Hurdling Toward Toddlerhood

Lily's first boat ride (she loved it!)

In the 2.5 weeks since Lily left the hospital she has made incredible progress. Although she has had to endure numerous doctor checkups and medical tests, her time at home has been full of joy and growth. It's hard for us to imagine the quiet shy little infant who was put in our arms a mere 7 weeks ago.

Lily is hurdling toward toddlerhood at the speed of light. She's always in motion, catching up on all the play she missed while in the orphanage. She delights in imitating others, and in constantly showing off her new "tricks". She always seems to have her beautiful smile ready to flash at the slightest provocation.

Nana Barbara left for home this week, and Lily misses her. We miss her too. She was such an incredible help for us and Lily had so much fun spending time with her.

This week Lily begins some physical therapy to help her learn that she can walk. Pretty soon she'll be running us ragged!

Nana makes Lily a star

Feeding herself is one of Lily's new favorite things

Barbara and her friend Joan join us on the boat

Lily gets to know her brother Eric

Lily Is a US Citizen

Today Lily received a special package in the mail. It was her very official Certificate of Citizenship. Although she really became a citizen when we arrived at SeaTac from China, it was great to see it on an official document.

With the Certificate was a letter from President George Bush congratulating Lily on being a new citizen.

Lily Is Going Home Today!!

Great news! Lily is going home today. As you can imagine, we are so thrilled and relieved!

We will post an update later, but wanted to share our joy.

Lily Out of ICU

We are so pleased that Lily was able to move from ICU into a regular hospital room yesterday. It's a private room and, although we have to care for her almost full time now, it's better than the constant traffic coming and going in the ICU.

Lily is very uncomfortable and expresses that by spending a lot of her waking hours quietly crying in a very pathetic way. She is very agitated when a nurse or doctor enters her room. She gives them the "evil eye" which we translate into "What are you going to do to me now!"

Her discomfort is probably for a variety of reasons. She is certainly feeling the effects of her surgery, especially since she is no longer on morphine. Her tummy is trying to handle food again, and she's dealing with a lot of bubbles.

Thanks for checking in, and thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.

How Do We Say "Thank You"?

Thank you to everyone near and far who have continuously kept Lily in their thoughts and prayers. We continue to be amazed at the comments, emails, phone calls, gifts and loving acts of kindness from family, friends and those whom we’ve never met. When we started our adoption journey we knew it would forever change our lives as we embraced a little girl from the other side of the world. What we didn’t except is the wonderful people we’d meet along the way. The innocent life of one little girl has touched so many and as a result we have made new life-long friends.

The families from our adoption travel group have checked in often and included us in their prayer groups. Waiting families are sending us encouraging messages, our friends and neighbors are on stand-by for whatever we need, and then there’s Nana Barbara. She has made this ordeal so much easier by supporting us in so very many ways.

Yesterday we were treated to a homemade meal from another adoptive parent who lives in Lynnwood. Pamela met her through one of the adoption Yahoo groups and we were finally able to meet her in person. Coincidentally, her family recently adopted a little girl from the same orphanage where Lily waited. She too recently had open heart surgery from the same surgeon at Children’s Hospital, and her mommy’s name is also Pamela B! I’m sure Lily and Lulu will become fast friends as their Mommy’s watch in awe how their daughters heal and thrive. This is one of many examples of the loving acts of kindness others of which are chronicled throughout our journal.

Lily Is Tubeless!!

Today was a very special day for us. Lily has recovered to the point where all her tubes were removed. Two drainage tubes from her chest, her catheter, and (best of all) her breathing tube!

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

First time Lily has sat up in 5 days

First nap after breathing on her own

Mom, Nana Barbara, and nurse Christina celebrate Lily's recovery

Day 4 In ICU

Lily is finishing day four in the cardiac ICU at Children's Hospital. The nurse tonight, constantly at Lily's side, is Kristina. She is working hard to see if Lily can maintain a good blood pressure without the aid of a drug. Lily is responding well so far, and we are hopeful this will be one more in the many steps toward full recovery.

Each small victory gets us closer to removing the breathing tube and all the other tubes and wires. And to taking Lily home. We still have a way to go, but Lily is proving she's strong enough to take all this trauma and continue to heal.

