Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Getting Ready for the New Year
Chinese New Year preparations are well underway at our home. The house has been cleaned. The kids had their hair cut. Oranges have been bought as gifts for grandparents. Red envelopes are ready to go. (We bought some really special ones in China for this year.) Outfits are ready. Coloring sheets are printed.
Tomorrow we will make our red couplets to hang around the front door. We found some neat well wishes in Chinese to write on them. That will be James' job. We have some really cool Year of the Pig coloring sheets for Riley to color. We all really enjoy the preparations for the new year.
We will listen to our Twelve Girls Band CD while working on our crafts. We are also going to make a few paper lanterns to hang around the house. We really try to be very festive and involved during this time.
Tomorrow we will attend a local Chinese New Year celebration hosted by SACA. This is always a HUGE event. We will attend our FCC festivities on March 3rd. (late, huh?) We will invite family and friends over to our house one day for a meal, too.
I have also pulled out our various books on Chinese New Year to read as our bedtime stories for the next two weeks.
I just love learning and embracing pieces of Riley and Madeline's birth country. To me, this is very important. They are Chinese Americans and will grow up learning about China... not just adoption. Being Chinese and being adopted are both very important parts of who they are. We have so many things on adoption.... but more on China.
May the Year of the Pig bring you happiness, longevity and prosperity.
Open your windows and doors to welcome the new year!
(We will try to post pictures of some of our CNY happenings... if I'm not too lazy!!)
Tomorrow we will make our red couplets to hang around the front door. We found some neat well wishes in Chinese to write on them. That will be James' job. We have some really cool Year of the Pig coloring sheets for Riley to color. We all really enjoy the preparations for the new year.
We will listen to our Twelve Girls Band CD while working on our crafts. We are also going to make a few paper lanterns to hang around the house. We really try to be very festive and involved during this time.
Tomorrow we will attend a local Chinese New Year celebration hosted by SACA. This is always a HUGE event. We will attend our FCC festivities on March 3rd. (late, huh?) We will invite family and friends over to our house one day for a meal, too.
I have also pulled out our various books on Chinese New Year to read as our bedtime stories for the next two weeks.
I just love learning and embracing pieces of Riley and Madeline's birth country. To me, this is very important. They are Chinese Americans and will grow up learning about China... not just adoption. Being Chinese and being adopted are both very important parts of who they are. We have so many things on adoption.... but more on China.
May the Year of the Pig bring you happiness, longevity and prosperity.
Open your windows and doors to welcome the new year!
(We will try to post pictures of some of our CNY happenings... if I'm not too lazy!!)
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Boys
As the mother of a son from China so many thoughts and concerns run through my thoughts.
I was on a website where boy referrals were/are being discussed. There have been several people who have made statements that they would turn down the referral for a son if they received it from CCAA. They have made comments like they would be crushed and suspect that they would have to decline the referral because they picked China for the likelyhood of a girl among other reasons.and "that they know this is HORRIBLE, but they WOULD NOT ACCEPT A REFERRAL FOR A BOY!!
Those are such harsh statements. There were so many more, too. I really do not understand. Another thing that has been said over and over is that people chose China due to the gender discrimination. Isn't that what THEY are doing by stating that they would NEVER accept a referral for a boy? What is the difference? I honestly don't see it.
Boys from China have such a hard road. They have issues they will face that the girls do not. Being that boys are favored, these little guys will have to face that they were abandoned even as the favored gender. They face the constant question/expectation that they must be special needs. They do not have the plethora of resources and readings to tell their stories as the girls do. They go to FCC meetings and clearly see they are the minority. Heck, it is next to impossible to get support organizations to use the words "children" and "girls and boys" when addressing the plight of the abandoned Chinese children.
There is not a book about the lost sons of China. Statements like they began this adoption with the desire to parent and nurture a little girl that was abandoned because she was a girl. They had so much love and desire to nurture the feminine that they felt that adoption from China was the way for them to do this are frustrating. ALL children are worthy of a family. ALL orphans... and YES, I despise the word orphans, are worthy of a full and rich life. I absolutely can not bear to think about what would have happened to Riley if he has been referred to a different family.
His unexpected and unrequested referral was an overwhelming blessing. He is just as deserving. It pains me when other families who have adopted from China ask us, IN FRONT OF HIM, what his Special Need is... or why we requested a boy... or say that they would not accept a referral for a boy. These and so many more comments have been made in front of my son.
