Waiting for our Mei Mei

New Family Blog

2008-02-18T15:58:00.004-05:00

I've started a new family blog called A Life of Laughter. So please pop over to have a look. I will not be updating this site anymore.

Some Of My Favorites

2008-02-15T12:52:00.003-05:00

A couple of days after we got home. I love her expression.

Can you tell she's teething?

Newark Airport after 14 hour flight.

My Valentine's

2008-02-14T20:10:00.002-05:00

My Four Valentine's

We Made It

2008-02-08T10:23:00.000-05:00

That's about all I can write at the moment. We are trying to get unjetlagged from our trip. Mei is very close to getting her days and nights in order and Mike and I are pretty much there.

I love this picture above....Madi is so proud of her new little sister.:)

Leaving tomorrow

2008-01-17T22:01:00.000-05:00

We will be leaving tomorrow for Alanta. Our flight is early Saturday morning. I'm not sure if I can access blogger from China so you can follow our journey here.

I want to thank you all for all the support you have given Mike and I since we started this process. It's hard to believe it's been over three years since the Lord spoke to our hearts about adoption. And now we are about to go on the adventure of a lifetime. I am so humbled when I think that we have the privilege of parenting yet another amazing child. I told Mike just the other night that our baby girl is going to add so much to this family. I just can't wait to get my arms around her.

One Week from Today.....

2008-01-16T18:14:00.000-05:00

we will meet our sweet girl. Pray for an easy transition and that she will know who we are. That she will be healthy and happy. Pray for for a spirit of peace over us as we become parents once again. And please pray for Mei's birth mother. She has been on my mind alot these last few weeks. And I know it's because the Lord has brought her to mind.

Three Days Left...well Two and Half

2008-01-15T21:01:00.000-05:00

but whose counting!!! :) I just finished checking our bags again. And I'm adding a few more things to the carry on bags. I've heard that Dramamine is good to take, not only for the plane ride, but for the bus rides and taxi rides. And I'm going to get some travel size Excedrin and Advil to take on the plane. It looks like things are pulling together. I am just so ready to see my baby girl.

Count Down......4 days left

2008-01-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

We have 4 days left till we leave for Atlanta. We leave Friday night to stay the night and then fly out at 8 a.m. Saturday. Mike is off to get things copied and notarized this morning and I here holding down the fort and working on getting the house in order. Which isn't going to be easy with a 3 year old and a sick 5 year old. BTW...Charlie is doing wonderful. I think he should be able to go back to school tomorrow.

Fun at the Aquarium

2008-01-14T08:14:00.001-05:00

We had a great time at the Aquarium this weekend. Mike had his Aunt Ada and Uncle Lee in town and we decided to do something fun. My kids absolutely love them to pieces.

Huge Revelation...Jesus was adopted!!!

2008-01-13T08:07:00.000-05:00

Emily , a waiting mom, wrote a post a few weeks ago that just about took my breath away. I don't know why I never thought of it before, but Jesus was adopted!!!! I get so excited when I think about it. I mean Jesus, the Savior of the world, knows exactly how it feels to be adopted. All my fears and worries about raising an adopted daughter completely went away. Jesus will have all the answers. I can't believe what a revelation this has been for me.

Adoption Broadcast

2008-01-11T19:10:00.000-05:00

Focus on the Family had a broadcast on adoption yesterday. Lets just say I cried my way through the whole thing. These families share mine and Mike's heart. It's definitely worth listening to.

One Sick Boy

2008-01-11T13:48:00.000-05:00

My Charlie is sick. He was diagnosed with Bronchitis last week. And now a week later we were back at the doctor because of continued fever and horrible coughing. Ends up he has Pneumonia in the right lung. We had X-rays to confirm and the good news is that it's not so bad and is treatable with antibiotics and breathing treatments. So please keep my little guy in your prayers. We need him to be better before we go to China next Friday.

Trip Itinerary

2008-01-09T19:32:00.000-05:00

Adam, our facilitator, sent us our itinereary this afternoon.....

