in the vehicle and go!! She is a hoot!
She has no trouble with communicating with us. However, she does have temper tantrums when told no sometimes. When she tantrums, she has ALOT of anger. I think that is when we see the frustration of the communication barrier!
We have had numerous appointments with physicians. The ENT would like her to get cochlear implants asap. We go to a consultation and evaluation this Wednesday at the KU med center. She also has a CAT scan scheduled for tomorrow morning in which she will be put under for the procedure. The ENT needs to make sure the inner ears are properly structured before going any further with cochlear implant consideration. She finishes her audiology testing on the 27th. At this point, she is declared as profoundly deaf which is just what we suspected.
Out sign language tutor comes tonight for our first meeting with Hope! I'm afraid Hope is going to pass us up at some point because she is so smart!! She knows several signs already!
I plan on staying home with her until preschool starts!! Our goal is to provide a full day of preschool services including regular ed and special ed. Hopefully she will be able to do it. If not, we will reevaluate to determine which placement is most effective and appropriate. Otherwise, I have babysitting set up if needed.
We took Hope swimming last week and she loved it. We took her out on the boat yesterday and she tubed with Paul and then with JT. She definitely fits in well with us. She tells it like it is confident. I wouldn't want it any other way for her life here in America!
Please continue to pray for proper attachment and bonding with all of us.
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Awesome Power of Prayer!!!
What a difference a day makes.......prayers for bonding are being answered.....Let's keep it up!!! There has been a breakthrough. Hope is allowing Lee to cuddle and touch in a nurturing way. When Lee left the room, Hope got upset. Paul and Hope had to go looking for her. Lee sounds so much better.....calmer, happier....peaceful! There will continue to be some challenges.....but with each challenge comes a giant leap of progress.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
3 Days and Counting!!!
Well, they made it to Guangzhou - the last leg of their trip. Lee is pretty much done with China! She wants to come home....and see her kids....and introduce us all to Hope.
I have a special prayer request tonight. Lee Ann is really struggling emotionally. Hope is not bonding with her like she expected. She is very grateful that she is bonding so well with Paul, but very sad that Hope has not taken to her in the same way. She has cried quite a bit in the last couple of days. Rationally, she knows that this is normal, and it has only been 1 week, but emotionally it has taken a toll on her. Please pray that Lee and Hope will bond. Pray that Lee has peace and patience in this process. Additionally, pray that they have safe travels home this week and the transition is as smooth as possible.
As always, thanks for your continued prayers! It won't be long now!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
More Answered Prayers
Lee and Paul and Hope are all doing very well. They have had zero problems with communication. Hope makes her needs known VERY well. I Skype in to them every morning and every evening. I like to just watch her. She is very theatrical in her expressions. That is clearly the way she communicates, and she has already started using some signs. She is so smart. She will pick up ASL in no time.
She is not napping, which could be one reason she is so hyper. She just gets so darn tired. She does sleep well at night. It has rained there the past three days, so they are also cooped up in a small hotel room......Lee Ann said that Hope reminds her of Mowgli in the Jungle Book. Wild !!! She is definitely testing her limits. The bonding process is going very well, especially with Paul. She adores him.
She also LOVES bath time and swimming. Yesterday she had 4 baths! After watching Lee Ann, she wants her hair up in a towel after bath time!
Specific prayer requests: Lee Ann has really been missing Jordan and Megan. She's been a little weepy. Please pray for her comfort. Continue to pray for bonding. There is still one more risk of quarantine, and start praying for that flight home on the 9th....it's going to be a long day for ALL of them.
I have added more photos to the link below....You can click the "Hope Gotcha Day" link to see them. Thanks for all your prayers! They are being answered daily.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Gotcha Day
Whew....what a day......Lee and Paul met Hope at 11 AM China time (10 PM last night for us). Certainly there have been answered prayers. Hope got very upset when her caretakers left. She threw a 25 minute tantrum, thrashing about, but when they got her to the hotel room they had all of her new toys, clothes and candy laid out....she calmed down and has been great every since!!! Praise God!
