Lily"s First Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Today was Lily's first trip to the pumpkin patch. She was bit confused at first as to why we were walking around a field with a lot of orange round things. But after a while she discovered that it was fun to sit on those orange round things.

Lily celebrates the Moon Festival

While the Chinese celebrated China’s Mid-Autumn festival with dances, feasting and moon gazing, Lily munched on mooncakes, a Chinese pastry commonly eaten during the festival. We got together with the other families with children from Lily’s orphanage and sent several boxes of these goodies to the children there so they could partake in the celebration as well. While Lily loved the interesting flavor of these famous pastries, John and I took a pass. It must be an acquired taste!

Kids in orphanage enjoying mooncakes

What is the Moon festival?

The Moon festival (also called the Mooncake or Mid-Autumn festival) falls on September 14th in the year 2008. Every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon is at its maximum brightness for the entire year, the Chinese celebrate "zhong qiu jie." Children are told the story of the moon fairy living in a crystal palace, who comes out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface. The legend surrounding the "lady living in the moon" dates back to ancient times, to a day when ten suns appeared at once in the sky. The Emperor ordered a famous archer to shoot down the nine extra suns. Once the task was accomplished, Goddess of Western Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill that would make him immortal. However, his wife found the pill, took it, and was banished to the moon as a result. Legend says that her beauty is greatest on the day of the Moon festival.

Summer Fun

Feeding the chipmonks in Colorado










The last month of summer was filled with fun and bonding. Pamela was offered a great new job that will allow her to utilize her talents and more importantly will be home every night with Lily. She was also able to spend another month bonding with Lily without the almost daily grind of doctor appointments.

Lily and Pamela took their first mother/daughter road trip to the Colorado Rockies to stay with Pamela’s friend Cathy and her little boy, Lucas. The two moms exchanged “mom stories” during their road trip to Estes Park while the kids jabbered, played, and shared treats in the back seat. Lily did great on the flight to and from Denver and entertained her seat mates with her giggles and infectious smile. But she missed her daddy. And he missed her too.




Cathy and Lucas











The weather in Seattle finally warmed up enough to enjoy the summer evenings outdoors. Dad has introduced Lily to blackberries on their nightly walks. By the time they get home Lily is covered in purple juice!



Berry face










We attended John’s annual company picnic where Lily enjoyed the food and rides at the Family Fun Park. Her favorite ride was the bumper boats!














As hard as we tried, we couldn’t get through the rest of summer without more medical issues. Labor Day weekend started and ended with two trips to the emergency room and surgical procedure done in the ER due to infection on Lily’s ear. We have learned that Lily has Preauricular pits, an anomaly resulting from imperfect external ear development. If these “pits” become swollen and infected they need to be surgically removed. Under the advice of the head and neck surgeon and Lily’s cardiologist, Lily will need to undergo an additional surgery later in September. Ugh…

On a positive note, Lily has been transitioning incredibly well into her new daily routine at her Montessori school. She is making new friends and trying new tasks. She took her first step when mommy came to pick her up one day. We’re sorry to say goodbye to summer so soon but we’re looking forward into settling into a routine that will continue to provide Lily with the freedom and consistency that will allow her to develop her sweet personality… and her sense of humor.

Seafair 2008

Lily experienced her first Seafair today. We had a wonderful time on our boat with our dear friends Scott and Kelly Bashinski and their son Justin. We were lucky with the positioning of the boat as the Blue Angels flew low right over our heads several times. We held Lily's ears as the jets blasted by. With that many boats on Lake Washington it was very choppy. But Lily wasn't phased by any of it. She loved the bouncing, rocking, and the wind on her face.



Lily napping on Scott's lap

Kelly and Justin





With Aunt Kelly





We named this the "hippie boat"
Note the recliners on deck.

Captain Justin

Captain John

Backyard Fun

Lily is discovering our back yard. Since she is still working on learning to walk, she can't run around yet. But she enjoys sitting and discovering grass, leaves, and such. We lowered the temperature of the hot tub and use it as a small swimming pool.

Lily's First Haircut

When Lily was in the orphanage, her hair was kept very short. We were so happy with her hair growth the last three months that we didn't realize that we had let her become a moppy headed little girl. So it was off to her first hair cut.





Before













During


















After

Lily Has Found Her Legs

Lily is working hard to learn to move herself around. A big part of that is learning to use her legs. While laying on her back in a crib for a year in a Chinese orphanage Lily didn't realize that her legs had a purpose.

John's sister Linda visited us for a few days and worked with Lily, encouraging her to use her legs. As you can see from these pictures, Lily is making great progress. And she is really motivated to move around.











"I'm movin' around in my cool new little engine"














Auntie Lin playing with Lily





Pamela's Aunt Polly and Uncle Dick visit us from Florida.

Lily's First Independence Day

We enjoyed our July 4th weekend at home this year. The weather was very cool, which is pretty normal for Seattle. As the saying goes, "summer in Seattle starts after the 4th".


Lily's energy level continues to increase and she has certainly found her voice. We are working with her to begin to figure out that her legs were made for walking. She's learning to stand while holding onto something, but is still very wobbly.




Lily continuously delights us with her zest for discovery and her glowing smile.







Learning to stand.

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.