Stepping out in faith

Mia's surgery is one week and less than a day away (not that I am counting or anything). Mia was born with tetralogy of fallot and will have surgery on September 8th to repair her heart. I have to be honest and say that I have never publicly shared Mia's specific heart condition on my blog mainly due to the need I felt to protect her privacy. However I have been blessed by parents whose children have been born with TOF and shared their blogs and I felt the need to share Mia's story in hopes that it might help other families.

Dan and I did not plan to adopt a child with a "major" heart condition. Nope. This was God's plan. The week before we received our referral call we had been considering making some changes to our medical checklist. As I began to pray I felt that God wanted us to trust Him and "step out in faith." A dear friend had just received a referral for her beautiful daughter with TOF days before we made the change. She encouraged me that we could do this! With God's leading and her encouragement we "stepped out in faith" and told our agency that we would consider "major" heart conditions on a case by case basis. We made the change on a Thursday and over the weekend I felt a different kind of peace about our adoption process. I felt like because we had obeyed God that our wait was coming to an end and that very soon Mia would be revealed to us. Still I was guarded and didn't want to get my hopes up.

On Monday as I returned home from walking with my mom, there was message on our machine from our agency saying that they had a question about the recent changes that we made to our medical checklist. My heart started to pound as I knew in the back of my head that they had a child in mind for us but were trying to see what our comfort level was. After we talked, she said "can I put you on hold for a minute?" I responded "okay." What was probably all of 20 seconds felt like 20 minutes. As she got back on the phone she said "well the reason I was asking you all of those questions is because we do have a little girl in mind for you. She is 14 months old and has unrepaired TOF." As soon as she sent us Mia's file and I saw her face I knew she was our daughter. At that moment it didn't matter what her condition was. It wasn't that we didn't take her condition seriously, we just knew. Here in front of us was the face of the little girl we had been waiting for.

A bigger step of faith came when one of the international doctors that reviewed her file labeled Mia "severe risk" due to lack of her medical history, her heart condition, and a smaller head measurement. I was devastated when this report came back. I scoured the internet and adoption boards for "inaccurate head measurments" as this is fairly common in China adoption. It amazed me at how many families had small head measurements for thier children and they are perfectly fine. I then researched, in depth, her heart condition and though it was and still is scary we still felt a peace about it. Of course with certain heart conditions also comes the risk of associated syndromes so I got myself into a panic researching this. What I learned is it is good to have the information about the possible outcomes but sometimes there is a such thing as "too much information" and it isn't always so good thing especially when it causes you to get into fear. Fear can distract you and get in the way of what God wants you to do. Sometimes you just need to rely on the feeling of peace from God and to trust His plan.

Stepping out in faith and accepting Mia's referral has been one the greatest blessings of our lives! I am blessed to call this little girl my daughter and thank God everyday for the peace He gave us that April day!

First day of school

How I wish the lazy summer days would last a couple more weeks. I really was not ready for school to start again but here we are and the first day of school is here. Sigh. Ethan is in sixth grade which = middle school. Double sigh. It does not seem possible that he is in middle school. Where oh where does the time go?

Enough of that.....the first day went off without a hitch. They all had a good first day back. They were happy to see their friends again and all liked their teachers. Though I was not looking forward to the first day of school I must admit I am looking forward to getting back into some sort of "new" routine again. Maybe just maybe I will find more time to blog. Hey I did do two posts in a day today. That's progress, right?

Fun in the truck

Just when I was about to get rid of all of Christian's Tonka trucks that he never plays with and make room for kitchen sets and dolls the boys have found a new use for the trucks. They push Mia around in the back of the dump truck and she loves it! She seems to fit perfectly in the back and laughs as they give her a ride around the house. She sure has her brothers wrapped around her finger!

One month ago

One month ago you were place in our arms. All of our hopes, dreams, and prayers were realized in that moment.

We were thrilled to get some smiles!

We are so blessed to have been given the incredible gift of you! Happy one month together baby girl! We love you!

The number 17

When we submitted our medical checklist I had a feeling that the number 17 would somehow relate to our adoption process. I know is sounds strange but I really felt like the number 17 held some significance to our adoption. Not in a weird way, I thought it probably meant that when Mia was referred to us that she would be 17 months old. Or maybe we would wait 17 months? Nope we surpassed that waiting 18 1/2 months. Would we get the call on the 17th of the month? Nope we got the call on the 27th of the month. When we finally got the call and Mia was 14 months old I could not figure out how the number 17 fit into our adoption until our travel call came. We received Mia on her 17 month old "birthday." It all made sense and finally the significance of "17" was revealed!