January 19-leave for China
January 20-arrive in Beijing
January 21-tour Beijing
January 22-leave for Nanchang
January 23-Mei Day!!!!!
January 24,25-free days(shopping)
January 26-Orphanage visit
January 27-free day(more shopping)
January 28-sightseeing
January 29-obtain legal docs.
January 30-leave for Guangzhou/medical exam
January 31-Consulate Appointment
February 1-free day(and more shopping)
February 2-leave for Atlanta
February 3-leave for Albany

CA!!!!

2008-01-09T17:13:00.000-05:00

After a very long and weary road we finally got our CA. So today we booked our flights leaving January 19 and coming home February 2. We are flying Continental out of Atlanta to Newark to Beijing. We tried to get a flight outof Albany, but the price was too high. We are pretty much ready accept for a few things. I am so relieved to have our flights set in stone.

Complete Change of Plans

2008-01-08T15:48:00.000-05:00

Our travel dates have completely changed. We now (hopefully) have half way tentative dates of January 19 to February 2. So that puts us flying out in a week and a half if all goes according to plan.... which it hasn't so far. I'll keep you posted!!!!:)

Update on TA

2008-01-06T10:40:00.000-05:00

It seems that not all of my groups TA's came in so we are in wait mode again. Our facilitator still wants us to fly out on Friday, but that may mean very, very short notice for us to travel. He is expecting to get the rest of the TA's by Monday so hopefully we will hear confirmation by Tuesday so we can book our flights. :)

TA!!!!!!!!

2008-01-02T16:34:00.000-05:00

We received our TA call today!!!!! That means we have Travel Approval to travel from January 11-26. That's next Friday folks!!!! AAAAHHHHHH!!!! So now we wait for confirmation on our CA(Consulate Appointment)and then we can make flight arrangements. So here we are finally only DAYS away from Mei Mei!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-01T22:11:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about this new year!!! In a few short weeks we will see our daughter in China for the first time. And the simple fact that I can write the word "weeks" in the same sentence with China is a miracle in itself. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus has wonderful things in store for us this year.And we are starting it off with a bang!!!!

TA's Trickling In

2007-12-28T21:59:00.000-05:00

Someone on RQ announced that they received their TA today. I'm hoping that more will be in after the holiday. We probably won't hear anything until the week of the 7th. And then it's anybody's guess as to when we will travel. It could be days...it could be weeks. We are getting very excited though!!!!

Merry Christmas ( a day late)

2007-12-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a great Christmas ......here are a few pictures from our fun-filled day.

Here are the kids opening stockings at the early hour of 6:30a.m. They had been up since 5:30.

Here are the cousins....seven in all. Eight when Mei gets here.:)

And here are all the cousins opening presents. I just have 2 words....Mass confusion!!! They all had so much fun. I hope to post pictures soon of the first annual puzzle championship. That was strictly for the grown-ups...well almost grown up.

First Day of Christmas Break

2007-12-21T15:43:00.000-05:00

Making Christams Pretzels

Ummmmm.....Boredom????

Toothless Charlie

2007-12-15T13:46:00.000-05:00

Charlie's tooth lost out to a Cheeto this afternoon. I guess the Tooth Fairy is back in business tonight!!!

The Big Brothers and Sister

2007-12-12T21:22:00.000-05:00

I'm telling ya...raising kids is tough. There are some days I wonder if I'm getting through to them at all. But then I look at this adorable picture, and they are all smiling and laughing, and I know they are so worth it. Every headache, every late night, every whine and cry. And I feel so incredible blessed to be able to add one more to the mix. I'm just very full tonight. Full of amazement at how good God has been to me and my family. He has perfectly and thoughtfully chosen every member of our family. He knew from the beginning that I needed to have Nathan, Charlie, and Madi before even speaking to our hearts about Mei. And when I think about how hard this wait has been, I know it pales in comparison to what Mei's birthmother must have gone through or still could be going through. She felt she had to abandon her daughter for reasons I can not even fathom. And knowing my undying love for my children, I can't imagine the emptiness she must feel. We have prayed from the beginning for Mei's birthmother and will continue to do so. We've asked the Lord to seal in her heart that assurance that her child is loved. Because....Oh my we have fallen hard for her.

