ARTICLE 5 APPROVAL (!!) A Move to Foster Care and Life Here in AZ

It's been a crazy, full, busy few weeks around here! First & most exciting we received Article 5 Approval early this morning....so exciting! Now we are just awaiting Travel Approval- yay!

A couple of weeks ago we received some concerning information regarding lead levels in Grace's orphanage. After doing quite a bit of research, reaching out to the specific orphanage Yahoo group, I discovered that this is a significant and ongoing (10+ years) issue. Long & short we received updated blood work that confirmed Grace has a rather high lead level. Our agency was very proactive, as was the orphanage & Grace was moved to a foster home. The positive is obvious...she is out of the environment that was causing the build up of lead in her bloodstream. The negative is that her orphanage is the only home she has known for her 20 months of life. I know that move, while positive must have been an emotionally stressful move for our girl. And, she will have another very soon when she is transitioned into our arms. So, we are praying God's protection for her health and her heart/emotional well-being. And we are so very anxious to head to China so that she can begin the big move to being settled, to finding her place with her forever family.

In the meantime, we sent another care package with a few goodies including a snuggly blanket.

And, back here in AZ our sweet Georgea girl is loving life! Thriving, talking up a storm & just filling our world with so many smiles and giggles. She really keeps us on our toes! Last Sunday she thoroughly enjoyed attending her good friend Alexa's birthday party....especially the celebratory cupcake eating!

Sometimes, when you're only 3.5 and the "party girls" are all 7 years old, you need your Mama to join you in the dance party fun! And it was my absolute pleasure, of course.

Showing her independence! She only needed me for about 5 minutes & enjoyed the rest of the dancing and games "on her own." She let me slip out into the hall. I'm amazed daily at how her confidence level continues to grow. She's getting ready to be a super-star big sister!

We Have BIG NEWS!!

On December 10th, we received a gift from God, an early Christmas present, the news we had been waiting 9 months for! There is a sweet little girl whose name is "Ning Si Qi", waiting for us to bring her home from Jiangxi province China! These first two photos are our first glimpse of our beautiful baby girl. We are so thrilled we can't describe how full our hearts are right now.

We have chosen the name Grace, and will keep Grace's given Chinese name, Ning Si Qi, as her middle name, just as we did with Georgea. Grace turned 18 months on December 18th and her special need is cleft palette. We were incredibly blessed to receive our LOA (letter of approval) in just 11 days (while some are waiting over 100 days). We turned our I-800 around immediately upon receiving our LOA and received I-800 approval just this past week on January 12. So, we have just a few more steps until we receive travel approval. If all goes smoothly, even factoring in the Chinese New Year holiday, there is still a good chance we can travel in March, which would be record time. We can't wait to wrap our arms around our sweet, beautiful baby girl!!

Ann at Red Thread China ROCKS!! Just 2 days after placing our order for Grace Ning Si Qi's care package, Ann was able to have these photos taken by Grace's CWI (Children's Welfare Institute) and forwarded them on to us. WHAT A GIFT!! We knew the first pictures we saw were dated, and how amazing to see current photos, and to see that Grace looks so incredibly healthy. I also loved seeing her standing on her own. Isn't she GORGEOUS??!! (spoken like a true Mama, I know!) Oh, I can't wait to kiss THOSE CHEEKS!!

Martha's Vineyard June 2011

We had the most amazing trip over to Martha's Vineyard, to visit with my Aunt & Uncle, after our Boston visit. We've been trying to get to MV for a long time and were thrilled to finally make it happen. We spent a few fast and furious days touring the beautiful island. We saw everything from the Alpaca farm, to a beautiful Japanese style garden- in full bloom, the infamous bridge in Chappaquiddick, lovely beaches, all the quaint walkways with shops, restaurants and lovely architecture, and most importantly we scored some much needed LIVE catch up with our family. Georgea loved every inch of that beautiful island and every moment of our vist, and so did we!

Enjoying Aunt Susie in our vacation cottage which was just a stone's throw from her house!

Uncle Tim!

Our beautiful and peaceful view.

Alpaca Farm!

My Dad met up with us for this wonderful visit and Georgea was as always, thrilled to have time with her "Haba."

This desert girl LOVED being back close to the water. So beautiful.

Mytoi, Japanese style garden.

Visit to Chappaquiddick.

"The" bridge.

Beauty.

A RUN TO HABA's ARMS!

Happy girl!

Breezy day. Love those gorgeous locks blowing in the wind!

The ferry ride was especially fun for Georgea.

A favorite local shop where we found some "goodies" to take home.

Enjoying lunch & some fancy root beer at Menemsha Blues with Dad & Susie.

Daddy sharing some chips with his girl.

Beauty abounds on this lovely island.

Ahhhh, FRESH SEAFOOD!!!

Visiting my Aunt Susie's beautiful horses. This was a definite highlight for Georgea!

Feeding the horses some carrots with Aunt Susie's help.

Love these shots with the sun gleaming through Georgea's hair.

This was such an amazing dinner. Being from Maryland, and living in the desert, I so miss having easy access to such culinary delights!

Our cozy cottage.

Heading out for more fun sight-seeing.

Georgea loved the Farm Institute. Lots of really cool animals, and their babies....up close!

Oink-oink!

We had to stop by the beach!

The Edgartown Bookstore where my Aunt Susie works. This store has so much character, and Georgea LOVES books, so she was in heaven.

An open house at the cottage, with a visit from some of my Aunt & Uncle's local friends.

The end of a perfect trip. So hoping to go back next year......