This girl has spirit!!!

65 days ago we seen this child for the first time. There were no smiles on her face and she seemed to have very little life in her soul. Today I took these pictures and see the love and the joy in her spirit. She smiles and laughs most of the day. She is learning to play and enjoys those she is around. She sure has life in her soul now!!! What a beautiful child and a wonderful addition to our family.

Life is Good!!!

During waking hours Hannah and Emily are usually together. They play together and sleep together (as long as there is no school the next day as they seem to do more playing than sleeping). Life is good!!!

50 Days-AMAZING!!!

Today it has been 50 days since we first held Emily. This little girl has changed so much in these 50 days. She fits perfectly with our family and has been an absolute joy. It really is amazing to see what healthy food and love can do for a child. Our doctor is amazed this is the same girl he saw when she first came home and we are amazed at how she is adjusting to her new life. Others in our travel group have mentioned how our trip to get our children now seems like a dream: What a wonderful dream to come true!!!

Mother's Day 2009

You know you are truley blessed when you are awaken by two little girls kissing you on the cheek!!! Today was Mother's Day and they were ready. Hannah and Emily not only gave me kisses to wake me up this morning but they took me for breakfast and gave me "gifts". As the pictures show, I was given a nice card with 2 pictures inside. One picture is a picture of my 2 daughters and the other picture is thanking me for all I do. She then gave me a coupon book. There are 5 coupons: 1) 100 hugs 2) Take out the trash 9 times 3) Help in the kitchen 100 times 4) Clean her room 99 times 5) Feed our pets (fish) 91 times. How precious is that!!! Now I know how my mom and dad felt when I gave them the coupon book I made for them!!! We stayed at home and had "family day" as we seem to all be suffering from a cold. We ended the day grilling steaks as the rain came in. I love being a mom!!!

This Mothers Day evening I now sit here and think of the women in China that made my Mothers Day possible. They gave their children up for their own reasons that we may not know nor understand. I imagine that their hearts must ache as they wonder what ever happened to these "lost girls from China". I do pray on this Mother's Day that these women can be overcome with a comforting and peaceful feeling that these children are safe and loved unconditionally.

Emily Is Now An Official United States Citizen!!!!

Emily became an United States Citizen the day we returned home and handed over her paperwork to immigration at the O'Hare Airport in Chicago, but we have now officially received her certificate of citizenship!!! Let's hear it for Emily Mei Chlebowski!!! Our next step is to apply for her social security number. Then register her adoption and apply for her United States passport. Whew!!!
For all those who read our last post and are wondering what we are feeding Emily-EVERYTHING. This child eats everything out there and she eats ALL the time unless we hold it back. She loves everything from cookies to vegetables. It is ALL about the food and we really have not denied her anything!!! Her favorite foods are anything loaded with carbohydrates. Her favorites to be pancakes, pasta, Cheetos, cereal, cookies, chocolate, and suckers.

Emily's Doctor Appointment

Emily had her official doctor appointment this week. Some of you may remember that we took Emily to the doctor the morning after we returned to USA. We got an antibiotic to "kill" off a nasty cold bug that the Chinese antibiotic did not get rid of and we got an official height and weight on her. This doctor appointment was her complete physical. The doctor told us Emily is developing very well. He was actually surprised this was the same little girl he saw a month ago. He commented that she has a different look to her. He said she smiles without forcing it and he said her cheeks are "fuller" now too. She was jabbering non-stop and at times we actually understood her. He stated that China done very well with her shots as she has all her recommended shots and doses (and a few extras) and does not need any more until she enters kindergarten. And the excellent news he gave us is that she has gained 1 pound and has grown 2 inches in the 1 month she has been home!!! She does not register on the American growth chart yet but is close to the 15 percentile on the Chinese growth chart. The doctor predicts her to be around 5ft 4inches in her adult life. This is pretty good considering her "special need" was delayed physical growth most likely related to a premature birth.

So That's What Beautiful Days Are Made Of!!!

Sunday we finally had a nice day. This does not happen often in Northern Indiana in April so we have to take advantage when we get it. Here are a few photos from our day.

Emily was throwing Hannah's soccer ball all over the yard. Everytime she would throw it, she would let out a big GRUNT. Once the ball would hit the ground, she would smile and clap at her "achievement".

Hannah had never looked for a four leaf clover before. So Hannah and Rusti had a four leaf clover hunting contest. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. They looked and they looked.........and they looked some more .

Emily started out slow in Hannah's old Wiggles car as she could not figure out how to use her legs/feet to get the car to move. Once she figured it out-she was rolling all over the pavement. She even ran into her "dada's" truck. Oh no!!! She drives just like her mom!!!!

Dada was teaching Hannah how to fly a kite. It was a fairly windy day so Hannah done very well. At times the kite hit the ground but Hannah pulled the string tight while she ran against the wind and the kite went right back up into the sky. Dada is either a good kite-flying teacher, or Hannah is a good kite-flying kiddo!!!

And the winner is ...........................Hannah!!!!! Good job, Hannah!!!