Update.......

You will want to check this out...........

Nuff said! lol

The Difference In a Month

I've been kinda emotional the last day & really feeling the need to be a voice for the children we left behind in China.  I've started 2 blogs that I've not been able to finish since yesterday.  One was a letter to GiGi's biological mom & the other is filled with information/stats/facts about GiGi's orphanage & other orphans. 

I hope to get atleast one blog out tomorrow or the next day.  The blogs have been very difficult to write because GiGi is my daughter PERIOD THE END!  I do not want to think of her as an orphaned child as she is not that to me!  That is why it is hard for me to revisit the images permanently embedded in my mind & the pics from her orphanage!  
I do not want to think about my baby being there!  
I do not want to remember my child was
"ONE OF THOSE KIDS" or an "ORPHAN"!  

I do not want to think & wonder
"What if I had not followed God's plan & she was still there waiting on someone to Love her & give her a forever home?"

I want to know her as the HAPPY, SILLY, GIGGLY girl I know now!  Granted she IS that girl, but I do not need to forget that the orphanage & her past is part of who she is! I do not need to forget those children we left behind!  

We left part of our heart in China when we left!  Tears rolled down my face the day we rode away to Hong Kong!  It was that very day that Phil said to me "GiGi is special to us but NO MORE deserving to have love & a forever home than any other child in that orphanage!"  He is absolutely right!  Every child deserves a home & love!  They NEED us and these children will bless your life!  GiGi could still be in that orphanage looking at each adoptive family that passes through with the looks of terror, hopelessness, abandonment we saw in these poor children!  The look on these children's face would tear the heart out of anyone with a pulse! 

 That WAS my child!  We cannot change the world, but we can change one life at a time!  We are not finished & will speak out until EVERY orphan has a forever home & love!  For this post I will leave you with before & after pics of our angel.  You can see in pictures alone what a difference a family will make in a child.  GiGi was placed in our arms 7/16/2012.  ONE month ago today, we signed the final papers making her our daughter forever & not an orphan!  See the difference for yourselves

Pictures of GiGi from orphanage:

 
These last 2 pics were the last we had gotten prior to heading to China.  They are about 5 weeks prior to adoption completion. 

Do you recognize this child????  

I can see the same features, but I know a different child than these pics show!  She is no different than all the other orphans except she was the lucky one that got a forever home!  Some of the children will never have a home & will go out to the streets around age 15-16y/o with NO ONE & Nothing~

Click the link below to see:

The Difference A Month Can Make

We cannot turn our backs on these precious children & simply go away or forget as they look for hope, love, help, and a forever family:

Rather we must take them by the hand 

& walk with them!

The problem with Little Purple Loveseats......

 

Maybe if I look at it I can find the problem..........

 Let's try it this way..........

 Hummmm...........

And Again..........

Maybe if I look at it while I'm on here I can figure out the prob.........

Moved & tried again...........

 Can you tell by the face how happy she is that this seat will not let her SIT on it?????

Let me just take it somewhere else......

Oh yes, this looks like a good spot to try again........

Here I go........

What???  That didn't seem to work either......

Trying again.......

And again................

 And again...............

 And again...............

 And let me look at this one more time.......

The face says it all.............

 I'll just rock it............

 Fingers for comfort.......

 Mommmmmmm.......would you please just hold me?  It doesn't work!

 And that's the problem with little purple loveseats..........

How many times do we stress over things as small as this little purple loveseat????

GiGi's doc apt

I wanted to quickly update on GiGi's doctor's apt yesterday. First off, I was glad she didn't get us into trouble when she a little girl came in crying & she started yelling "You cry!"  We all tried to quieten her, but GiGi just thought that was funny!  Other than that, it went great & our doctor said she had never seen a child come from a foreign land in such great shape, well adjusted, & as age appropriate as GiGi.   Can you see this mama's big ol' smile????  It was later on Friday & the Memphis Campbell's clinic was not open so they are calling Monday to get her an appointment there with the orthopedic specialists for her missing ribs & scolosis, etc.  

