March 29, 2006: Our
dossier was sent off to China yesterday Hooray!!! Now we just wait
April 19, 2006: Hello
all! Just thought I would add a message, we still haven't heard any more news
but we are getting more and more squares and wishes for the quilt! We would like
to thank everyone who has participated in this. I have posted pictures in the
pictures section but everyone says they are having a hard time pulling them up.
I am working on this. So far we have 62 squares, we are almost there.
May 7, 2006: Hi
everyone! Sorry we haven't posted lately but we have been rather busy. We went
to a get together with our agency on Monday May 1st and were able to meet 3
other couples that we will be traveling with! They are all great people and we
look forward to getting to know them. We still do not know our LID (log in Date)
but we are patiently waiting ha ha! Right now referrals are running 10-12 months
so we are expecting or should we say hoping to travel April of 2007. We almost
have all of the 100 wishes and squares for the quilt we need 8 more and then we
will start to put it together, I will post new pictures soon. Also I have
joined 4 chat groups and one of the groups is doing a secret pal gift swap! I am
having so much fun shopping for my secret pal and of course receiving mine!! It
gives us something to look forward to during our long wait.
May 30, 2006: Hello! We
are still waiting to hear anything but I have posted 2 videos on the links page
and a picture of the quilt. I just have to get the fabric for the back and the
sides and it will be done. Thank you to everyone who has participated!! We will
keep you posted.
June 1, 2006: Hello
all exciting news today found out we are LID as of April 4th so the count
down begins, as long as everything goes well, we should be traveling next
April! Yeah!!! We will keep everyone posted.
June 15, 2006: Well as mothers/fathers day pass us up we are hoping to celebrate
them next year with our precious little girl and we can not wait until that day.
June 26, 2006: Today was a wonderful day! We received our secret pal gifts today!
Steven got a best buy gift card, I got a bunch of bath and body works stuff and Buddy
and Bella got a toy each and some treats! What a great secret pal we have! Can't wait
till next month.
July 4, 2006 Happy 4th of July to everyone! We have added new pics. Enjoy and be safe!!
July, 24, 2006 Well we just got back from Baltimore on Thursday, we had a good time, of course
I (Tina) went shopping while Steve was in class. I only bought one baby thing, I was proud of myself.
I have added a coupple new pictures, one of us in Baltimore and 2 of the nursery (updated). I should
be receiving my secret pal gift any day now so I will be back on posting then. Thanks for stopping in!!
August 12, 2006: Hello everyone. Just wanted to keep everyone updated, baby shower invitations were sent out on
Tuesday, We hope everyone has received them. We can't wait to see the turn out and are very excited about seeing everyone!
My Friend Michelle is making the cake and some other yummy desserts and I can't wait to see them and especially eat them YUM!! Steve
is remodoling the dining room, today he is putting the sheet rock up. Which means he is almost done! Yeah!!! the mess will be gone. Well
all hope all is well and I will post again in a few days when I recieve my secret pal gift. All our love!
August 24, 2006 Today we received our Brown envelope! Very exciting! For those of you who do not know what that is, it has all the documents
to get our baby girls visa, medical exam etc!! It was funny, I was looking through all the junk mail and finally came to the brown envelope
and realized what it was, jumped up and ran outside yelling to Steve that we recieved it, he just kept saying open it!! I know to most of you
this isn't exciting news but to us it is!! Hope all is well and we will keep in touch. All our Love.
September 23, 2006 Today was our babyshower! We had a wonderful time with our family, and friends and recieved a ton of wonderful gifts.
Now we just have to get our precious little girl. I posted a couple pictures.
November 18, 2006 Hello everyone! For most of you , you already know that we have found our baby girl! The pictures (if you haven't figured it out yet
are on the main page! We are hoping to travel around February, so hopefully by my birthday or even Steven's birthday we will have our baby girl in
our arms forever and ever! We can't wait to hug and kiss her, she is absolutly beautiful. Her grandparents are all very proud and can't wait to hug and
kiss her either. Her poppy (tina's dad) can't wait to take her in his Studebaker next summer and show her the different vehicles he runs at work! She already
knows how to say Baba for papa and mama! We will keep you all informed of when we will be traveling and any new news. We are very EXCITED as if you
can't tell. We love you all!