Presents for Mia

Mia has received quite a few presents since we have returned home. As the gifts started arriving a sadness fell over me and I wondered if she was ever given a present before. I am not sure the answer to that question but Logan helped her and she seemed to know what she was doing. Of course like any typical toddler she loved the wrapping paper and bows more than the actual present. I guess she doesn't find a piggy bank and clothing all that interesting. I love looking at all of the girly clothing that she has received and I am starting to feel a tad jealous of her stylish fall/winter wardrobe. It is going to be tough to keep up with this girl! I think Ann Taylor Loft is calling me!

Beautiful brown eyed girl

I bought this shirt at Target over two years ago in hopes of my daughter one day wearing it. It says "everyone loves a brown eyed girl." While waiting for our referral, I looked at countless blogs with beautiful little Asian girls sporting this cute shirt and couldn't wait for Mia to wear it. Oh how I love this little brown eyed girl!

Busy first week home!

Nothing like jumping right back into the business of life! We came home to the boys having football or soccer practices every week night and school starting in less than a month. Great timing, huh? I would have loved to have gotten a week under my belt of adjusting to being a family of six before the sports craziness began but that was not to be!

Mia had her first cardiologist appointment on Tuesday. Surgery is tentatively scheduled for September 8. We were at the hospital most of the day for various tests and we also met with a nutritionist. The cardiologist suggested that we try and boost Mia's nutrition as much as possible before she undergoes surgery. She is tiny at 15.8lbs so I think that this is the best course of action for Mia. She is a great eater and hopefully it is just a matter of continuing to make sure she is getting extra calories and putting on a little bit of weight. I may not have mentioned this, but in China, her nannies told us that they spoon fed Mia all of her liquids. She has no idea how to drink from a bottle or sippy cup so this has posed another challenge but we are slowly working on it. Another challenge we are facing is that Mia is behind developmentally and we may need to look into physical therapy. She is unsteady sitting up and is nowhere near walking. I am trying to hold off on the physical therapy for awhile because I would like to see what she is able to accomplish on her own here with us. I also am concerned about her emotional state and too many changes being thrown at her at once. Right now she seems to be interacting and bonding really well with us and I don't want to disrupt that.

Mia was at the pediatrician yesterday not for a physical checkup but for a sinus infection. The poor baby has had a cold since we left China and was miserable yesterday. Her first appointment with the pediatrician is not scheduled until August 25. I am going to talk to the pediatrician today because she really needs to be seen sooner with surgery scheduled for September.

We are having a great time getting to know our little girl. I know I continue to mention it but it is amazing to me that with all the life changes she has been through that she still laughs, giggles, and smiles at us. She thinks the boys are hilarious! She is a great little sleeper and she is already on US time! Yeah! She loves to be held but does not like her snugli so my arms are really getting a good workout! She is becoming more familar with toys and is even starting to find a few favorites though she will play with anything she can get in her hands on. I love to try and see things through her eyes knowing that this is probably the first time she is experiencing it.

Our lives have definitely changed and we are all adjusting to our new way of life with a toddler. Life is busy, busy, busy but we are all loving our little Mia!

There's no place like home!

After nearly 20 hours of travel time we are finally home! We arrived home around 10:30pm on Friday night to a wonderful but emotional homecoming! We were greeted by my parents, the boys, my sister, and my good friend Bev. It was a perfect homecoming after such a long flight. Mia did great on the long journey home and slept between Dan and I on the big flight from Beijing to Newark, NJ from 9:00pm to 4:30am. Everyone was so excited to meet her and she did so well with all of the attention.

We are slowly recovering from jet lag and Saturday was pretty much a blur. Mia and I both returned home with colds. Each day we are feeling a little better and are so glad to be back on US soil! There is no place like home!

Last post until China!

We are all packed and ready to go. We will leave in the the early morning tommorow. This will be my last post on this blog until we return home. To continue to follow our journey in China you can visit us at

www.youbelong.net/thepetersons

Please pray for safe travels and peace as we leave the boys. Also pray that we make it through the temperature check when we arrive in China without incident. Next post will be from China!

Our travel itinerary

7/8 Leave US for Beijing

7/9 Arrive in Beijing (we arrive in Beijing at 1:50 pm China time)

7/10-7/11 Tour Beijing

7/12 Depart Beijing for Zhengzhou

7/13 Mia Day!!!!

7/14 Adoption Registration

7/15 Free day or optional tours

7/16 Receive notary documents/free day/optional tours

7/17 Receive Mia's passport/leave Zhengzhou and fly to Guangzhou

7/18 Mia's visa photo and physical

7/19 Free time. Rest/Shop(oh yeah)/tour

7/20 Tuberculosis test though I think Mia will be free from this test because she is under 2

7/21 Free day with an option to shop(oh yeah again!) or tour unless we need to visit the clinic for a chest x-ray

7/22 Consulate appointment (getting closer to home)

7/23 Go to US Consulate to take our oath (closer to being homeward bound)

7/24 Leave Guangzhou for Beijing and then onto the good ole USA! Mia will officially become a US citizen as soon as we land on American soil!