Doctor visit

2007-12-12T15:37:00.000-05:00

We took all of our translated medical information to the pediatrician today. He says everything looks great!!! She should weigh between 15 and 18 lbs by the time we get her. And that's about where we thought she might be. I'm thinking a little on the lower side of things though. She really is a "squirt" when it comes to length.

He also prescribed some medicine for her while we are there. We will get those filled right before we travel.

So a good report. It's what we were hoping for.

So What Do We Do Now

2007-12-10T13:17:00.001-05:00

Well, we already sent off Acceptance Letter. That was a "no brainer". Once everyone in my travel group sends their's in, then we wait for our TA(Travel Appoval). This can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. Once we have that we wait a few days more for our CA(Consulate Appointment) and travel dates. Then it's time to start looking at plane tickets. So we are thinking that travel will happen in mid January. But it could also be as late as February.

We are having some more of her medical stuff translated( immunization records). And we have an appointment with our pediatrician on Wednesday so he can look things over and give us some anitbiotics for our trip.

I'm getting together a care package to send at the end of this week. We will enclose a photo album, an outfit, a disposable camera, and some candy. And Nana has some gifts she wants to add too. We've heard that this orphange is excellent at using the cammeras and returning them on Gotcha Day. And those photos will be priceless.

I am also wanting to send off for our Visas next week. This entails paying for a currior. The one we are using is near D.C. So next Monday we will be mailing our stuff to them.

So as you can see we are keeping busy for the next couple of weeks. Please remember to pray for Mei and her health through these cold months. I want her to be a healthy, happy baby when we go get her. We are so overwhelmed with emotion at times. We just want to hold her and love on her. I am actually amazed at how in love with her I already am. It's like the Lord sealed her in my heart the minute I saw her. She's my child. And it truly feels no different than my love for my three sweeties here with me now. I'm just amazed.....

Love At First Sight

2007-12-07T17:19:00.000-05:00

Video of us opening the email with Mei's picture.

Introducing Mei Elyse Talley!!!!

2007-12-06T14:41:00.000-05:00

We think she's adorable and are already in love with her. I just love those cute, kissable lips.

Update*** We received some more info on Mei.
As of September 25, 2007(6 months old)

Birthday March 18, 2007
Weight 13 lbs.
Height 24 inches
She has a round face and a sweet mouth
Nice temperament, seldom cries, likes to play with adults
Sleeps through the night
Her favorite toys are a little bell and a balloon

Referral!!!! Yes it has actually happened!!!

2007-12-05T18:39:00.000-05:00

We received the looooooong awaited call today at 3:15 pm.

We have a daughter!!!! Her Chinese name is Seng Yun Man. She is going to be 9 months old on Saturday. Her DOB is 3-08-07. She is in Jianxi Province at Seng Xin SWI. We will have her picture by tomorrow!!!!

I am beside myself!!!!! God is so incredibly good and wonderful!!!!

UPDATE** In the craziness of the phone call I misspelled her name and the SWI. Her name is Feng Yun Man and he SWI is Feng Xi. :)

New Do

2007-12-05T10:17:00.000-05:00

Too much gray to keep up with. I chopped it off. I hate getting older. Enough said.

Rumor News!!!!!

2007-12-04T21:03:00.000-05:00

The only thing out there right now is that referrals were mailed. Now the big question is WHEN will they get here. My guess is they will arrive here by Thursday!!!! I'll post more when I hear more!!! Whew!!!I'm flying high tonight!!!!

10 a.m. China time

2007-12-03T22:04:00.000-05:00

Well it's 10 a.m. in China and no news here for the day. There was a report of agencies receiving packages, but it turned out to be TA's(travel approvals). So here's to hoping tomorrow morning brings "good tidings of great joy". And that would be that packages are in the mail. :)

Digging a Hole to China

2007-12-03T18:17:00.000-05:00

So I figure if China won't send me my baby, I'll just get the kids to dig a hole to China. Do you think they'll find Mei?

