Thursday, February 16, 2012
She's going to be all right!!!
We went to see the cardiologist today and Emma had an echocardiogram done. It lasted over an hour due to her complex cardiac anatomy but the doctors all agreed that they had good news! Emma does have dextrocardia (her heart is on the right side of her chest, not the left) and she only has 1 ventricle. But her single ventricle is the Left Ventricle, not the Right Ventricle as previously thought. This is a huge advantage and improves her long-term outcome! Her ventricle is functioning perfectly and her Pulmonary valve stenosis has protected her lungs from overcirculation so she has no evidence of pulmonary hypertension! God is so amazing! Her oxygen saturations are still low (72%) but she is doing so well otherwise that the doctors sent us home (yippee!) and we will schedule a cardiac cath and surgery in the next month or so. Until then, she gets to be a regular kid! We are so thankful to the One we trust and we are so in awe of His ways...
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Day 13 - Late entry - February 8, 2012 - published on 2/14/2012 Sorry!
Today we went to the US Consulate to formalize our adoption. The whole family stood for the oath (which I thought would entail us promising to love and cherish Emma but instead it was more of a promise that the paperwork we submitted was true and accurate). Oh well, our family ended up doing our own oath later promising to love and cherish Emma anyway. We're a family legally now. When Emma touches US soil in less than 48 hours, she will automatically become a US citizen. Amazing. Our journey in China is about to end but our journey as The Kim Family Five is just beginning. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and Your amazing plans!
Olivia
Olivia
Home sweet home
We made it home in one glorious piece. Emma did so well on the flight home. Thank God! Madelyn and Luke were great too and enjoyed their unlimited access to movies and songs. Alex watched more Korean movies than he'd like to admit! Now we're trying to get adjusted to another (and thankfully last) time change and Emma is getting used to (hopefully) her new bed (crib). She loves everything else about the house - including the dogs - but has yet to develop love for her bed, especially at night. Oh well, it could be worse!!
We are so thankful that we were able to get her when we did. Her activity level seemed fine when we met her but now that she's home and trying to climb up the stairs or run around with M and L, she gets short of breath and I have to pick her up and hold her so she can recover. Oh Lord, please let her be okay. We go on Thursday to be seen by the cardiologists. I'll be package a suitcase in case they need to admit us right away. Lord, please help me not worry about tomorrow and help me to cherish today. We love her so much already. And please be near us because I see a storm brewing...
We are so thankful that we were able to get her when we did. Her activity level seemed fine when we met her but now that she's home and trying to climb up the stairs or run around with M and L, she gets short of breath and I have to pick her up and hold her so she can recover. Oh Lord, please let her be okay. We go on Thursday to be seen by the cardiologists. I'll be package a suitcase in case they need to admit us right away. Lord, please help me not worry about tomorrow and help me to cherish today. We love her so much already. And please be near us because I see a storm brewing...
Olivia
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Going home!!
We are at the Hong Kong Airport and about to board our flight home! In 15 looooong hours we will be in Chicago and Emma will officially be a US citizen! Please Lord, help us endure the flight and may everyone around us have plenty if earplugs and patience!!!
Olivia
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Days 11 and 12
A relaxing few days. So relaxing that I completely forgot to blog!! Emma's TB skin test was just fine and we were in and out of the clinic in 5 minutes! We spent the rest of the day exploring the island. We went through the marketplace and saw things we weren't expecting - dried snakes, live scorpions and turtles for soups, as well as puppies and kittens and koi fish (for pets, I'm told - I sure do hope so!) We spent the next day resting and relaxing - except for when Emma cries as she tries to go to sleep. She has learned the art of crying/screeching at the top of her lungs and I've relearned how much the cries of my children break my heart - and how I have to show tough love sometimes...
Tomorrow is our US Consulate Appointment and we will be one step closer to home!
Olivia
Tomorrow is our US Consulate Appointment and we will be one step closer to home!
Olivia
RE: Day 10 - Safari Park
OK, so this is what happens when I type at 5 in the morning. The Safari Park was Day 10! Sorry! We'd better be home by Day 19!