I cannot tell you how well adjusted GiGi is with her/our family!  She acts as if she has always been with us & we feel as if she has always been with us!  She is as silly of a child as I've ever seen.  Happy/Happy/Happy!!! She is constantly laughing, giggling, smiling, etc. Don't get me wrong, she can pitch a fit with the best of them; however, she is smiling as soon as it is over! lol   You should have seen her yesterday throwing her sucker down & slapping the side of her leg when she got tired.  I then put her in the pack-n-play & she yelled & threw all her toys out before she threw herself on the floor of the p-n-p kicking & screaming.  She was asleep within 5min but she sure did not want that nap! lol

All here is great!  It's as if none of us ever had an adjustment period; GiGi was just here & it felt like she had always been.  Her vocabulary had slowed down up until Bubba & Sissy went to school.  The last few days she has added lots of new words.  However, what kid would use words if you could just grunt & your siblings would run to guess your need!  Momma don't jump & run like Dolt & Maaaacy at grunts.  I'm mean & make her use words! lol

And you know I told you yesterday I'd not completely unpacked.  Well, Phil didn't put up the suitcases that I had unpacked & he broke his foot on one last night.  Nope, again not kidding & he is in a boot!    Other than that there is nothing new & exciting to tell!  I hope you all  have a great Saturday & I'll update you all again soon!

Friday---How's it going?

So, by the messages I’ve gotten I see everyone is wondering “How’s it going?”

Do you want the “Keeping it real” version that I’ve always tried to give or the “Everything is great version” I want to give to you? Lol

As I start this post, I want you to know I’m not complaining just stating how things are here!  We got home Sunday night after a prolonged journey home from China. I didn’t know our blog title should be “Long road to China & longer road home” lol To say the very least, we were exhausted! 

I was asleep by 6pm Sunday & around midnight the kids were up.  We got a few more hours sleep between midnight & noon.  On Monday, Phil had to return to work.  We all were asleep Monday night by 5pm.  By 2am Tuesday morning, the kids were up (can you tell they had days/nights mixed up?)  By 3am I gave up the thought of any more sleep & got up & started unloading luggage.  I managed to keep them up Tuesday until around 5pm.  We were up by 4am on Wednesday (which was the first day of school for the kids).

As you can see there wasn’t a lot to tell from the time we got in Sunday night until Wednesday morning.  Our sleep was disrupted from China time & loss of sleep traveling from China on Saturday. 

GiGi was not real happy about leaving Dolt/Bubba (as she calls Colt both) nor Maaaaccy/Sissy (as she calls Macy in her Southern draw) at school on Wed.   GiGi & I were able to eat breakfast with Maaacy. Since GiGi drank 2 cartoons of Chocolate Milk & was looking for more (this was her first time to try US milk & it’s very different than the milk in China) I figured we’d make a trip to the store for some more milk & groceries.

GiGi still does not like riding as she does NOT like the car seat!  In China there is no such thing as a car seat - Only chaotic/organized driving & it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen! 

We made it just fine staying busy Wednesday & I was able to show off our little GiGi Dahl to several people.  I’d dare to say she won most everyone’s heart!  It’s hard not to love her as her personality is so immense!  I think I told some of you doubters she would still your heart & she is proving momma right! ;0)   She doesn’t let others hold her which is not uncommon for children of her age, but I also believe she still has a fear of us leaving her.  Even though she doesn’t let others too close she smiles, waves, laughs, blows kisses, fake cries, & does things just to see how much she can get others to do for her (ex. throwing keys, glasses, etc to see just how many times someone will pick them up is a familiar game for her! Lol)

Well, after we picked the kids up for school things seemed to go…….well, not quite as great I’ll say.  We had looked very forward to going to church Wednesday night, but we had someone looking at our air-conditioning unit until time for church.

Strike one……..our compressor is out on the a/c!  Nope, not even kidding! It never got fixed prior to us leaving for China & it has been HOT since we have returned! 