Christmas Parade

2007-12-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

It's that wonderful time of year and one of our family traditions is to go to the local Christmas Parade. This year we went with our good friends the Peavey's and my folks. We had so much fun!!! I love small town parades and our's is very sweet. It's not often you can find Jesus in a public light. But I was very proud that there were a few floats that understood the real meaning of Christmas.

We are in the final days of our wait for Mei Elyse. We should be able to see her face this week for the first time. I will definitely let you all know when the big day is here.

How it Works

2007-11-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

I got an email from a travel mate who had asked her agency what happens when referrals arrive. Here is the responce.....

The referrals will arrive at West Sands first and fed ex out to agencies same day. Agencies should receive them the next day. Agencies then fax me a copy and I will do the translation. Presumably agencies will contact families immediately after they receive the referral package

OK...West Sands is an umbrella agency for several small agencies, mine included. So that's the way it works. It's a little bit more complicated than your standard large agency. Just thought you guys might want to know the process. Oh and the person referring to himself in the e-mail is Adam. He's is the coordinator on the US side. He will be in charge of making travel plans once referrals arrive.

MATCHING!!!!!

2007-11-29T16:35:00.000-05:00

Some agencies have notified their families that CCAA is matching. Here is what the person wrote.....

Our Agency CCAI just posted on their website that the China Center Of Adoption Affairs is matching!!!!!! Usually by the time that this is posted on our Agencies site they are almost ready to mail them out!!! We are so excited!! Probably sometime next week we will get THE CALL!!

So I'm really hoping that they will be mailed out Friday in China, which is tonight in the US. And we will see our sweetie pie's face on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Baby Dolls and Rumors

2007-11-28T15:21:00.000-05:00

I bought this for Mei for Christmas. I love it. So soft and cudly. I also bought a baby doll stroller for her. Can't wait til she can have fun with them....which brings me to rumors. So far today there are two sources saying December 14th is the cut off. Which means WE'RE IN!!!!!! Hopfully tomorow we'll hear of packages on their way. And that means we should get THE CALL next week sometime!!!! :)

Oh Christmas Tree

2007-11-26T08:06:00.000-05:00

We picked out our Christmas tree yesterday. The kids had so much fun decorating. We got it a little earlier than usual this year. We know once we get our referral we will be able to think of nothing else. Which, by the way, should be coming up soon. I'll keep you posted.:)

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T17:50:00.000-05:00

We had a great time at MaMaMa and PaPaPa's house this afternoon and a blast at Nana and Papa's this evening. Lots of great food and fellowship. My husband, these three little guys, and my child across the globe are my heart. I'm so incredibly blessed with an amazing family!!!

Do You Think It Will Work?

2007-11-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

Madi climbed in our luggage and wanted to be zipped up. Somehow I don't think she'll make it through airport security though. :)

Feeling Better and No Rumors

2007-11-19T15:47:00.000-05:00

Turns out the antibiotic I was on made me feel worse. But once that changed I started feeling better. I'm in kind of a lull right now as far as blogging. There are no rumors yet. It has been kinda nice to not stress this month over whether we'll be in or not. I feel for sure that we've made it in, but of course there is always that little nagging voice of what if they do the smallest batch ever this time. But I'm planning like we are and I starting to get excited. I am hoping to hear of some rumors this week and if I do, I'll write about them.

Thanksgiving Lunch

2007-11-16T11:38:00.000-05:00

Cute little pilgrim!!!

Feeling Icky

2007-11-15T17:20:00.000-05:00

Been feeling sick that past few days, and yesterday I hit that wall. You know the one where you are forced to finally go to the doctor. I am now on antibiotics and hope to be feeling back to normal by tomorrow. I really hate being sick....the whole family seems to suffer for it. I was headed out the door this morning when I realized that I hadn't packed lunches for the kids. That's just sad, folks. So I will head to bed early tonight again and hope to wake up feeling somewhat normal tomorow.

