Jiliang is Getting her Dora Hair tomorrow! And More Christmas Blessings

Yeah! Jili is really excited about heading to South Rockwood, Michigan tomorrow to get her "Dorla" hair. Afterwards, we are heading to Sears to have Christmas pictures taken of T.J. and Jili.
I know that I have been neglecting my blog lately. We have had a lot of family changes and chaos around our household (including a job change for me), but all on a thankful and positive note (except for the part where my son dropped my laptop and knocked out my hard drive). I do promise, however, to post pictures on Wednesday, to showcase Jili's long-awaited hair. She is so excited!
On another positive note, Jili had a great report at her last cardiology appointment in December. She is doing awesome and we were able to eliminate one of her heart medications. The repair to her heart is looking very, very good; and the pressures to her lungs may only be slightly elevated, but very close to Normal! That was such wonderful news. In turn, it was a positive experience for her as well, because at bedtime she said, "Mom, I had fun at the doctor's today. I want to go back two more times."
Jili is really blossoming in every way. Her English comprehension is great and she speaks in lengthy, complex sentences. I love it when she answers a question with, "Well, actually..." or when she tries to negotiate something.
Halloween was well-received by Jili. She had no qualms about Trick-or-Treating in the dark. We did, however, work our way up from daytime to nighttime trick-or-treating.
Thanksgiving was very low-key. We did the whole turkey and fixings on Wednesday, since Scott had to work on Thanksgiving. Thursday, we had dinner with my family; and Friday, we met up with my friend Jessica and her family. Jili was a little quiet at first, but quickly warmed around the other children. It was quite a large crowd of over 2 dozen people and she eventually mingled in well. We admired her social progress. However, when Scott mentioned to the kids that we were leaving, Jili asked, "Dad, where I go?" It broke Scott's heart to think that she was still concerned with us leaving her, or always wondering when her permanence in our family might come to an end. Of course, he said, "You're coming home with us Baby!"
After that, we spent a lot of time talking about "Jili's house" and who lived here, and that none of us were ever leaving. Somehow, the turning point was Christmas. Putting up the Christmas tree, seeing her China picture on an ornament, and hanging her stocking helped her to see that she belonged here. We have really turned a huge corner on her sense of security, and Jili has really established herself as a part of this household this Christmas season, which really makes my heart soar.
She did make an observation about her Christmas ornament from her China referral picture from last year. "Mom, why I not smiling in this picture?" I tried to tell her that it was taken when she was in China, before I brought her home, and before she met us. I asked, "Were you happy in China?" She retorted, "No, I happy! I no go back to China!" Clearly, I didn't communicate that well, because she only heard "China" and feared of going back. T.J. translated it better. He walked up and said, "You were not smiling, because you were in Chi--na. You had no Ma-ma and no Da-da. You were sad. Now, you live here with Ge-Ge (Chinese for Big Brother), Mom and Dad." Clearly, she understood T.J.'s words, and would later retell his words to her dad, her grandma and her Aunt Leah with every reason to smile in the present.
The other new thing is that Jili is starting to become a Daddy's Girl. Yes, she melts Scott with every cute face, every new discovery, and every tear shed. She has really warmed up to her dad, who has waited so patiently for her to open up to him in her own timing.
Things are going very well and we feel extremely blessed this Christmas season. We had a family gathering at my cousin Kristy's house this past Saturday. Jili arrived and in no time she was mingling with the folks she knows very well as "Family". She disappeared into the basement with T.J. and her older cousin Gracie, who is like a big sister to Jili. After we got home, she said, "Mom, I had a good time at Gracie's house. Next time, I want to bring my pajamas and sleep there." Wow, that is a huge 180! She is understanding that she is a part of a something forever: A Family who loves her unconditionally - and that is the greatest Christmas gift of all.
Thank you for keeping Jiliang in your hearts and prayers! We feel very blessed this Christmas season. May you witness God's love in your life, the True meaning of Christmas, this Christmas and always.
Jill :)

Making Me Smile

Here's a few things that make me smile:

T.J. says, "Mom, Jili hit me like this," and imitates how she hit him.
Jiliang says, "NOOOO!!!" and then, shockingly, she continues, "I hit you like THIS!" and imitates how she karate-chopped T.J., as if to say, Get it right Big Brother.

