Jiliang's Getting Hair!!! Exciting New Chain of Events

The recent turn of events have been so exciting and heartwarming, and I am flabergasted, but also sorry not to have updated you sooner.

On October 2nd, our entire family met with Pauline - Jiliang's ICU nurse - and her family as well. Last May, Pauline offered to donate her hair, as Jiliang was leaving the Pediatric Cardio-Thracic Unit (ICU) to move down to Moderate care. I had temporarily lost touch with Pauline until a unique chains of events put us back in touch with one another in September. I was under the impression that so much time had elapsed that she couldn't possibly still have her long locks. Yet, coincidently, she was still growing her hair for Jiliang, in hopes that I would be contacting her. What a special individual she is!!

On October 12th, I filled out an online application for Children With Hair Loss, to see if Jiliang would be able to qualify for a hair weave. It was very endearing to read about the success stories of the children who have been helped through this organization, and I prayed that they would be able to help our Jiliang have hair.
I was very surprised at the magnitude of their service, for an organization that I had not heard of until May of 2009; and they are right here in Michigan! I strongly encourage you to check out their website at:
http://childrenwithhairloss.us/home
They have a lot of really wonderful fundraisers and events where you can donate your own locks.

October 16th, we met with Pauline again to pick up her hair. We briefly visited Pauline in the PCTU, admired her new, sheek haircut. Then, we snapped a few photos, and left with a ponytail from Pauline and a bag full of ponytails donated from Nurse Diane, who had originally referred me to Children With Hair Loss.

The following Monday, October 18th, I was shocked to receive a return call from the organization, Children With Hair Loss. When I was informed that Jiliang would qualify for hair prosthetics once a year, I was ecstatic. What a Godsend! I was even more elated when she said "Free of Charge until age 21"!!! Because Jiliang's hair weave is going to be challenging, although very doable, they are going to take a mold of her head to determine the best, most natural fit for her new hair. And YES, Pauline's hair will be used for her first hair weave. To say that I was excited is an understatement. I was immersed in the same happy and thankful feelings that I felt when we first saw her picture; when Jiliang's cardiologist called to say Jiliang qualified for corrective surgery; and when we found out that Jiliang made it out of surgery safely and triumphantly. Yes, once again, there were Angels in our corner, and the man above smiling down on our little girl. One more piece of the puzzle fit in to the bigger picture perfectly.



Two Weeks Later:



Jili wore her favorite heart dress in honor of her Cardiology friends. However, she was a little preoccupied with being in the ICU unit, so we couldn't get her to smile.

Off to the Mott's courtyard playground as promised.

Mommy-Daughter photo

Whenever possible, we end the Mott's Day with Play!





Scott and the kids spy chipmunks waiting to jump out of the bushes for their next morsel of food.


Thank you Pauline, Friends at "Children With Hair Loss", and Nurse Diane!
Jill :)

My Birthday, October 14th

I don't usually say, "Hey, it's my Birthday!", but I will this year. I cannot say that this has been an easy year, or that - at times - I haven't been tested to my limits. However, I can say that I feel very blessed for the family and friends that I have in my life.
Always a child at heart, I cannot go a Birthday without making a Birthday Wish. Last year, on my birthday, I had been waiting over 4 years for a daughter that I started to believe I might never know. Yet, in my heart I felt that she was out there waiting for us. On my birthday last year, I made one wish: that I would finally meet her. I was on the verge on giving up the adoption paperchase entirely, until a unique twist of fate led us to Jiliang's photo a mere 23 days later. Blessed and thankful doesn't even do my Birthday wish justice. Now, as the clock shifts on past midnight, and I reflect on my past Birthday with my new daughter fast asleep next to me, I am reminded of my own Birth Day. I will leave you with a bit of comic humor and thankfulness as I tell you about the day that I was born:

My father has just gotten a job at Ford Motor Company in Ypsilanti. My mom was VERY pregnant with me. He was praying that my mom would NOT go into labor BEFORE he got his 90 days in, because that was when his health insurance took effect. (If you know how EXTREMELY organized and well-planned my dad is, then you may find this surreal.) Meanwhile, he had a bad case of appendicitis. Our family doctor advised him to have surgery right away, but he refused, because he was days away from having insurance coverage. On his 90th day at Ypsi Ford's, he went in to have his appendix removed. The doctor said that he was moments away from it rupturing. Thankful, Yes!
Meanwhile, my mom came to visit him in the hospital. Of course, he was heavily drugged from surgery. My mom sat on the bed and her water broke on Day 90 as well! Of course, my dad, being heavily sedated, thought, "Why did my wife walk off crying? And why did she wet the bed?" After some of the sedation wore off, he found out that I was born. At that time, men were not allowed into the delivery rooms anyways. He tried to come see me several times after my birth. Of course, a nurse monitoring the maternity floor sent him back down in the elevator several times, thinking he was a wandering patient. Finally, the elevator opened the last time, and there was our family physician, Dr. Helzerman, saying, "There you are Jim! I've been looking all over for you." Then, he was ushered forward to meet his new baby girl: me!