Tonight is the first night that Dad is staying the night in Lily's room so that Mom can get some much needed rest.

Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Getting ready for surgery

Tuesday right after her surgery

With Mom on Friday

Aunt Kelly visiting

Lily keeping an eye on Dad

One Day at a Time

A month ago today we wrapped our arms around Lily for the first time. How I wish I could hold her now. My heart breaks every time she tries to reach out to be held. She looks at me perplexed and tears roll down the side of her face. She opens her mouth to cry but because of her breathing tube no sound is made.

Lily's day made a turn for the worse today, as fluid built up around her lungs. Another drain tube had to be inserted to try and help clear it. Another discovery is that she has giardia, probably ingested in the orphanage drinking water.

We are beginning to realize how recovery from a surgery like this has its constant ups and downs. We can tell there is concern on the part of her doctors that she is not progressing faster. That is causing us great anxiety. Our eyes are always scanning the monitors as we have begun to understand what are good and bad readings.

Lily did seem less aggravated today; more relaxed. She opened her eyes more often to check out who was with her and what they were doing. She let us know she recognized us by pursing her lips and giving us one of her little kisses.

Nana Barbara has visited Lily the last two days and Lily recognizes her. Our neighbor Sara also visited her today.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Lily Is Doing Better Today

Lily had a pretty good night last night. This morning her blood pressure had stabilized and the nurses were able to cut back on some of the medications used to make this happen. She is more alert today and wants so badly to be held by her Mommy.

For the first time we are seeing Lily's true color. Her skin, lips, and fingernails have lost their blueness, and we are seeing her beautiful pink. The oxygen level in her blood has gone from 70% up to 98%. During her Tet spells it had dropped as low as 30%.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Lily Is Fighting to Get Well

Lily has spent her second day in ICU, strapped down, dealing with tubes and cords attached to all parts of her body including a breathing tube from her nose into her lungs. She is at one moment in a fitful sleep, the next moment thrashing to free herself from these smothering bindings.

Her chest has the long scar of her incision; a tube draining the blood from her surgical cuts; the bruises of being sliced open to gain access to her tiny heart; wires and tubes too numerous to count.

She is angry and scared; not understanding why this is being done to her; attempting to free herself; perplexed that her Mommy and Daddy, whom she has gained trust in such a short period of time, have allowed this to be imposed upon her.

She is being monitored constantly by an experienced nurse and hospital staff; monitoring the 12+ machines connected to her body; measuring drugs being dispensed into her and the the metrics of all her bodily functions.

Her blood pressure has been a concern to the team of cardiologists; a mystery as to why it is so low. Could a mistake have occurred during surgery? Is it because of her malnutrition? Is it due to low steroids caused by her GIVING UP on anyone caring for her during her year in the orphanage?

Lily will likely be in ICU for 5 more days. The cardiologists are struggling to understand how to stabilize her, and the uniqueness of her situation.

Today, as Lily struggled to deal with the frightening situation she had found herself in; as she fought the feelings of being restrained; of being smothered; of being drowned...she opened her beautiful brown eyes just a tiny slit. In that instant she saw her Mommy leaning over to comfort her. In the brief moment before the overwhelming need to sleep overcame her and she closed her eyes, Lily pursed her lips, sending a kiss to her Mommy.

In that moment Lily confirmed that, in a short 4 weeks, she had overcome 14 months of neglect and had discovered that she was indeed loved. And would always be loved.

Please keep sending your thoughts and prayers to our dear Lily Mei.

Lily Came Through Her Surgery Just Fine

We are very pleased to let you know Lily came through her surgery today just fine. She is in ICU where she will spend the next 2-3 days. We've never seen so many tubes and wires! She won't be "out of the woods" for a while yet, but she is surrounded by an army of wonderful caregivers here at Children's Hospital.

Thank you for all your wonderful messages and your thoughts and prayers.

Please Pray for Lily Today

After tests on her heart yesterday, Lily's open heart surgery was moved up to today. The surgeons started about 30 minutes ago, and we expect the process to take about 4 hours.

We are very optimistic, and feel fortunate that she is being cared for by one of the best hostitals in the world. But, as you can imagine, we are also very worried for the well-being of our precious daughter.

Your thoughts and prayers are very appreciated.