Here's what we know about her. She is very very smart......she imitates easily and smells everything. If you show her something once, she can do it. They haven't started signing too much yet. She is able to sign I love you. They will start with the flash cards soon. I have attached a link with some photos. If you are unable to see them, let me know and I will post them directly to the blog.
Specific prayer requests: that she will continue to bond, that she will have peace and calm. The trip home is a prayer need. She is very active (terms like Tazmanian Devil have been used to describe her!!!) Please pray that the trip home will go smoothly.
Here is the link for the photos:
Saturday, June 27, 2009
36 Hours till HOPE!!!!!
Jill here again.....
Lee and Paul spent the day sightseeing. They also had their first authentic Chinese meal. Lee Ann described it as, "dog poop, mixed with cat poop!!!!" It was actually duck.....but it still had the head attached....blech......She went back to the hotel and ordered a cheeseburger! They fly to Hunan tomorrow to prepare for her meeting with Hope.
Specific prayer requests: Safe travels to Hunan, that Hope will have a calmness and peace about her, that she will bond and attach easily.
Lee is hoping that they will be able to blog when they get to Hunan. They have been able to Skype with the kids which has helped. Hopefully Skype will work in Hunan so we can see Hope!!!!
More to come! Keep praying!!!!!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
No Quarintine!!!!!
This is JIll posting. They are having difficulty accessing the blog while in Beijing. They will try again in Hunan.
Lee and Paul arrived in Beijing this morning (our time) at 2:15 AM......They took the temperatures of every passenger 3 times upon arrival!!!! They were NOT quarantined because of the H1N1 Virus! Praise God!!!!! One hurdle cleared. Today and tomorrow will be sight seeing. Forbidden City, Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square....Then they will fly to the Hunan province to meet Hope on Sunday. They will get Hope on Monday China time....which is late Sunday for us in the states! For those of you keeping track of the time....they are 13 hours ahead of us!
Please continue to pray for bonding for Hope!!!!! Thanks for your continued prayers!!!!!
Lee and Paul arrived in Beijing this morning (our time) at 2:15 AM......They took the temperatures of every passenger 3 times upon arrival!!!! They were NOT quarantined because of the H1N1 Virus! Praise God!!!!! One hurdle cleared. Today and tomorrow will be sight seeing. Forbidden City, Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square....Then they will fly to the Hunan province to meet Hope on Sunday. They will get Hope on Monday China time....which is late Sunday for us in the states! For those of you keeping track of the time....they are 13 hours ahead of us!
Please continue to pray for bonding for Hope!!!!! Thanks for your continued prayers!!!!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Almost There!!
Well we are scheduled to fly out at 7:23am Wednesday, June 24th!! What an unbelievable experience the miracle of adoption brings! I have been looking at the pile of "stuff" in the middle of my bedroom floor and wondering how it's all going to fit in the luggage! I have managed to purchase nearly all travel size bottles to help with space...If only I had my sister out here who is known to be the "master packer" of the family! I have been known to over pack a time or two in my life so this will be a challenge.
The kids are doing great! Megan and JT are anxiously awaiting for their sister to arrive! They have been amazing. We have all expanded our ASL to talk with Hope.
I find myself looking at Hope's picture almost hourly during waking hours. I can't describe the emotional feelings that Paul and I are experiencing at this moment. We will have her in our arms June 29th which will be June 28th here. I have posted an itinerary below:
Hopefully, I will be able to blog each day.....
Paul and I will share an anniversary when we are there on July 8th....14 years!! What a great way to celebrate our marriage with the wonderful miracle of adoption!
Please pray for us specifically in the area of travel and bonding and attachment. Please pray that we arrive in Beijing without any quarantine. Please pray that God prepare her heart and that when she meets us, she knows immediately that we are her mommy and daddy and that she is loved dearly. Please pray that God give her a sense of peace and contentment.....Something only God can give her.
Thank you in advance for all your prayers!!! We feel them each and every day!
The kids are doing great! Megan and JT are anxiously awaiting for their sister to arrive! They have been amazing. We have all expanded our ASL to talk with Hope.