Lesson: All in God's Perfect Timing!

Blessings!! I will have a new post tomorrow, with the latest update that I am most excited about sharing.

Fall Photos (September/October)

She is thinking about petting this pony.


The kids got up close to the Emus



While we were snapping photos of the Emu, this mischievous guy stalked us, and even got Jiliang's hand when we were turning to leave. She laughed.


Hanging out at Mott's Children's Hospital in the play area after an appointment. The kids loved feeding their Cheerios to the chipmunks, who would appear out of nowhere to snatch them up quickly.


Riding the train to the Fall Festival


Feeding the butterflies




Enjoying the Apple-Umpkin Festival and a petting zoo, hay-ride and apple-picking adventure




Last Friday, October 8th, I bought the kids a pumpkin that I intended to carve with them. T.J. insisted that he could do it on his own. I told him that I would be out shortly to help, but he managed to carve a "Cat" pumpkin completely with a butter knife. He and Jiliang scooped out all of the inside and separated the pumpkin seeds. T.J. rinsed all of the seeds and we baked them that evening for Movie Night.

Jiliang's Birthday Party (August 2010)

I can't tell you how much Jiliang loved her Kai-Lan Cake!



We love our back yard, but our house is basically a shoe-box. We planned for an outdoor party, and ended up blowing out the candles in the garage - due to the weather. :) However, the rain did not damper anyone's good time. The kids played in the rain on the four-wheeler and the adults hung out in the house and outdoors.



We released butterflies later, and yes, that's the terrarium from our wedding. :)








Pretty much, Jiliang dislikes new crowd situations. She has anxiety in crowds, unless she has been-there-done-that in the same situation, and knows that the end result is: going home at the end of the day. I can't say that I blame her.
Her Birthday Party on 8/21/10 (exactly 6 months from Gotcha Day) was met with fear and shock. She still fears that someone might take her from us, but I honestly think that when several people come to HER house - even people she really likes and adores - she wonders if they are coming to move in and take over our house. We are trying to explain to her that we are her forever family of four - and that this is our house alone - and that visitors are not going to knock her out of the pecking order.
When everyone gathered around her to blow our her candles, she totally froze up. Opening presents was obviously very peculiar to her as well. All of the things that we take for granted: candles, cakes, plentiful birthday gifts. My four year old, who is extremely witty, sharp, and charming was possibly thinking, "Why are they all looking at me?" and "What are they going to do to me next?" I take for granted the lengths that we go to in America for Birthday traditions - something that she had never experienced in her 3 1/2 years in an orphanage in China.
At her Birthday Party, she came out of her shell as soon as the crowd thinned out. Nonetheless, they are still precious pictures to me of her first birthday celebration - age 4.


Jiliang's Real Birthday ~ August 26, 2010


Jiliang had a pretty low-key Birthday - smiling and hoola-hooping in our back yard.

Outdoor August Fun (Check out the Ollie Pic at the end)

Our neighborhood family of deer. Check out the beautiful buck. I think he's a 10 point.








I must show off my Swim/Dive Star, T.J. (Age 6) I have to laugh, only because I had a water trauma at age 2. Thus, when I was 7 years old, the pool instructors threw me off the public pool diving board with water jugs, screaming nonetheless.



I have a wonderful video of T.J. jumping off the diving board, but I am having trouble loading it.

My kiddos saved up their pennies to buy this thistle seed feeder. T.J. was excited to see his favorite bird visit the same day: a Black-capped Chickadee.




And DRUMROLL...

My children were mortified when the ground hog moved onto our turf, but screamed and stammered each time Ollie cat would venture into the groundhog hole. I didn't believe them at first, until this moment.



This is the same declawed cat that ran off with a chipmunk or mouse in mouth when Scott approached him just a few days ago. No fear!

Many Updates and Photos Coming Tonight :)

I finally have a free moment to post, so I promise to deliver some updates and photos from August through October tonight.

On a sweet note, I happened to look at my counter on October 12th, and it said that it had been 11 months and 6 days since we first saw Jiliang's face. My lucky number, former address and day that we actually saw Jiliang (November 6th).