MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Reese now knows what presents are all about. When she was given her first present she set it down next to her, still wrapped, and said thank you.( with out opening it) she had no clue what to do with it. That is no longer the case. But she gets just as much pleasure out of watching others open their gifts as she does her own.
Her teacher and the parents of the others in her class are a little surprised at how smart she is. she is always asking what letters are and wants to know how to write everyone's name. She can identify the letters in her name and mom's and tell you what they say!! Smart little kid!
God bless this little girl and we thank Him so much for putting her into our world. I cannot believe she has been here for 6 months already - even though it feels like she has been here forever!

LET IT SNOW!!
Now mommy may not be too fond of snow but the girls sure don't mind it. Reese didn't know quite what to expect at first. Every step she took to the bus she would shake the snow off of her boots. Now she thinks it is great. She played outside yesterday with Kendall and came in saying "ow, face hurts!" It was bright red and wet - it was about 20 degrees outside. Then she turned around and went right back out!
Enjoy the pictures!!

Ok, I had to throw a little Halloween diddy on here. Reese loved trick or treating with her sister, dad, grandpa and cousins. It rained but they didn't care. They had a riot.

Reese has finally gotten her hearing aid!!! She actually got it and we had to have it refitted and were without it for another week. Hopefully it is here to stay now. She is still getting used to it but wants to wear it most of the time. She just loves the fact that she can hear! She is trying hard to pronounce her words better but it will take time I think. I don't think that people that are not around her much would be able to understand her yet.
She is loving school and riding the bus. She stands outside every morning and says "where's the bus?" Her school has a support group for the families of the hearing impaired kids. Jeff and I kind of giggle at that....Reese is a normal 3 year old. We don't even think of her as having any sort of special needs. We don't require a support group for our other kids and they have their own issues too - so why Reese? I guess some parents are very disillusioned when they don't get a "perfect" child. We just love our kids for who they are.
Reese is finally becoming a daddy's girl. With mom being on crutches, daddy has taken over and she is loving it. He feeds her off of his plate, taught her how to chew gum, wrestles,puts her on the bus...and he can't kiss mom without giving Reese a kiss too. She is always asking where he is when he is working. She is even letting him put her to bed...BONUS!
More medical updates will come as they arise....

As I pull up our blogspot, I see that the last post was August 15 - what a slacker I am. Things are much busier with 2 rugrats! Reese was supposed to get her hearing aid on Wednesday but they called me the night before and said that it was backordered. big bummer for us all. hopefully it won't take too long. But on the bright side, Reese started school this week. We enrolled her in an oral deaf program nearby and she goes weekday mornings. There are 4 other little girls in her class and her teacher says that she fits right in. She can stay in this program as long as necessary - until we feel she is ready to mainstream into a regular classroom - hopefully by kindergarten. It is very nice because she can even take the bus and we don't have to travel as much.
There is my quick update - now off to work and the girls to Ama's.

We have now seen the plastic surgeon and as long as Reese's hearing aid gives her adequate hearing he wants to wait until she is at least 10 to do surgery. He said that the surgery all rides on how compliant she is - at 3 she will not be. There are a lot of tubes and suction involved and if she pulled one out, the surgery is history. There is no second chance. So, she should have her hearing aid in the next couple of weeks and we shall see. There is a possibility of her getting involved in some special stuff right now to help with her language development - since it is delayed for a few reasons. I have been told by the specialists in town that there are tons of options - from oral to sign. She will be evaluated for that in the next couple of weeks too.
In the meantime, the child has become a waterbug. In the last couple of weeks, she loves to be thrown in the pool or jumps in on her own off of the side. She has given up on the swimmies and just likes her 1/2 life vest. It is amazing. My dad said the other day, " is that the same girl we brought back from China?"
Reese loves to torture her sister - typical 3 year old - and is doing great with her sign language. We never have to question what she wants. Show her once and she's got it.
Reese started day care last week and loves it. She goes while I sleep after work and really enjoys playing with the other kids. I am so thankful that we found a good, Christian provider. She is a friend of a friend and is great and very close by - 2 minutes.
We shall see how often the updates happen now - I will do my best.
Blessings!!

I apologize that I have not updated in a little while. Having two kids now is keeping me on the run. (especially when one is 3). Reese saw the ENT last week and had a hearing test. She hears everything we say, it is just muffled to her. That is why we can't understand some of her English! She doesn't hear us clearly - but she will repeat everything. We will be getting her a bone conduction hearing aid and she will see the plastic surgeon in August. The ENT said they may not want to do surgery for a few more years - depending on what plastics thinks. Meanwhile the hearing aid will serve the same purpose as opening the ear canal.
Reese has adjusted remarkably well. It is hard to believe it has been almost a month since we have been home. I worked one day last week and one this week, then back to full time next week. She stayed with Kendall at mom and dad's and did great. They both slept until 10 am both times. She is a good sleeper and usually wakes up with a dry pull up. When she goes to bed, I turn on some music for her - kind of loud - and lay next to her for 5 minutes at the most. I then leave the room and she goes right to sleep.
She is a true drama queen. Everything is a big deal for a very long time. She scraped her knee 2 days ago and it was no biggie then. But 2 days later when the scab formed she whined about it for an hour. Some things we have to ignore because she is so melodramatic. Hopefully when she gets her hearing aid the drama at least won't be so loud!! She does make us giggle often though.
I will try to keep at least the medical part of our continuing saga updated...