A Daunting Task

2007-11-12T15:41:00.000-05:00

I have been collecting travel supplies for our trip for a while now and just today got our luggage. We decided to get rolling duffle bags. I bought some with a separate compartment in the bottom for shoes and other things. I've started printing out my packing lists and checking off things I already have. Most things we can get over there at the local stores, but we have to take all of our medicines with us. So trying to think of anything we might need is a bit daunting. I'm so afraid we'll forget something important.

We are going to try to fit everything for Mike, me, and the baby into two 30" duffles. We are taking two carry on bags(a backpack and a computer case). I think we can do it, but it will take a few tries at geting it in. This is where I need the help of my ultra organized friends(Ahem.... Mom, Aimee,and Joanna). I'm definitely going to need to be creative.

The 8th is in!!!! We're Next!!!

2007-11-04T20:13:00.000-05:00

Ok....All they have to do next month is December 9th(a Friday) and then jump the weekend to December 12th(a Monday). There were no families logged in over the weekend. So I really think it's safe to say we're on deck.

My Predictions.....

2007-11-03T19:55:00.001-04:00

For what they are worth. I predict that I will receive my referral the week of December 3rd. That puts me exactly one month away from seeing my sweet baby's face!!! Oh my goodness.....I can't beleive it's finally here!!!! Only four weeks to go!!!!:)

Referrals started to arrive yesterday and the rest will come by Monday or Tuesday!!! All indications point to December 8th as the cut off but no one will really know until CCAA updates their site. And hopefully by Monday morning it will be updated. I'll post as soon as I know anything.

No Change

2007-11-01T09:53:00.001-04:00

Still rumors of a December 8 cut off. And some agencies are expecting packages today, but don't know what's in them. I really hope referrals come before the weekend for the sake of the December families. They are on pins and needles right now. I'll keep you guys posted if there is any change.

Now For The Icky Rumors

2007-10-30T19:40:00.000-04:00

There are now rumors of the cut off being around the 8th. Yuck, yuck, yuck!!!! Still holding out for the 12th, but it doesn't look good right now. Good news is that TA's(travel approval) may be expected tomorrow for the last batch.:)

More from Spanish Site (Deep Breath)

2007-10-29T13:31:00.000-04:00

She has upgraded her December 12th cut off rumor to a 10. That's the highest rating she gives. In other words she is saying she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the 12th is in. According to some who follow her, this is the first time she has ever given a 10 rating. Pretty exciting stuff!!! I have to remind myself to breathe. All of you who haven't been apart of the rumor mill before this is how it is every month, but usually there are some reall bad rumors thrown in to confuse everyone even more. I sure hope that this Spanish site is right. I'm not sure how she is going to live it down if she's wrong after this. You just don't give a 10 rating if your not definitely sure. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. Breathe. Freaking out. Breathe. Hope,hope,hope. Breathe.

More Rumors

2007-10-26T11:25:00.000-04:00

The rumors today so far are that CCAA has begun matching and another source is saying the 12th could be in. If we are in we should hear something next week.

Rumor 5

2007-10-25T09:06:00.001-04:00

Now the Spanish RQ is saying it is fact that the 12th is the cut off. I'm just about to burst with excitement!!!! I think I'll be more likely to believe this one when families start to get calls from there agencies telling them they are in...which is usually a few days before referrals arrive. So hopefully we'll know if this is solid by next week..... I'll keep you posted on any new developments. :)

Rumor 4 (Spanish RQ)

2007-10-24T21:30:00.000-04:00

Spanish RQ is now saying that December 12 is the cut off....I'm trying soooooo hard not to get too excited. But inside I'm doing cartwheels!!! My LID in a rumor!!!

Rumoro Numero Tres

2007-10-24T10:57:00.000-04:00

This title is my attempt at Spanish.....and this next rumor comes from the Spanish Rumor Queen. Yes...even Spain has an RQ. So this rumor is basically saying what we already know...that the 10th could be in and even further than that. Not sure if this is acurate info or not...they could have just read the rumors on RQ's blog and that would make this an echo rumor. But here it is and again it's good news.:)

Rumor #2

2007-10-21T17:58:00.000-04:00

This was posted on a forum I joined......