December 11, 2006 Hello everyone! just thought I would post an update. Our paperwork and letter of intent have been sent to China as of 12/09/06
Now all we have to do is wait, wait and wait some more. Hopefully they will be quick about it so we can get our precious little girl home! Hope everyone
has a wonderful Christmas. Love Us!
January 2nd, 2007: Can you believe it is 2007 already!! Everyday is getting closer and closer to getting our baby girl and bringing her home
We are so excited and cannot wait! We should be receiving some more paperwork for our visa's etc on January 10th or round about there. We go to
Syracuse on January 16th for our travel meeting and hopefully will hear really soon that we have TA! Keep your fingers crossed. We hope everyone
had a Merry Christmas and of course a Happy New Year. I will keep you updated as we go. All our love
January 14th, 2007: Just an update to let everyone know that we have a target travel date of March 15th!! We go to the travel meeting on January 16
in Syracuse(hoping for good weather)We will keep you posted.
February 4th, 2007: Wow! Can't believe how quickly time is getting away from us. 1 more month 30 days til we go and get our baby girl!!! We are almost
all packed. I have got my stuff and Aiyanas packed just waiting on Steve. I am so excited I can't stand myself. Well just wanted to put in an update.
love you all.
March 1st, 2007: Happy March to everyone! Still haven't heard anythin about our TA, hopefully really soon!!! We are very anxious. Well we have decided to choose
and american middle name for Aiyana. Her full name will be Aiyana Joy Miles. The name Joy has many meanings, the 1st is it was my Aunt Kathy's middle name
She passed away 4 years ago and she was a very strong but very loving person, and it also means she is the Joy in our lives and we are very proud she is our daughter.
Well as soon as we get the call that we can go get our baby girl we will let you all know. Still waiting on Steve to pack his stuff, I told him if '
he forgets anything too bad!! LOL Till the next time........ take care. Love us
PS. Tomorrow is the last day to vote for Aiyana for baby idol! Hope you all voted all week!!
March 15th, 2007: Hello everyone just a quick update. We recieved our LOA (letter of Acceptance) On Monday. This is a new process China is doing
which makes our wait longer.............Hopefully within the next 3 weeks we will be traveling. We just want to go get her. It is very frustrating!!
We will let everyone know when we are leaving. Take care.
March 25th, 2007: Hello! It is Sunday and I thought I would add an update, still do not have TA. Wishful thinking would be that it would be here this week but
I think it probably won't be here till the first week in April, which means with any luck we will be with her for Easter. We were hoping to have her home
for easter but unfortunatly that isn't going to happen. Not much going on here just really anxious. Something not so funny but funny happenned today
I was walking the dogs and a bird pooped on my head, it was so gross, I had just taken a shower too. So when I got home I had to wash my hair again. Some
people think it is good luck to have a bird poop on your head. We will see!! Well hope all is well. We will keep you informed. Love us!
April 1st, 2007: Happy April fools day! Boy time is just flying by! For everyone that keeps asking and calling no we have not recieved TA, trust us
you will know when we recieve TA. You will hear us yelling it from the mountain tops!! We are hoping to hear this week either Monday or Tuesday with any luck
I have repacked mine and Aiyana's stuff because I had all winter clothes packed and it is very hot and humid there now. I have packed Aiyana a couple
dresses one from her meemaw and poppy and our favotite one from Aunt Lisa and Uncle Brandon! Can't wait to see our baby girl in them!! By the way
Steven has yet to pack his clothes! Well not much going on but we will be sure to let everyone know if we hear anything. Please pray for us!
Thanks and we love you all!
Here are some things that are very frustrating to us (questions and things people say):
1.Asking when we will get pregnant or when we will have another child
2.Constantly asking about our infertility treatments .