Olivia
From: mommykimmd@hotmail.com
To: mommykimmd.kimfamilyfive@blogger.com
Subject: Day 19 - Safari Park
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 23:33:23 +0000
Olivia
From: mommykimmd@hotmail.com
To: mommykimmd.kimfamilyfive@blogger.com
Subject: Day 19 - Safari Park
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 23:33:23 +0000
We saw animals like you wouldn't believe!! Sorry Walt but there were so many more animals than at the Animal Kingdom!! We hopped on the safari train that took us through the safari and habitats and there were animals EVERYWHERE and they were sooo close! Emma was amazed and kept squealing and pointing at all the new creatures. I love watching her discover the world around her. We saw a tiger show (much like a circus act but with 12 tigers) and the Animal Kindergarten (where all the baby animals were). Emma loved the baby animals the most and called everything, whether it was a tiger, a rabbit or a deer, "baby". (Yes she is learning English quickly!!) We also got to pet a koala bear. She was thrilled to see it so close but had no desire to touch it! Madelyn and Luke were thrilled to do both!! Emma also rode her first Carousel and smiled so big! Ahh, the joys of life! And then it was time to eat. I am forever amazed at how much this girl can eat! Chow down, baby girl! At the end of the day - we were all exhausted but sooo happy - we went home, had the other family's children come play at our room (to give their parents a break) and eat McDonalds. We almost forgot we were in China! Tomorrow we're gonna get up early (who am I kidding, Em and I will already be up anyway!) and watch the SuperBowl. Hope we can see the commercials too! Then we go to get Emma's TB skin test checked and then we'll explore Shamain Island. In just a few more days, we'll be heading home. I can't wait and I can't believe it. We are overly blessed...
Olivia
Olivia
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Day 19 - Safari Park
We saw animals like you wouldn't believe!! Sorry Walt but there were so many more animals than at the Animal Kingdom!! We hopped on the safari train that took us through the safari and habitats and there were animals EVERYWHERE and they were sooo close! Emma was amazed and kept squealing and pointing at all the new creatures. I love watching her discover the world around her. We saw a tiger show (much like a circus act but with 12 tigers) and the Animal Kindergarten (where all the baby animals were). Emma loved the baby animals the most and called everything, whether it was a tiger, a rabbit or a deer, "baby". (Yes she is learning English quickly!!) We also got to pet a koala bear. She was thrilled to see it so close but had no desire to touch it! Madelyn and Luke were thrilled to do both!! Emma also rode her first Carousel and smiled so big! Ahh, the joys of life! And then it was time to eat. I am forever amazed at how much this girl can eat! Chow down, baby girl! At the end of the day - we were all exhausted but sooo happy - we went home, had the other family's children come play at our room (to give their parents a break) and eat McDonalds. We almost forgot we were in China! Tomorrow we're gonna get up early (who am I kidding, Em and I will already be up anyway!) and watch the SuperBowl. Hope we can see the commercials too! Then we go to get Emma's TB skin test checked and then we'll explore Shamain Island. In just a few more days, we'll be heading home. I can't wait and I can't believe it. We are overly blessed...
Olivia
Olivia
Day 9 - Hello Guangzhou!!
Let me just start by saying we love the Garden Hotel!! Even though it's in the middle of the city, it's actually very quite and serene in the hotel and on the hotel grounds. Definitely the place to stay!! Today was our day to go get Emma's medical check up. She had to be examined and have a TB skin test placed. The clinic was crammed with people doing the same thing but the staff was efficient and we moved through the line pretty quickly. There was a humorous part that I will always remember. When it was Emma's turn, the doctor was listening to her chest and suddenly his eyes grew big and he was clearly startled. He quickly motioned to us to another room and had another doctor listen to her. He also got a surprised look on his face and in came another doctor. They all spoke quickly and in hushed voices. Then they started pointing to the right side of one doctor's chest. Then I understood and I said, "It's OK! Yes, her heart is on the wrong side of her chest!" The look of relief washed over their faces and then they started laughing and laughing. They quickly signed her papers and ushered us out of the room. :)
She got her TB skin test and we were done. We all went to have lunch at Lucy's Restaurant (we befriended 2 other families who were also using our same agency. One family has 2 older children who get along wonderfully with Madelyn and Luke) and then we called it a day. We'll all be going to the Safari Park tomorrow. It's basically like Disney's Animal Kingdom. We're looking forward to it! It was a good day!