I will miss you most of all.....

Remember the Wizard of Oz and the tearful goodbye at the end when Dorothy prepares to leave in the hot air balloon? She says goodbye to the scarecrow last and with tears running down her face says "I will miss you most of all." It goes without saying that I will miss my boys most of all. It will be a hard 16 days without them. Honestly this is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. Each day since we began this journey I have prayed for the strength to be able leave them and board that plane to China. In my heart I know that I have a child that needs me to bring her home but it is still hard to leave three big pieces of my heart behind.

To Ethan, Logan, and Christian as we prepare to leave for China to bring Mia home I have a couple thoughts to share with you. First, I am so very proud of you for being willing to unselfishly share your parents with a little girl you have yet to meet. Not once have you complained about the football tryouts we will miss or the soccer practices we will not be here for. You have made the anxiety of leaving a little less difficult. You may feel a little sad from time to time and you may even miss us, right? Be a comfort to each other. I know that grandma and grandpa will take good care of you but each of you are a piece of "home" and are able to bring comfort to one another. A kind word or gesture could make a big difference! Of course the house rules still apply whether we are in China or not. Behave, speak kindly, do not aggravate, help out, eat your dinner. Remember we have eyes and ears everywhere, even on the other side of the world! Most importantly have fun and enjoy making wonderful memories with grandma and grandpa!

We love you and will miss you most of all! When we are reunited as a family, just as in the movie, I am sure we will all agree "there's no place like home."

One week to travel and the enormity of it all

In one week we will be boarding a plane headed to China. "I can't believe it" are words we have said countless times over the past couple of weeks but fail to do justice to the enormity of it all. Leaving the boys behind for 16 days, traveling to the other side of the world, and adopting a child we know very little about(but have fallen in love with) is enormous! Our lives are about to change in a big way!

In less than two weeks, on July 13, I will meet the little girl that once only lived in my dreams. I will hold the little girl that I have prayed for. In an instant she will become our daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, and a niece. As much as I have imagined many times what that moment will be like for us, I find myself lately wondering what that moment will be like for her. Frightening, scary, uncomfortable, unaware, these are just some of the feelings that come to mind. With these thoughts my heart breaks for all that she is losing and being taken away from.

She doesn't know how much she is loved and wanted. She doesn't know that we will never leave her and that we are her last "stop". She is unaware of the countless prayers that have been said for her. Prayers that she was being well cared and loved until we could be united. Soon she is going to be part of a world and family that she knows nothing about. We look different, we smell different, and we speak differently. She has no idea how her life is going to change. Our joy could be one of her greatest sorrows.

My thoughts also turn to her birthmother as we prepare to meet Mia. In my heart and because of information in her initial paperwork I believe that her birthmother loved her but due to circumstances could not care for her. I believe through her unselfish sacrifice we have the honor of calling her "our daughter." She will always hold a special place in my heart for the incredible gift she has given us.

Mia has also grown very close to her foster mother as mentioned in her paperwork. I can never thank her enough for the love and care she has provided Mia. I hope through her love for Mia that she is more able to accept our love.

I pray that on July 13, our little girl's heart will be prepared to meet us and accept us. I believe this can only happen through the power of prayer. Only God , in His goodness, can take her fear and give her a sense of peace. We are prepared for whatever may come but with God anything is possible!

Two weeks from today and a new travel blog

Two weeks from today we will be on a plane headed to China! We have been super busy with packing. All of Mia's stuff is officially packed! I will pack for Dan and I the weekend before we leave because I know I will be down to the last minute before I figure out what I will be bringing as far as clothing goes. I am trying hard not overpack and so far I have been quite please with what I have packed so far. We are taking advantage of every inch of space and of course do not want to go over the weight limit or lug heavy luggage around.

We have also decided to change our blogsite while we are in China. I have heard of families being unable to access their blogs from China using blogspot and do not want to take the chance that this could happen. I will post on this site until we leave and after we return but our travel site is www.youbelong.net/thepetersons. We can't wait to share this amazing journey with all of you!

Flights are booked!!!

Whew! I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, at least, for the next hour until I find something else to fret over! OUR FLIGHTS ARE BOOKED! Our official travel dates are July 8-July 24. We just received confirmation of our CA(consulate appointment) in China for July 22. We will take an oath on July 23 and we are free to leave for the good ole USA on July 24!

We have TA!

We received our TA (travel approval) today from our agency! WAHOO! This is the final piece of the puzzle and now we can begin to plan our travel. Our agency is working on scheduling our CA (consulate appointment in China) and after that is confirmed we can book our flights! Our tentative travel dates are July 8th to July 22! We are going to China!