I find myself looking at Hope's picture almost hourly during waking hours. I can't describe the emotional feelings that Paul and I are experiencing at this moment. We will have her in our arms June 29th which will be June 28th here. I have posted an itinerary below:
Group Schedule (detailed events are always subject to change)
| Date | Itinerary | Hotel |
| Thurs, June 25 | Groups arrive in Beijing
| Renaissance Beijing Hotel |
| Fri, June 26 | Free day or optional sightseeing | |
| Sat, June 27 | Group Sightseeing: TianAnMen Square & | |
| Sun, June 28 | Flight to | Dolton Hotel |
| Mon, June 29 | Meet children | |
| Tues, June 30 | Do adoption procedure (registration & notary) | |
| Wed, July 1 | Sightseeing: School and | |
| Thur, July 2 | Sightseeing: | |
| Fri, July 3 | Get paperwork back, Flight to GZ CZ3166 (20:20p-21: 35p) | China Hotel |
| Sat, July 4 | Medical exam for children | |
| Sun, July 5 | Free day | |
| Mon, July 6 | Free day | |
| Tues, July 7 | ACS appointment; Farewell dinner | |
| Wed, July 8 | Go to ACS to take oath and get visa late | |
| Thurs, July 9 | Departure to US | |
Hopefully, I will be able to blog each day.....
Paul and I will share an anniversary when we are there on July 8th....14 years!! What a great way to celebrate our marriage with the wonderful miracle of adoption!
Please pray for us specifically in the area of travel and bonding and attachment. Please pray that we arrive in Beijing without any quarantine. Please pray that God prepare her heart and that when she meets us, she knows immediately that we are her mommy and daddy and that she is loved dearly. Please pray that God give her a sense of peace and contentment.....Something only God can give her.
Thank you in advance for all your prayers!!! We feel them each and every day!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June 4, 2009
We finally got the clearance to make travel reservations to go get our girl!! We will be departing on June 24th and coming home on July 9th. We are scheduled to get her June 29th which will be exactly three months from the day we laid eyes on her!! My father has been praying for us to have her in our arms within three months!! Prayers answered! Thanks Dad! I am experiencing a whirlwind of emotion...we feel like we are more than ready to be her mommy and daddy! I need to continue to practice my ASL! This is the first day of summer break and what a wonderful way to start the break with news such as this. Please continue to pray that we go and get her without any issues like being quarantined, etc.
We finally got the clearance to make travel reservations to go get our girl!! We will be departing on June 24th and coming home on July 9th. We are scheduled to get her June 29th which will be exactly three months from the day we laid eyes on her!! My father has been praying for us to have her in our arms within three months!! Prayers answered! Thanks Dad! I am experiencing a whirlwind of emotion...we feel like we are more than ready to be her mommy and daddy! I need to continue to practice my ASL! This is the first day of summer break and what a wonderful way to start the break with news such as this. Please continue to pray that we go and get her without any issues like being quarantined, etc.
June 3, 2009
Today was an unbelievable day...rather unexpectedly, we received updated information and photos of our daughter!! I can't explain the emotion of seeing her! She is beautiful! About an hour after receiving the photos, we were told that June 25th travel wasn't going to happen with the swine flu, new TB requirements and new I171 requirements! For a moment I was crushed but quickly referred back to her pictures that were taken today!! Nothing could steal my joy today!!!
May 28, 2009
We FINALLY received Travel Approval today! We got a little spoiled with how fast everything was moving up until the final step! The swine flu has impacted our travel dates. We were originally set up to travel June 4th, then it got pushed back to June 25th. Then our government decided to put new stipulations on chinese immigrant children entering our country. Any child ages 2-14 is required to have a negative TB test before leaving China. This throws another monkey wrench into our travel. Now they need to rearrange travel again to give us extra days at the tail end of our trip during the medical exam. This has been an emotional roller coaster!
We FINALLY received Travel Approval today! We got a little spoiled with how fast everything was moving up until the final step! The swine flu has impacted our travel dates. We were originally set up to travel June 4th, then it got pushed back to June 25th. Then our government decided to put new stipulations on chinese immigrant children entering our country. Any child ages 2-14 is required to have a negative TB test before leaving China. This throws another monkey wrench into our travel. Now they need to rearrange travel again to give us extra days at the tail end of our trip during the medical exam. This has been an emotional roller coaster!
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