For so many years we have fought for equality. EQUALITY!! Racial equality, gender equality... those adopting are generally intelligent and knowledgeable.. yet... so many make grand proclamations of right and wrong about China and girl abandonment.. but say they would do the same.... deny a child due to gender.
My children... ALL of my children are tremendous miracles. They are pure and kind, loving and strong and deserving of acceptance and love regardless of their chromosomal make up.
This is probably one of the most painful topics that has come around again and again since we adopted Riley. I love him so much and can not fathom turning him away.
I was on a website where boy referrals were/are being discussed. There have been several people who have made statements that they would turn down the referral for a son if they received it from CCAA. They have made comments like they would be crushed and suspect that they would have to decline the referral because they picked China for the likelyhood of a girl among other reasons.and "that they know this is HORRIBLE, but they WOULD NOT ACCEPT A REFERRAL FOR A BOY!!
Those are such harsh statements. There were so many more, too. I really do not understand. Another thing that has been said over and over is that people chose China due to the gender discrimination. Isn't that what THEY are doing by stating that they would NEVER accept a referral for a boy? What is the difference? I honestly don't see it.
Boys from China have such a hard road. They have issues they will face that the girls do not. Being that boys are favored, these little guys will have to face that they were abandoned even as the favored gender. They face the constant question/expectation that they must be special needs. They do not have the plethora of resources and readings to tell their stories as the girls do. They go to FCC meetings and clearly see they are the minority. Heck, it is next to impossible to get support organizations to use the words "children" and "girls and boys" when addressing the plight of the abandoned Chinese children.
There is not a book about the lost sons of China. Statements like they began this adoption with the desire to parent and nurture a little girl that was abandoned because she was a girl. They had so much love and desire to nurture the feminine that they felt that adoption from China was the way for them to do this are frustrating. ALL children are worthy of a family. ALL orphans... and YES, I despise the word orphans, are worthy of a full and rich life. I absolutely can not bear to think about what would have happened to Riley if he has been referred to a different family.
His unexpected and unrequested referral was an overwhelming blessing. He is just as deserving. It pains me when other families who have adopted from China ask us, IN FRONT OF HIM, what his Special Need is... or why we requested a boy... or say that they would not accept a referral for a boy. These and so many more comments have been made in front of my son.
For so many years we have fought for equality. EQUALITY!! Racial equality, gender equality... those adopting are generally intelligent and knowledgeable.. yet... so many make grand proclamations of right and wrong about China and girl abandonment.. but say they would do the same.... deny a child due to gender.
My children... ALL of my children are tremendous miracles. They are pure and kind, loving and strong and deserving of acceptance and love regardless of their chromosomal make up.
This is probably one of the most painful topics that has come around again and again since we adopted Riley. I love him so much and can not fathom turning him away.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Who Invited YOU???
This week has been filled with sniffles, coughs, loss of appetite, exhaustion, swollen joints and other unmentionable symptoms. Then, on Friday morning, Madeline woke up looking like the spotted butterfly. She was covered from head to toe in little red spots. I could tell they weren't chicken pox. She had no new foods introduced so an allergic reaction was probably out. Hmmm... next James awoke... with a high fever. More perplexing.
I sent Riley off to school alone for the first time. He thought he was so grown up walking to Miss Cheri on his own from the car. (Miss Cheri waits in the car circle every morning, though James usually walks with Riley.) I called the peditrician and off we went to see the doctor.
We had to come in through a back entrance due to the unexplainable rash... don't want to pass something on to others. After about 2 minutes with the doctor she announced that Madeline AND James had a lovely contagious virus. (Remember how I sent Riley to school? Not smart it seems.)
Today, everyone except Jerry has this lovely virus. We have fevers, coughs, sore throats, etc... Madeline is the only one lucky enough to get the rash. I am sure we passed this thing on to countless others. (I bet I am going to be a very popular person at the next PTA meeting! haha)
I am hoping we can get this under control. It looks as if we are currently just sending it between us all. It is going to be hard to get out from under this if we keep sending it around our family!
I have no clue how we caught the virus... it is called something like viroxanthum. (I am not a doctor and don't play one on t.v. so I could be wrong!) It is NASTY!
So.. who invited this thing into my house?? Three sick kids, a sick mom and one little one teething two molars at once (The doctor said they will bleed when the push through... nice.) I am afraid we have a long road ahead of us. No church today... no grocery store... and Jerry is working. Should be a fun day.