Some of my friends here in the UK who were DTC on 5th December 05 (but don't know their LID) have been told this week by their in-country China guides that they will get a referral in November. I was DTC a week earlier and am using the same guides so have e mailed them to see if they have any more information. From what I've heard of them before they are normally pretty accurate in what they say about timing. I'll report back if I hear anything useful. I'm starting a new job in a week's time so will be pretty shocked if I get a November referral (I told my new bosses December for sure).

The thing is we don't go buy our DTC date it's our LID that's so important. I'm not sure what to think of this one. If their DTC date is 12-5 then their LID could be anywhere from 12-10 to 12-20. Still good news though!!!

First Referral Rumor Of The Month

2007-10-20T08:14:00.000-04:00

I've decided to post any and every referral rumor I read about. So here is the first one. I read it last night and about had a heart attack....but remember early rumors are almost always wrong.

"A few days ago we emailed our SW to see where things are at and today she responded. Occording to her source they have made it to 12/10/05. She doesn't know if they will get any further but she does believe that the 10th is in. I don't know who her source is or how accurate this information is but here it is it was given to us."

The thing is 12-10-05 is a Saturday and CCAA has never had a weekend cut-off day. So my theory is if this rumor is true, then surely they could push to get through the 12th(our LID and a Monday). That's what I hope anyway. I like to think of this time of the month as a roller coaster. And right now the track is taking us up, up, up!!! So hold on tight!!!!

Water Monkeys

2007-10-10T18:29:00.000-04:00

Today was first day of Fall Break for the kids....although it doesn't feel like Fall at all. It was in the low 90's, the kids were stir crazy. So I put them out side with the hose and told them to wash the van. Well that lasted all of 5 minutes, but they had a blast!!!! BTW can you believe Madi is small enough to fit into a 5 gallon pickle bucket?

CCAA Update

2007-10-08T21:41:00.000-04:00

Well it's official.. CCAA went through November 30th. No surprise there. Farewell November....Hello Decmeber!!!! WooHoo!!!

5 days

2007-10-02T17:06:00.000-04:00

That's how many day CCAA referred this month. Not good. I'm thrilled for the families who received their referrals, but 5 stinkin days? This is not fun anymore. I just want my daughter home. For those of you who are standing with us through all this we have started praying for paperwork to be released. I don't know what's going on over there, but it's not good.

Just to put it in perspective..they referred from November 25 to November 30 and two of those days are a weekend. Our LID is December 12.

Thanks for letting me vent...I'm sure I'll be better tomorrow. :)

Madi In Bows

2007-10-01T09:20:00.000-04:00

Madi's New Do

2007-09-28T17:39:00.000-04:00

Madi before her new Do

Madi in the middle of her new Do

Madi with her new Do

What A Trooper

2007-09-27T15:35:00.000-04:00

What a trooper my husband is to let me show off his new coat. We tried pictures of him with the hat and he looked pretty rediculous. Even more so than me. So I told him I'd only humilate him a little. But he has a very nice jacket. It's actually nicer than mine. And I paid less for his. I guess that's the nature of Ebay.

Winter Weather Here I Come

2007-09-26T13:59:00.000-04:00

I think me and my jacket are ready for Beijing. Why me AND my jacket? Because it seems that my jacket has a personality of its own. It's very presence takes up half of my coat closet. It's huge. It's warm. It's my Columbia Jacket with a zip out fleece. Nothing's getting through this baby. No rain. No snow. No wind. Nothing. I LOVE it. It fits perfect. Mike's should be here in a few days. I'll make him play dress up and post a picutre of him soon.

Quiet As A Mouse

2007-09-24T15:48:00.000-04:00

So very quiet this month on the rumor mill. Hope that means they've matched deep into December.:) There are 17 LID's between me and my fourth child. Doesn't sound like much...does it. We are so very close that I'm almost ready to tell people we're next. That makes me happy.