Nanjing, China ~ February 23, 2010

I am working on getting my China pictures uploaded to another site, because I never did that with all of the chaos in our return home. I realized that I had not even looked at my China pictures until recently. Here are a few pictures that I really enjoyed taking.
The first few days in China was super-hectic, and I was so ready to get home with Jiliang. Running around doing all of the adoption business was stressful. I was staying in the business (banking) area of Nanjing, and there was really nothing around me except banks with guards everywhere. I remember thinking, "Well, at least I am safe." Literally, we walked around the block and there were banks, a few food places, and on the sidestreets with small vending and housing areas.
Honestly, it looked like an American City, much like Chicago. Honestly, I am not a city girl. I longed for a Starbucks though. There was a very cool, two-story grocery, but it was quite a jot, and required crossing a very busy intersection. In China, they make their own lanes and drive insane. However, I never saw a single accident the entire time that I was there. I remember thinking that I flew halfway around the world to be in a place that looked like an American city, but everyone spoke English. I longed to see the Chinese culture and pagodas.
When my guide, Fred, picked me up to begin our Nanjing sightseeing on February 23rd (2-24 in China), that is when the fun began. I could post countless pictures here, but these are a just a few - okay, more than a few.
If you understand my sense of humor, you might appreciate the humor of the subway sign rules. Fred asked what was so funny and asked if we had signs like that in America. I replied no, but that we could probably use more explicit signage in the states.


Nanjing Wall:


The Nanjing Wall was built to was built to ward off attacks from the Japanese. As a form of Quality Control, the emperor created a system in which all of the bricklayers inscribed their bricks. If their brick crumbled, the bricklayer was put to death.



Jiliang really took to my guide Fred (AKA: Uncle Fred), who was with me on Gotcha Day.




Chinese McDonalds:



Jiliang got two McDonald's toys: One was a Pucca (Chinese girl) toy and the other one was a Panda with philosophies on life inscribed all over it.

Confuscist Temple Market Photos:






Do you see the police boat in the corner? I wish I would have snapped a photo of it then. The entire time we were in China, I never saw one fire truck or fire station.

These photos are just several out of hundreds that I took during one day of sightseeing in China. I hope to upload all of my China adventures very soon. Thanks for looking.
Jill :)

April 2010 Video

Here is a cute video that I found of Jiliang trying popcorn for the first time. She accidently gets bumped off of the stool at the end. She requests this video often and laughs at it every time.
I am going through my old photos and realized that things were so chaotic after I got home, that I never posted my China pictures.
Can anyone suggest a good website for photo slideshows?
Thanks,
Jill :)

One Year Ago Today ~ November 6th, 2010

Scott and I quietly celebrated today. Exactly one year ago today, we first saw Jiliang's photo. The special part about the Anniversary of first seeing Jiliang was that we didn't expect to find our daughter that day, but we both fell in love with her photo on November 6th, 2010. Somehow, everything that we had perceived about the beautiful little girl with the red sweater and nylon running pants, next to her favorite blue bike at the ophanage was true - yet now happier, healthier, more exhuberant, strong-willed, sweet and sassy. We fell in love a year ago! It's sort of like when I first found out I was pregnant, or when I first heard T.J.'s heartbeat and saw his ultrasound photo. It was like falling in love once again.
Yet, that day, that perfect timing that put her photo in front of us at that perfect moment was nothing short of a Miracle. Yes, many of you know that 1106 is my lucky number, and has been since I moved from 1106 Murray Drive, my childhood home. Even though I was home sick today, nursing a sore throat and a cold with soup, warm tea and a blanket, I was still reminded that today was my lucky day: "Today, was the day that I fell in love with the 3rd member of my family!"

May God Bless You All on this day! And may you all experience the joy of falling in love many times in your life!

P.S.
I will post Halloween photos soon. I am surely in need of some R&R this weekend, but I will post soon. I was certain that Jiliang would be frightened by all of the Halloween festivals, but on the contrary, she absolutely loved ALL of the Halloween festivities, especially Trick-or-Treating! Me Too! :)

Update on Jiliang's "Dora" Hair

I have been intending to write more prolific, so I apologize for the brevity of this. As for the hair piece from Children With Hair Loss, I wanted to report that Jiliang really understands that she is getting her "Dora Hair" soon!! She was recently measured and should have her hair piece in about 6-8 weeks. We are hoping for Christmas, but we promise not to be disappointed if it comes later. I cannot thank Regina for Children With Hair Loss for taking the time to support our family in this journey, for going above and beyond to provide us with additional resources and for making Jiliang feel very, very welcome in our brief encounter.
Please, please consider donating your locks to Children With Hair Loss in South Rockford, Michigan. They do truly amazing work and they are such wonderful people who spread joy to many children who suffer hair loss due to traumas or medical conditions.
God Bless you all!
Jill :)

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 :)