Strike 2……I began to get sicker than I had already felt.  I thought it was just lack of sleep & jet lag so I’ve pushed through as much as possible.  However, when I began vomiting Wednesday night, I knew I was sick.  I RARELY vomit & cannot remember spewing other than when I had the flu.   Fever has followed   :0(

When the kids came home on Thursday, they knew I was sick as I was in bed.  Macy Jade & the little mother she has been, immediately got GiGi & begin to play & take care of her.  Colt tried to get me food & liquids to take care of me.  And that is how last night pretty much played out.  I have some amazing kids!  Macy Jade wagged GiGi around all day after her long day of school & took care of her – even putting her to sleep.  Colt tried to take care of me all night!  This week when he knew I didn’t feel good Colt has loaded/washed dishes & folded/put up clothes without being asked!  GiGi has been super content & happy eventhough I haven’t felt like being the mother she deserves! How can one complain when I have kids so wonderful?—ALL 3!

They didn’t even ask from one thing from me but took care of things like adults yesterday!  I’m so proud of them!  Even though I surely didn’t win mother of the year award, my kids won kids of the year award yesterday! 

This morning around 5am Macy Jade came to my bed with GiGi to check on me.  I love my kids!  Not just because they have helped & taken care of me but because I love them!  God has really blessed me beyond what I could ever deserve! 

Macy Jade & I dug through luggage this a.m. (no I’m still not unpacked) to try & find something clean & that would fit the dress code for her to wear today.  Imagine being a month behind on washing!  Yikes, it’s bad! Lol

However, as I hugged, kissed & told Dolt & Maaaccy Jade bye for school they smiled & were happy!  They don’t seem to mind that they are exhausted, nor  mind that they have taken on some adult responsibilities since having another sibling, nor mind that the house is upside down, nor mind that washing is a month behind, nor mind that things aren’t the way they were 6 weeks ago.  They are happy & I am happy!  I would not think twice about adopting my happy, smiling, silly, long-toed, naturally curly haired, dark complexioned, “Love Lu” daughter!  And I’d bet that everyone in this family would agree!  GiGi maybe missing some ribs, have moderate to severe scoliosis, & other unknown medical issues, but she is perfect to us!

It’s not about me or us – it never was!  It’s about doing His will & giving “the least” of us what they need – LOVE!  As much as we have been through with the adoption, delays, obstacles, etc. & as crazy as it sounds, I’d jump on a United plane (yeap, even United) to love another one of those precious children!  Yeap, I’m crazy & in total love with my family!  My heart has room for more & I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help other children have a family & love! 

Our lives have been forever changed!  I didn’t tell anyone but an older child came to our attention while we were still in China.  We would have loved her as our daughter if God would have seen fit!  Thankfully, she got a forever family!   Not only have I been changed, but my children’s lives have been forever changed!  They were asking for us to adopt another child before we ever left China.  When I asked why (just curious as to their answer)?  Macy & Colt were quick to reply things as “Did you see the orphanage?”   or “How can we leave them in a place like that?”  Once our eyes have been opened to the realization, even a child cannot turn his/her eyes to the blind side!

When we left China, we took a huge part with us (GiGi) but we left a huge part of our hearts!  I cried when we left GZ!  I know you think that crazy woman!  Yes, I am, but tears fell as I knew I would leave that wonderful country with beautiful, precious children there that needed a family!  I cannot explain the vast difference in the orphanages there & orphanages in America!  Please don’t take that wrong!  WE 100% COMPLETELY SUPPORT ADOPTION OF AMERICAN CHILDREN!!!!!  I maybe one to adopt a child from the good ol’ USA oneday if that is God’s will.  However, the conditions I saw for the children in China were worse than those at our local animal shelter & I am not joking! 

Yes, our GiGi is so special to us!  However, as Phil said, she is no more deserving of a family & love than any other child that is without one!  They all deserve to have a family!  As long as God lays it on my heart to help these children whether it be through adoption, education, encouragement, support, advocating, or any other way God sees fit, then I will be yelling at the top of my lungs for my prayer warriors to keep on praying for us crazy folks!  God’s not finished with us yet!