Olivia
She got her TB skin test and we were done. We all went to have lunch at Lucy's Restaurant (we befriended 2 other families who were also using our same agency. One family has 2 older children who get along wonderfully with Madelyn and Luke) and then we called it a day. We'll all be going to the Safari Park tomorrow. It's basically like Disney's Animal Kingdom. We're looking forward to it! It was a good day!
Olivia
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Day 8 - Leaving Nanchang
Looking back, five days in Nanchang did fly by quickly. We befriended another family who was adopting a little girl during our stay and that helped pass the time. Truth be told, though, we were ready to go. It was sad knowing that we were taking Emma from her hometown but we were so ready to pass the halfway mark of our trip and ready to get one step closer to her new home - our home. We were a little apprehensive though. Emma had never flown before and we were worried how her heart and oxygen saturations would be affected. We were going to be in a smaller plane and oxygen tank was not available so we prayed that she would tolerate the flight without too much difficult. Thankfully, she did great! At least from a medical standpoint. From a 2 year old behavior/manners standpoint...well let's just say there is a lot of work to be done in that area. She started out the flight happy and contently eating her snacks. That lasted for 5 minutes. The remainder of the 90 minute flight was filled with crying, pouting, throwing (kleenexs - so at least know one was injured) and being transferred from Alex's lap to mine in hopes to pacify her. Lollipops worked for moments (she likes to bite them instead of savor them) and she was in no mood for toys or reading. Finally I found the solution - stickers!! I quickly handed them to Alex (who was trying to bounce Emma on his knee) and he and she spent the next glorious moments of silence peeling and sticking stickers everywhere. Emma's favorite place to put a sticker is on her nose, so in no time, her face was decorated with stickers and so was Alex's. When we finally landed, all the stickers were gone, Emma grew ansy, and so we bolted off the plane. The moment we got out, she was her happy self, smiling and babbling. Our 15 hour flight home from Hong Kong will require many, many, many stickers I'm afraid and even more patience. We are NOT looking forward to it... Our little angel sure can throw a tantrum!
Once we arrived at our hotel in Guangzhou (it's called the Garden Hotel), we were awestruck by how fancy and luxurious it was. The only draw back was the sleeping arrangements. Four of us could either sleep in a room with 2 twin sized beds or 1 king sized bed. A crib would be provided for Emma. We chose the king-sized bed and spent the rest of the night a little too close for comfort - but in a good way. Tomorrow we go for Emma's medical check up and her TB skin test. We'll be meeting up with another family and though we look forward to seeing the rest of the city, we know that there's no place like home.
Once we arrived at our hotel in Guangzhou (it's called the Garden Hotel), we were awestruck by how fancy and luxurious it was. The only draw back was the sleeping arrangements. Four of us could either sleep in a room with 2 twin sized beds or 1 king sized bed. A crib would be provided for Emma. We chose the king-sized bed and spent the rest of the night a little too close for comfort - but in a good way. Tomorrow we go for Emma's medical check up and her TB skin test. We'll be meeting up with another family and though we look forward to seeing the rest of the city, we know that there's no place like home.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
day 7
Let me just start by saying how gracious our God is. Emma woke up this morning with a cautious smile on her face. I was ready to start a new day. As we were getting ready to go for breakfast, Emma motioned to her sippy cup. When we asked if that was what she wanted, she put her hands together saying "please"! She remembered from the night before! We all squealed with delight and she beamed with pride! I hadn't scarred her for life after all!