My Friend, Ebay Part2

2007-09-15T19:37:00.001-04:00

I just received my hip hammock from Ebay today and once again Ebay has scored big points with me. This used hip hammock is in perfect condition. I even tried it out on Madi. So one less item to worry about on my packing list. Which, BTW, is a whole other post in it's self. One of these days I'm going to post my whole list so you can see everything I need to pack. It's pretty amazing.

My Little Soccer Guy

2007-09-15T19:13:00.000-04:00

Well, he's not so little anymore. He's a big 7 year old you know. Nathan had his first soccer game today with his first ever goal. He had a blast!!

My Friend, Ebay

2007-09-08T10:45:00.000-04:00

I love EBAY!!! I bought this Lands End Diaper bag pack off Ebay for half the price I would have if I had ordered it online. It's in perfect condition and will be great on our trip to China. I've also bought a Hip Hammock on Ebay. I'll post a picture when I get it. It's so exciting to be buying baby stuff again. I love it, love it, love it!!!!

Ballarina Madi

2007-09-04T22:40:00.000-04:00

Madi and her cousin giving hugs and dancing

Madi striking a pose before ballet class.

Fun Time with Sister

2007-09-03T21:46:00.000-04:00

My sister lives about an hour away from me. And although that's not too far away, we still manage to not see each other very often. So when she announced she was coming in this weekend, I was thrilled. She has four beautiful children and combined with my three we always have a grand time. Chaos is the word. Kids,toys, and noise. And I love every minute of it. So here is a picture of my little sister and me. She's an awesome mom and an incredible wife to her husband. And she has an amazing ability of making anyone feel welcome in her presence. She never meets a stranger. I think she's great and I miss her being closer.

September Cut Off and Predictions

2007-09-03T07:55:00.000-04:00

CCAA updated their site and the cut off is November 25, 2005. So they did 4 days this month. Now I realize that this may seem a downer to most, but I really don't think it has changed our situation all that much. I was hoping for the 28th. And the 26th and 27th are a weekend...so not many LID's there.

My predictions for the next two months are as follows

October Referrals- December 5th
November Referrals- December 12th

Our LID is Decemer 12th so getting into the November batch may be by the skin of our teeth, but it is very probable.

Please remember to pray for Mei and her safety.

It's Rumor Time

2007-08-31T13:32:00.001-04:00

So the two rumors today are at opposite ends of the spectrum. One says 11/25 is out. And the other says that some of December could be included. So everything is all crazy and my emotions have had it. I'll post more when I know something more concrete.

One for Mei too

2007-08-24T11:07:00.000-04:00

Nathan and I were at Big Lots yesterday and I ran across some cute kids place mats for the table. I asked Nathan to grab three for him, his brother and sister. He then responded with "Can we get one for Mei too?"

You never know how much that blessed me. This wait has been so long and hard on the family. It's sometimes hard to keep Mei in the forefront of our family life. We have just had to move on with our daily schedules. And Mei sometimes just seems out of sight out of mind, especially with the kids.

So now we have four cute place mats on our table and that makes her not seem so far away.

Conversation between brothers

2007-08-20T18:02:00.000-04:00

Charlie not wearing his seatbelt.

Nathan: Charlie do you want to go to jail or do you want to go home?
Charlie: (pause) I want to go home.
Nathan: Then put on your seatbelt.

You gotta love Danny Silk.

I Heart Ikea

2007-08-20T13:11:00.001-04:00

I love Ikea.

The Talley's and the Gurr's took a day trip to Ikea in Atlanta. If you've never been...go. And block at least 3 hours to shop.

I love Ikea.

Happy Birthday Babe!!!!

2007-08-16T12:09:00.000-04:00

Today is Mike's 34th birthday. I especially like Mike's birthday every year because for the next 4 months we are the same age. No more pointing out the fact that I'm older. Anyway, have a wonderful day, babe!!!! Looking forward to celebrating with sushi!!!:) BTW he has his own blog. Go over and check it out.