3.Making light of a failed cycle ·
4.Saying that you know exactly how we feel ·
5.Saying everything happens for a reason · <---really hate this one
6.Telling us to relax ·
7. Telling us to just adopt and then we'll get pregnant ·
8.Telling us that adoption is the easy way ·
9. Telling us that everyone goes through this it's no big deal.
10.Minimizing our pain in an attempt to make us feel better ·
11. Complaining about your kids, or saying we can have your kids for a while and then we wouldn't want any ·
12. Telling us to be patient ·
13. Telling a parent who's adopting that "you might still have a miracle baby someday" when in an adoptive parents eyes their child is a miracle baby ·
14. Telling us we are "trying too hard" ·
15. Telling us that you know a person who tried fertility treatments for years, but then they finally stopped and got pregnant all on their own ·
16. Relatives insisting that we go to brunches for a holiday celebration with lots of babies and children around, especially when we are in the middle of a treatment cycle or a miscarriage · Saying, "I just don't understand why you just don't adopt" ·
17. Saying "It's just terrible that you can't have any children, because I don't want to use my nanny five days a week anymore, I only want her two days a week, and if you had already had babies by now, we could have shared my nanny" ·
18. Asking every month what is going on ·
19. Coming right out and asking if we are pregnant because we look like we've gained weight (The medication we have to take typically causes weight gain) ·
20. Telling us every time you hear about a new infertility technique that is available. Believe us, we are acutely aware of what is out there and it gets exhausting to constantly hear about it from others ·
22. Dwelling on your own children's annoying habits or antics It is painful to us to hear people saying things that we would give anything to experience.
23. Realize that seeing, hearing about, or talking to pregnant women can be very difficult even when it's your own sister or best friend.
24. It can be even more difficult to be around pregnant women that are
complaining about being pregnant or are unable to discuss anything other
than their pregnancy
25. Telling other people the "good news" prior to a positive pregnancy result ·
26. Family members saying how desperately they want to be an aunt, grandmother, etc WE already know that you do. ·
27. Speaking of adoption as a second or lesser choice If the resolution is that we do adopt, then we will always remember those words and feel that our adopted child is second rate. ·
28. Although you are trying to help, saying optimistic things like "there is no problem and you'll get pregnant soon" actually makes things worse. It invalidates the biggest struggle of your life at that time ·
29. Telling us that we're "over-reacting" if we choose to avoid going to church on Mother's Day or choose to avoid baby showers or kid's birthday parties ·
30. Calling us "selfish" for not appearing happy for someone else's pregnancy. ·
31. Telling us to just deal with it because if we don't deal with it we won't ever be able to be around pregnant women or little babies ·
32. Forgetting everything we've told you about our treatments and asking us the same questions over and over ·
·
33. Asking us to hold your child or touch your pregnant belly for good luck .
34. If you tell us a story about someone you know who went through infertility, that's okay, but don't use it as a way to tell us that "in the end, it will be all right" or "you'11 get pregnant too" ·
35. Telling us how awful your pregnancy was and telling us we're lucky that we don't have to go through it.
36. Listening to you tell us how easy it was to get pregnant and that it was unplanned ·
37. Assuming it is the woman with the infertility issues ·
38. Telling us to enjoy our freedom now ·
39. Telling us that early miscarriages weren't really babies ·
40.Telling us that we are lucky we don't have kids so that we have money to travel, buy new things, etc ·
41. Telling us how lucky we are to go home to a nice quiet house.
April 3rd, 2007: Hi all well it is Tuesday and still NO TA !! But we
still have 3 days left in this week so keep your fingers crossed. PLEASE
READ this correctly we do not have TA yet!
April 6th, 2007: I am yelling from the mountain tops, WE HAVE TA!!!!! We
should be traveling April 14th just waiting on a confirmed consulate appt for
April 24th!!! We are so excited, I can't stop crying, every time I talk to
somebody I start crying. It is happy tears though. This is the best Easter
present anyone could ever give us!!!!!!