I sent Riley off to school alone for the first time. He thought he was so grown up walking to Miss Cheri on his own from the car. (Miss Cheri waits in the car circle every morning, though James usually walks with Riley.) I called the peditrician and off we went to see the doctor.
We had to come in through a back entrance due to the unexplainable rash... don't want to pass something on to others. After about 2 minutes with the doctor she announced that Madeline AND James had a lovely contagious virus. (Remember how I sent Riley to school? Not smart it seems.)
Today, everyone except Jerry has this lovely virus. We have fevers, coughs, sore throats, etc... Madeline is the only one lucky enough to get the rash. I am sure we passed this thing on to countless others. (I bet I am going to be a very popular person at the next PTA meeting! haha)
I am hoping we can get this under control. It looks as if we are currently just sending it between us all. It is going to be hard to get out from under this if we keep sending it around our family!
I have no clue how we caught the virus... it is called something like viroxanthum. (I am not a doctor and don't play one on t.v. so I could be wrong!) It is NASTY!
So.. who invited this thing into my house?? Three sick kids, a sick mom and one little one teething two molars at once (The doctor said they will bleed when the push through... nice.) I am afraid we have a long road ahead of us. No church today... no grocery store... and Jerry is working. Should be a fun day.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Is it a Sign or a Desire?
Okay, I am very serious with this post. I have been hemming and hawing about writing about this for almost a week now... but decided to put it out there.
About a week ago I started having these dreams. Now, I usually do not remember my dreams but these have been filling my awake time as well. I just can NOT shake this.
I have been dreaming about a baby from Ethiopia. A week ago I didn't even know whether or not someone could adopt from Ethiopia. After the third straight night of having these dreams I decided to hop on line and see if Ethiopia adoptions were possible. Well, they are.
For some crazy reason.. I don't know if it just my desire to have two boys and two girls... maybe the coming down from completing our adoption of Madeline... maybe I have lost my mind.... maybe I am just thinking too much... or maybe it is a sign.
I have spent many waking hours researching Ethiopian adoptions. I find the thought just creeping into my head at the strangest times. I have even found out the timeline, costs and different agencies who specialize in this.
Why?
I don't know.
I am so happy with my family as it is right now. Everyone is doing great. Everyone is happy, healthy, bonding, content.... all of the things we pray for.
Why is this in my head then? I have no clue.
I have mentioned all of this to Jerry and he thinks I am joking. Maybe I am... maybe I am being led in this direction for a reason. Maybe I am just not ready to accept that Madeline is my last child.
Jerry and I have always wished for a large family. For many people, three kids is a large family. For us, we always thought we would have four or five.
Where this will lead us? I have no clue. I do know that, for now, this is not a possibility. BUT... maybe I am supposed to take this time to learn all I can about Ethiopia and then see where this road leads.... it may not be to another baby, but to something different.
Hmm.... who knows.
About a week ago I started having these dreams. Now, I usually do not remember my dreams but these have been filling my awake time as well. I just can NOT shake this.
I have been dreaming about a baby from Ethiopia. A week ago I didn't even know whether or not someone could adopt from Ethiopia. After the third straight night of having these dreams I decided to hop on line and see if Ethiopia adoptions were possible. Well, they are.
For some crazy reason.. I don't know if it just my desire to have two boys and two girls... maybe the coming down from completing our adoption of Madeline... maybe I have lost my mind.... maybe I am just thinking too much... or maybe it is a sign.
I have spent many waking hours researching Ethiopian adoptions. I find the thought just creeping into my head at the strangest times. I have even found out the timeline, costs and different agencies who specialize in this.
Why?
I don't know.
I am so happy with my family as it is right now. Everyone is doing great. Everyone is happy, healthy, bonding, content.... all of the things we pray for.
Why is this in my head then? I have no clue.
I have mentioned all of this to Jerry and he thinks I am joking. Maybe I am... maybe I am being led in this direction for a reason. Maybe I am just not ready to accept that Madeline is my last child.
Jerry and I have always wished for a large family. For many people, three kids is a large family. For us, we always thought we would have four or five.
Where this will lead us? I have no clue. I do know that, for now, this is not a possibility. BUT... maybe I am supposed to take this time to learn all I can about Ethiopia and then see where this road leads.... it may not be to another baby, but to something different.
Hmm.... who knows.
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