We have been home a few days now and I think that we may have finally recovered from jetlag. It was pretty wicked the first couple days. We felt dizzy all the time. Kendall was waking up at 2:30 am and I would have to make her stay up all day. By Saturday she said she thought she felt like an American again. but then today we all slept until 11...even Reese. I am used to being tired but that was the extreme. Reese seems to be adjusting well. At times I can walk away for a minute or two and she doesn't panic. And she will let Ama hold her as long as she knows where I am. yesterday she took right to my niece, Lexi, and wanted to be held by her a lot. No complaints here. She has been taking naps which is nice for me - gives me a little break. Last night she slept in her own bed instead of on Kendall's floor. She has been sleeping quite well since she got on an antibiotic. She still has a cough and runny nose but no fever since Saturday. She loves to take walks thru the neighborhood in her jogger stroller which we call her cadillac! She just doesn't want to get out of it. We need to break her of the fact that no one can push it but me. Kendall and Reese played in the sprinkler in their clothes last night and had a riot after we convinced her that it was ok to get her clothes wet with mom's permission. She is doing well with Ellie - just yells "no" when she gets too close.
Our next feat is to get her to fall asleep without me in the room at night and for naps. she won't let Jeff hold her yet unless they are playing but she does follow him around. In good time I am sure.

Well, this will be my last addition to the blog before we depart from China. We did a little shopping this morning - trying to spend the last of our yuans. Then we went to the pool and soaked up a little of the last of the China sun. It was a hot but not so humid day. At 3 we boarded a bus to go to the US embassy just to change buses because we had a flat tire. It was pretty melodramatic. We all - the adoptive families - had to stand, raise our right hand, swear all our paperwork was true and well, that's all. We received Reese's official paperwork and her visa and were told that she would be a US citizen as soon as we touch down at Detroit and go thru immigration. YEAH!!
I guess she is stuck with us now!!
there will be a lot of adoptive families on our flight so I am sure everyone will sympathize with each family as their child takes their turn screaming.
Hopefully the adjustment period doesn't take too long once we get home. Thursday morning my sister is having a c-section and I am going to be able to be back to be her nurse!! We are all excited about that. Reese will, I am sure, freak out when I leave but my family will bring her to the hospital as soon as they can. This is so important to myself and my sister - someday Reese will understand.
Pray for safe and fast travel and that the kids sleep a lot!

Today I was stuck in the room until 1200 because our coordinator took all our paperwork to the US Embassy and I needed to be available in case she had questions. At quarter to 12 the phone rang. Reese's visa picture wasn't acceptable - they couldn't see her ears (or lack of). So we had to trudge down to the "photo" place to have another one taken. Oh well. We took it easy all day and hung out at the pool to soak up a little sun..of course it started raining after a while. Reese played with Kendall and let her take her under the waterfall. Brave girl. She wanted to do it over and over. At least she is finally leaving my side. She will run down the hall in front of me and doesn't always have to hold my hand. Very nice for me!! We still have our daily temper tantrums but we just ignore them.
Only one day left to kill. We will go the embassy for the oath ceremony at 4. Then time to pack up. We are trying to figure out how much after transportation and food we need to spend on gifts since we can't trade our money back from yuans. Nothing like having to spend money!!
The island that we are staying on is so much better than Zhengzhou. We don't have to pray for our lives when we cross the street and we dare eat the food. But I can't say that I will miss any of it. I love America more and more and feel so bad for the children that have no hope. The poverty here is unbelievable. Maybe that is why the kids wear split pants?? I hope that someday Reese understands how lucky she is. God is looking out for her.

Today was a free day so we did some shopping after breakfast - in the rain. It was fun though. At one point we got caught in a torrential downpour and a store owner came out with her umbrella to save us. I am sure it was partly to get us in her store but that was ok. She gave us some good deals on some silk outfits for the girls. 5 dollars each in US money. We then ate a late lunch - early dinner and went on the Pearl River Cruise. It was a neat way to see more of the city and the lights.
I cursed myself and said that Reese hadn't had a temper tantrum all day - then one started 5 minutes later. I am sure she was tired but she was testing me and of course, didn't get her way and whoa...here we go. At least they don't last as long now. ( I should knock on wood) I think that she is finally starting to get that mama doesn't give in. I always win!!! (ask Kendall) She is actually laying down right now without me trying to fall asleep. Every day is a little better. She is blowing kisses to us, loves zerberts, tells everyone bye bye when anyone leaves - even the elevator woman, understands no and usually listens, and says thank you, please and help in english and sign language. She even let mom pick her up to look out the window. I think my arms are finally recovering from the first few days of carrying her everywhere. I am dreading the plane ride still - but she takes benedryl like a champ so hopefully that will save us. Also I know that she is going to lose it when she has to go in the carseat at home. The cars and vans here don't even have seatbelts and the kids just walk around. Many people have the kids on the mopeds and bikes with them just hanging on to their waists. Crazy!! so we are planning some good bribes for awhile. Feel free to offer suggestions.
Reese is asleep now - all on her own!!
Blessings to all. Happy Fathers Day