April 10th, 2007: Hello all just thought I would post today, we have our flights set,
we are leaving out of Syracue on Saturday April 14th at 6 am, we will arrive in Beijing Sunday
(1:55 pm their time) 1:55 am here on Sunday. We will leave Beijing on Monday morning early to go to
Lanzhou which is the province Aiyana is in. We will be there for roughly a week. We will arrive in the
Syracuse airport on Friday April 27th, 2007 at 9:40 am. I probably will not post anymore until we get there
so wish us a safe trip and we will see everyone soon with our baby girl!!!!! Love to you all
April 12th, 2007 20 hours left til we leave on our first plane on our journey to our daughter. I have
included a poem I found tonight and love it. Enjoy and remember to look on the picture pages everyday as that is
where we will be posting pics and comments
We will miss you all, all our love.
The Chosen Heart
Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew
A part of me was meant for you.
I think how happy we will be,
Once I adopt you, and you adopt me.
I dream of all the joy you'll bring,
Imagining even the littlest things.
The way it will feel to hold you tight,
And tuck you in every night.
The drawing on the refrigerator door,
And childhood toys across the floor.
The favorite stories read again and again,
And hours of games with make-believe friends.
The day you took my outstretched hand,
A journey ended, but our lives began.
Still mesmerized by your sweet face,
Still warmed inside by our first embrace.
I promised to give you a happy home,
And a loving family all your own.
A house you've now made complete,
With laughter, smiles, and tiny feet.
A parent is one who guides the way,
Know I will be there everyday.
Rest easy as each night you sleep,
A lifetime of love is yours to keep.
Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me belonged to you.
(c) 1997 Teri Harrison
April 16th, 2007 Hello all we are in Lanzhou and will be getting Aiyana in 1 more hour. It is 3:00 Pm here on monday, for you it is 3 am. We will post pictures later. Also just had to let everyone know I used a squatty Potty today, very interesting to say the least. Love to you all.
April 17th, 2007 Hello, Today was our official adoption day, she is officially ours!!! Yeah!!! We celebrated at lunch. We went shopping today and bought Aiyana a new pair of shoes, the ones the orphanage had on her are way too big, it made her feet look absolutley huge. She is having a
rough day today. They never did her surgery so it is very painful for her to go potty. I did call Her Dr. back home tonight and she said we can use the same stuff I use to help thin it. I am so happy, I feel so bad for her, we try and comfort her as much as we can all I want to do is cry with her.
Our poor precious girl. When we get home we will schedule her surgery. Tomorrow we will be going site seeing in the morning, we are going to a park and then to a zoo and hopefully see the pandas. We also bought a stroller today and Aiyana absolutley hates it. She cried and cried so we ended up carrying
her around the store.The store was very different, it was weird, they had excalators that the carts go on it was very strange you felt like you were going to fall. Well all it is 10:13 pm here on Tuesday, Aiyana is trying to sleep through her pain, I am going to go lay with her. I have a feeling it is
going to be a rough one. Love to you all.