This afternoon GiGi has her first doctor’s apt.  Please pray that all goes well!  No matter what our doctor tells us, GiGi is still perfection to us!  She is a fighter for sure!  She has learned to deal with her medical issues!  Colt is very tenderhearted & often says how sad it makes him that GiGi has medical issues!  I’m quick to tell him that GiGi is happy & does not see her medical issues.  Someone posted a pic that I will share below.  The picture depicts how I want GiGi to be treated by us & others!  I do not want GiGi to think she has a disability or that she is disabled, but I just want her to feel she is unique & does things differently! 

\

I’ve yabbed enough but I wanted to let you know how things were here.  Please overlook the grammatical errors today.  I’m not 100% but wanted to update anyway.  Thank you all for continuing to keep up with us!  Our story is not over yet!  Blessing to all of you!

If you try to contact us via phone, you are probably not going to get us!  The chargers to our phones are broken thus we cannot use them without charge.  We have a home phone but haven’t had a phone plugged in over a year soooooo if you need us, the best way to contact us is  by computer – email or facebook.  I'll consider the phone issue Strike 3.......so I'm out! 

Niki

The reason for the journey!

(From Aug 8, 2012)

 The reason for the journey! And we'd do it a million times over without a seconds thought .........even with all the hang-ups & headaches! She is so perfect to us! I will try to post an update soon but we r soooooo exhausted! We FINALLY made it home & thank u for all the prayers & support!

Last Night in GZ

We leave tomorrow for Hong Kong. It's hard for me to believe that this leg of the journey is winding down. Mixed feelings for sure. China has been an experience. For a guy that is not what you would call "well traveled" it has been a baptism by fire. I've been looking out my hotel window at the lights of GZ (while eating a hot-fudge sundae for McDonald's LOL) and sorta saying my last goodbyes to a place that is a contradiction. Here (in China) you can walk out of a modern mall with all the trimmings- From Rolex to Levis and in 2 minutes be walking down a street that is like a scene from the movie Chinatown. Clothes hanging out to dry on rusty wires dangling above cobblestone streets filled with shirtless men gambling and smoking cigarettes. Carts of strange foods served on a stick. Steam rising from dilapidated manholes. An endless symphony of horns blowing, mandarin speaking, exotic music flowing from old dirty radios, and worn rubber bike tires taking a beating from the uneven pathways. This place is a photographer's shangri la. My Canon has taken a beating while here, but has pulled through. I could never capture the beauty of China, but I would love to have the opportunity to shot here again. It is amazing. A photograph waiting every couple of minutes. I have stood on the Great Wall and looked over the vast hazy mountains, walked the streets of Old Beijing, watched Buddhist pray to their idol in the temple of Guangzhou, visited Olympic Park, and been immersed in a culture that few westerners will ever have the opportunity to feel, smell, and see. The tour of the XX orphanage was life changing. I photographed what I could, but honestly, it was almost too emotional to shoot. I don't think it is a stretch to say that the conditions at our animal shelter in Corinth are more sanitary. It is hard for me to come to terms with the fact that my precious daughter had spent he life there. I wish all the children could be adopted. I truly believe that if people could only have a grasp of the conditions there, more children would gain families. But my photographs can't capture the unbearable heat and putrid smells. If anyone out there is on the fence about adoption, I hope you will realize the priceless gift that is yours to give to a child that has no hope. When I was walking through the crib room taking shots I saw someone from our group holding a tiny baby that was already blue. That moment wasn't made for photographs but prayer to God for this child. I didn't take a picture. I'm sure that precious soul is now with our Lord. At another orphanage, someone from our group looked into a crib only to see a deceased child. It could have been GiGi in that crib. I'm sure that we will never be the same. In a perfect world, I would love to travel to orphanages and try to capture the children in photos that would bring awareness and help children to be adopted. There are children all around the world that only want a family, life, and love. Maybe someday this what Niki and I will be able to do. Until then, I can use my words to advocate for these orphans, but as they say 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. 

It has been an exhausting experience and I'm running out of steam. But we would do anything to hold GiGi. It still feels surreal that we are in this place and have our daughter. Thanks for keeping up with our story. I hope to write again soon-    Phil