Today we would trace the steps of what is known about Emma's past. She was found on March 13, 2010 in a small alleyway at 256 XiLong You Street in the HuFang Village of Nanchang City. It's one of the poorer areas of the the city. She was found by a villager who was passing by and was reportedly laying in a cardboard box with a little fabric to cover her. The villager notified the police who came and took her to the orphanage who estimated that she was 4 months old and gave her a birthdate of November 13, 2009. They put an add in the local paper (which is customarily done - and we actually got a copy of that newspaper from the orphanage!) to try to locate her family. The family has 2 months to come and claim her. No one did so she grew up at the orphanage. In September 2011, she joined a "Love Family" at the orphanage. It's like a foster family but the mom is a full-time "nanny" and lives in a 3-room apartment within the orphanage compound. 5 other kids lived with Emma and her foster mom. During the day, all the kids went to the orphanage and returned to their "home" at night. We were able to see it all - the spot where she was found, the orphanage that she grew up in and her foster mom and home. It was emotional for everyone. We saw so many kids, 95% of them abandoned by their families due to special needs and little resources to care for them. Everyone remembered Emma, even her friends in her class. They came up to her and almost tried to pull her out of my arms. I hugged her even closer. Her nannies all came to say hi too. They tried to hold her but she refused to go to them. They commented that she must already know that we are her family now. :) That made me feel better. Then we went into the baby room. All newly abandoned and lying still in their beds. No one was crying. Two nannies were trying to love too many babies. Again. Lastly we went to Emma's foster mom and home. This was the hardest. I wanted to thank her foster mom for caring for Emma. Apparently she had our family photo album and showed our pictures to Emma regularly to prepare her for our arrival. No wonder she didn't cry when we met her! According to the orphanage director, Emma was expecting us. They have Sunday volunteers that come to play with the kids but Emma refused to go to her Sunday Mom and her foster mom said it was because Emma recognized that the Sunday mom didn't look like the mom (me) in the pictures we sent. I'm not sure if that was true but it made us feel better. When we met Emma's foster mom, Emma was apprehensive and didn't initially go to her so the foster mom took her from my arms to hold and say goodbye. She showed us Emma's old bed and her old room. It was then that Emma's silent tears started again. I'm not sure if it's because she was afraid we were going to leave her or because she was missing her old home - it was probably everything combined because the foster mom also started to cry and she put Emma down. I quickly picked Em up, whispered in her ear and kissed her cheeks. She was saying goodbye it seemed, and after that , did not look at her foster mom. I gave her foster mom a hug and we left, remembering and thankful for Emma's past but looking towards her future. In the car, Emma was still thoughtful but then started to relax and smile and giggle again. I was so proud of her. After a few minutes, our baby girl was fast asleep in my arms and all was right in the world again.
Our guide ended up getting us a heart shaped porcelain (sorry for misspelling it before!) so that Emma can remember that her hometown is famous for such items. Her jade necklace (a gift from her orphanage) fits in perfectly. Our time in Nanchang is coming to an end. We've enjoyed our time here but are ready to go to Guangzhou tomorrow and get one step closer to going home - as a whole family.
Olivia
Today we would trace the steps of what is known about Emma's past. She was found on March 13, 2010 in a small alleyway at 256 XiLong You Street in the HuFang Village of Nanchang City. It's one of the poorer areas of the the city. She was found by a villager who was passing by and was reportedly laying in a cardboard box with a little fabric to cover her. The villager notified the police who came and took her to the orphanage who estimated that she was 4 months old and gave her a birthdate of November 13, 2009. They put an add in the local paper (which is customarily done - and we actually got a copy of that newspaper from the orphanage!) to try to locate her family. The family has 2 months to come and claim her. No one did so she grew up at the orphanage. In September 2011, she joined a "Love Family" at the orphanage. It's like a foster family but the mom is a full-time "nanny" and lives in a 3-room apartment within the orphanage compound. 5 other kids lived with Emma and her foster mom. During the day, all the kids went to the orphanage and returned to their "home" at night. We were able to see it all - the spot where she was found, the orphanage that she grew up in and her foster mom and home. It was emotional for everyone. We saw so many kids, 95% of them abandoned by their families due to special needs and little resources to care for them. Everyone remembered Emma, even her friends in her class. They came up to her and almost tried to pull her out of my arms. I hugged her even closer. Her nannies all came to say hi too. They tried to hold her but she refused to go to them. They commented that she must already know that we are her family now. :) That made me feel better. Then we went into the baby room. All newly abandoned and lying still in their beds. No one was crying. Two nannies were trying to love too many babies. Again. Lastly we went to Emma's foster mom and home. This was the hardest. I wanted to thank her foster mom for caring for Emma. Apparently she had our family photo album and showed our pictures to Emma regularly to prepare her for our arrival. No wonder she didn't cry when we met her! According to the orphanage director, Emma was expecting us. They have Sunday volunteers that come to play with the kids but Emma refused to go to her Sunday Mom and her foster mom said it was because Emma recognized that the Sunday mom didn't look like the mom (me) in the pictures we sent. I'm not sure if that was true but it made us feel better. When we met Emma's foster mom, Emma was apprehensive and didn't initially go to her so the foster mom took her from my arms to hold and say goodbye. She showed us Emma's old bed and her old room. It was then that Emma's silent tears started again. I'm not sure if it's because she was afraid we were going to leave her or because she was missing her old home - it was probably everything combined because the foster mom also started to cry and she put Emma down. I quickly picked Em up, whispered in her ear and kissed her cheeks. She was saying goodbye it seemed, and after that , did not look at her foster mom. I gave her foster mom a hug and we left, remembering and thankful for Emma's past but looking towards her future. In the car, Emma was still thoughtful but then started to relax and smile and giggle again. I was so proud of her. After a few minutes, our baby girl was fast asleep in my arms and all was right in the world again.