April 19th, 2007 First we would like to say Happy Birthday to miss Megan!!! Aiyana is all ready to get moving this morning. Momma's medicine is working for her belly and her belly is now a little soft we are so excited!! She is our beautiful little angel and we love her soo much. She really isn't fond of
other people, yesterday at the zoo and older women came up to her and she screamed and pushed her away. So needless to say it will be interesting when we come home we will just have to introduce to everyone slowly. Well enough for now. Love you all
Saturday April 21st, 2007: Hello everyone! Today was our last day in Lanzhou, tomorrow we leave for gaunzhou, Yeah!!! Our trip is slowly coming to an end. We had a busy day today. We went to the water wheel, for walk to see how the boats are made to go down the yellow river, they actually used goat skin to
make the floating part, it still had fur on it really gross. Steve and the other Tina picked it up YUCK! I touched it but that was about it. The owner of the boats wanted his picture taken with us You will see us in front of the mother of the yellow river statue. An older gentleman came up to Steve and asked
him about his cross but we are not sure what he said. Then we went to a huge mall, bought Aiyana a cute little outfit and another hat. When we were leaving the mall I put her back in her stroller and at that time I noticed I was wet and she was soaked, yes I got christianed and Steve thought it was soooo funny
so her took a picture.She was very cranky in the morning, now I know why.Then we went to lunch at a great noodle place! Absolutley awesome! After we went to a tea store we were going to check out the bridge over the yellow river. Aiyana and I stayed in the van so I could change her. She went alot!! Soaked through
2 layers. So I changed her while waiting for the others. After that we came back to hotel and took a nap. Aiyana is an awesome sleeper. We had to wake her up again this morning at 8 am. She took a 3 1/2 hour nap. We are all packed and ready to go tomorrow. The flight ought to be interesting, it is a 3 hour flight,
Aiyana is claustaphobic (sp?)just like her mama. Ok enough for now, I need to post pics. Love you all and we will post more tomorrow after we get settled in. ps: I almost Forgot yesterday she said "hi", "Mama", "Baba" (papa)and she waved hello.
April 23, 2007 Hello, it is Tuesday morning here 11 am. Aiyana is napping, we are meeting with Frank at 12:00 to see what we are going to be doing today. Yesterday we went to a pearl, jade, silk, porcelain shop. We bought Aiyana 2 pearl bracelets, a jade charm that says happiness and 3 silk outfits. Also I got a pearl
bracelet as well. Steve wheeled and dealed which is great. Aiyana is very vocal when she is with us. She still says mama, baba, she waves when she feels like it but only with us or the other couple. She is warming up to Max which I am glad because I don't want her to not like other children. In the orphanage she was in
her own crib so she is not used to being that close with children. She still is not to friendly with other people, she does not like to be touched. THe miralax is working she poops alot and usually only has one bad attack a day. The good days are the ones she doesn't have one. She is very gassy. It is funny her farts are
worse than an adults. We laugh at her and she is like what are you laughing at. Anyway just wanted to post quick. hope all is well and we will be home soon! Love to you all.
April 25, 2007 Today was a busy day, we went to the temple and had the babies blessed, lit some incense with blessings, then we went to lunch then to 2 other parks to walk around while waiting on our consulate appt. We were sworn in and received Aiyana's visa. Very emotional time for us all. We leave tomorrow and are
thrilled to be bringing our sweet girl home. She was really crabby today, but she wouldn't nap finally she did fall asleep and I woke her an hour later to change her and take her down for dinner, I got all the way down stairs and she threw up, steve was outside smoking and caming running when he saw. We brought her back
up cleaned her up and changed her, steve washed her beautiful dress so it would not stain. Got down for dinner and she threw up again. I brought her back up and she is now sleeping like and angel. Poor baby! Well guys I guys we will see you on Friday. We are praying for a safe and uneventful trip. Love to you all!
April 28th, 2007: Hello all! We made it home safe and sound. Aiyana did GREAT! She slept all the way home. We lost 2 suitcases though but we did get them back today! Thank god!! There were some really important things in those suitcases
Aiyana is adjusting, she is overwhelmed by everything. She is scared of the dogs right now but getting a little better. She was playing with Bella today a little.She is still scared of Buddy. She is so funny, she will sit on the couch or if if am holding her
she will wave and laugh at them. She is so goofy. We both think she is a drama queen but that is ok. Things will get better day by day. Well other than that not much going on. I will keep things updated as we go. Love to you all.
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June 9th, 2007: Wow time is just passing by! I can't believe I havent post in a month! Aiyana is doing great! She loves the dogs, she even gives them kisses. Aiyana goes in for her first surgery on June 20th in Rochester, then the next one should be sometime in January. We celebrated her 2nd birthday (1st birthday home on May 20th(her birthday)
This little girl is the most spoiled kid I have ever seen. She can't want for nothing. Oh well, she deserves it all! Well I will try and keep things updated on here. Love to you all.