so, today we got Reese's picture taken for the visa - she was the only one that smiled. Then we went for her physical exam. they herd the adopted kids in like cattle, station to station. Two doctors came and listened to her heart. That made me a little nervous but I guess everything is ok. I don't have my stethescope with me. Then at the ENT check the doctor checked her hearing and it was excellent - yeah. then they looked in her mouth and said "oh"! My heart kind of dropped until she said "good teeth!" that must be unusual here. All this was followed by a ton of paperwork.
this afternoon we went to the pearl and jade market. It was 2 floors of lots of different stones and jewelry. We may have purchased a few things??
Reese is starting to venture off without me. We have joining rooms with mom and dad and she will go in there and play without me. But she still has to come back and jabber to me about all that is going on. She did nap today which she needed but it is now 930 and she won't sleep. What to do tomorrow??
Only 4 more days until we head home.
one of the pictures shown is outside our hotel window...

We are now in Guangzhou and I am a new woman. The flight went well, Reese ate the airline food most of the time and that kept her busy. Our hotel is gorgeous with a water fall in the middle and 2 outdoor swimming pools. Maybe I can catch up on my tan? We have nicknamed Reese Fozzie bear because all I can understand is "wacka, wacka". The girl talks non stop - and we thought Kendall was bad!! It is so nice to be around some American people. There are several adoptive families here and it is great conversation. I really thought I was going to lose it in Zhengzhou. We took a tour of the island when we got here and saw lots of shops to go to. We then walked along the Pearl river and ate at Lucy's. Great food finally. Actually the girls had peanut butter and jelly and fries and I had grilled cheese - but it was so good. It was nice to feel full. I think I have lost a few pounds. I put on some shorts the other day and they fell to my knees! Anyhow, Reese gave us the thumbs up to Lucy's as you can see in one of the pictures.
I forgot to mention the other day that when we were at the orphanage the accountant tried to get us to pay more money for REese than the original donation fee. Our travel coordinator Helen really advocated for us and argued for over 30 minutes with them. We didn't understand a word of it but new there was trouble. We only ended up paying a few more yuan.
Tomorrow we go to get her visa and have her medical appt. At least it is something to do... then we shop til we drop and eat and swim in the sun. It might be almost like a vacation. We miss you all at home and are ready to return to the states though.

Today was pretty uneventful. It rained last night so it was a little cooler today - but still nothing much to do. We went for a little walk this morning and Reese still won't let anyone push her but me. She screams until she can scream no more. It gets a little old. she is testing me a lot but she has yet to win. She has quite a temper - maybe we should change her name to Angel and she would calm down.
Helen got Reese's passport today. Now we can head out tomorrow.
One last day of swimming at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Reese was floating on her back today. She tried to put her head under while on her back but quickly found out that water would go up her nose. Ouch!!
I have no idea how the plane ride will go tomorrow. It is about a 2 hour flight. Kendall does great. Hopefully Reese is like her sister in that too. She always seems like she needs a nap, but we are just in too crammed of a place to enforce it.
speaking of being like her sister. Reese wanted me to fix her hair before she was even out of bed today. Ridiculous.
Pray for a safe trip tomorrow!!

Another free day and it has been long. We went to the park after breakfast hoping it wouldn't be so hot - wrong! Reese would not walk so I had to carry her everywhere. I am sure that is part of the bonding process but I thought that I would have a heat stroke. My face was so red. So later we went to Mcdonalds - in China - and I broke down and bought an umbrella stroller. My arms hurt so much, even though she is a little thing - I just couldn't do it anymore. Thank the Lord that she was willing to ride in it. But of course, only mama could push it!! Kendall has been taking some great pictures of our trip, from her eyes. They will be neat to develop. Kendall did mention that yesterday Reese had 4 crying spells, and only 2 (so far) today. Maybe we will not have any tomorrow? She is very strong willed and living up to her name (Reese means fiery). Maybe we should change it?
I forgot to mention yesterday, when we went to the notary office, it was like you could never imagine. We stopped in front of a building that looked like it was ready to fall down. climbed some stairs that had never been cleaned - ever! There were no lights and it was rather creepy. And the weird part, there was a school in that building! Wild stuff - that I care not to experience again. God bless America!!!
2 days ago, Reese would only sit on the side of the pool and panicked if her suit got wet. yesterday she jumped in and was putting her face in. Today she walked off from me and figured out how to float in a tube. she has no fear of water. She falls in, goes under and comes up laughing.
We don't have anything to do until Friday when we fly out to Guangzhou. Helen will pick up Reese's passport tomorrow. We are getting a little stir crazy here.
( Reese just helped me answer the door. It was housekeeping and as they handed her some cookies she said "thank you" in English and sign language. )