Our guide ended up getting us a heart shaped porcelain (sorry for misspelling it before!) so that Emma can remember that her hometown is famous for such items. Her jade necklace (a gift from her orphanage) fits in perfectly. Our time in Nanchang is coming to an end. We've enjoyed our time here but are ready to go to Guangzhou tomorrow and get one step closer to going home - as a whole family.
Olivia
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Day 6 - I think
Today we toured other parts of Nanchang. We first went to a traditional Buddhist Temple. I was reluctant but to be respectful to the guide and the other families we went. This temple housed the largest man-made bronze statue of Buddha in China and there were people praying fervently to the statue. I couldn't help myself but to pray silently for all those people who seeking. It was eye-opening to say the least... Next we went to a place called "The People's Park" which was beautiful. It reminded me of Central Park in New York. Lots of green grassy spaces and ponds with huge koi popping up their heads in hopes for a treat. There were playgrounds and kids learning how to ride their bikes (one little boy ran over Alex's foot and then mine - and he was one of the better ones) and kids even driving kiddie golf carts - in the middle of the walkway causing all of us pedestrians to dodge out of their way! We concluded that this is where the future taxi drivers of China are made! ;) At the end of the park were amusement park rides!!! Tons of them! A carousel, tea cup rides, a kiddie roller coaster - you get the idea. It was just like Disneyworld, except for the reassurance of safety! The rides were old and rickety but too tempting for Madelyn and Luke. So Alex and I conceded (and whispered a prayer) and agreed to go on 1 ride for each child. Emma would stay in the safety of her stroller. First, Luke and I rode a little roller coaster ride - the kind that you saw at Dinorex (before it went out of business). We squeezed into one car and I struggled to get the seatbelt around us but it was broken. No worries, motioned the attendant. No seatbelts needed. Yikes!!! Before I could protest, the ride started and I grabbed on to Luke. The ride started out slowly - ah that's why no need for seatbelts. Then it went faster and faster and faster and it creaked louder and louder! Help! :) Thankfully we survived and now it was Alex and Madelyn's turn. Maddy chose an upside down ride and squealed the entire time. Alex looked green the entire time! :) But they survived as well. Our reward was a meal at McDonalds. Luke ate like there was no tomorrow. He has survived on goldfish and butter pancakes for 5 days. Now with a cheeseburger, chicken nuggets and 2 orders of fries, my boy was happy. Emma, bless her heart, is a fan of Big Macs. Ahh, she IS a Kim! :) To keep things real, I must say that there was one moment last night that was our first struggle with the will of a two year old. Emma has a definite mischevious side to her. When we correct her and tell her "no", she just grins this sly, sneeky grin and shows no remorse. Uh, oh. I don't know why but it troubled me so much that she reacted that way. So I thought I should teach her some boundaries (instead of showing her grace, I admit that the human part of me prevailed) and we started trying to make her say or sign "please" (by putting her hands together) when she wanted something. It didn't work. She grew more obstinate and (and distant) I grew more frustrated. So we called it a night and we put her to bed. That night I had to take a moment to think and remember that "rules without relationship lead to rebellion." I decided that I would make sure she trusted and loved us first before I started being too strict. I went to bed praying for wisdom and grace in how to best raise Emma. It was a restless night - even for Emma. She cried in her sleep several times but quieted quickly as soon as I spoke to her or held her. Oh Lord, please let her know we love her no matter what. And even now, when I have a better idea of what the "no matter what" would be, we still love her no matter what... May tomorrow be a new day and a fresh start.
Olivia
Olivia
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