Funny Girl

2007-08-08T10:56:00.000-04:00

Here is our funny girl. This was taken on the Fourth of July.

First Day of School

2007-08-08T10:37:00.000-04:00

So the first day of school was yesterday. Charlie is entering kindergarten and Nathan is entering first grade. Madi will start three year old school next week, but wanted to be included in the picture yesterday morning. So here are my three cutie pies. Next year I'll have a picture of four cutie pies!!! Hooray!!!

Referral Day

2007-08-03T09:26:00.000-04:00

Referrals are early for this month!!! Very exciting!!! Congratulations to all those new Moms and Dads!

Referral Rumors

2007-07-31T14:56:00.000-04:00

Looks like rumors are showing referrals through November 21, 2005. Only 21 days of LID's between us and our Mei. :) If CCAA can keep up with the seven days a month trend, then we should see our Mei's face by November. But of course all that could change for the good...or the bad.

Something New

2007-07-23T14:55:00.000-04:00

So I decided to try out some new colors for my blog. Tell me what you think. Do you like this one, the old one, or neither?

Babysitting Part II

2007-07-23T11:33:00.000-04:00

I know I was supposed to post yesterday, but frankly I was just too darn tired. Sunday Morning.....well let's back up to Saturday night. The 9 and 8 year old were in their beds and the 4 and 18 month old were in their beds. Now where to put mine. Three rooms left were the oldest girls, the oldest boys and the master bedroom. So I put Nathan and Charlie in the boy room. And Madi on the master bedroom floor. I left the girl room alone. Too pretty for a 3 year old to sleep in. Ok so everyone is in bed and about 10 minutes go by and Charlie comes out and says, " Daddy I don't like that Moose." Turns out the Moose was a Deer head mounted on the wall. So daddy removed the deer mount and all was well. My kids did not sleep well...Charlie was up once and Madi was very restless on the floor. So Mike and I really didn't rest well either. The 4 year old was up very early at 6:30. So of course everyone decided to get up. Sunday morning getting ready was nuts. Really not much more to say but kids were everywhere and I barely ahd enough time to get myself ready.

The family left us their twelve passenger van so we could get everyone to church. It was very useful and roomy. So off to church we go. And really they did great!! I just think Mike and I were a little over worried that things would get out of hand. Mike had to work the overhead transparancy for worship while I kept an eye on the kids. I guess at some oint I looked a little frazzled so he looked across the room and motioned for us to switch. So as descreatly as possible we switched roles. As I passed him he tagged my hand like in wrestling. Too funny.

So we are very tired today, but things couldn't have gone better. The kids were great and we have alot of fun memories.

Babysitting

2007-07-21T21:44:00.000-04:00

So Mike and I are babysitting for a family in our church this weekend. This family has six children. Two of them are with their parents so we have the privilege of keeping the youngest four. They are 9,8,4,and 18 months. And with my 7,5, and 3 year old, we've have a wild time. We are all staying at their house for the night. All I can say is "Thank God". Their place is huge!!! Five bedrooms and 3 full baths. A pool. A huge yard. It's been great!!! Although Mike did look at me this evening and said, "I don't think we could handle seven kids." :) It's not so bad. It's just overwhelming when you are one handed pouring milk in a bottle, a baby on your hip, and trying to help a three year old find a sippy cup. And that was just me. Mike was desperately trying to get all four boys in the shower while cleaning up the playroom with Charlie having a meltdown for a reason not yet known. We got through it though. And they have been great!! So now we are off to bed. We need to get an early start tomorrow with church and all. I'll fill you guys in on tomorrow's adventure.....tomorrow.

Missing Mei

2007-07-19T10:30:00.000-04:00

I don't know about anyone else in the adoption community, but there are some days that I ache from missing my daughter. Yesterday was one of those days. I woke up with her on my mind and I thought of her all day long. Some of you may do this on a daily basis, but with three children already, I tend to put Mei in the back of my mind. I think it really is a coping machanism because if I woke up every morning feeling like yesterday, I don't think I could make it. I know my family would suffer. But what I try to do is pray for her on days like that. I pray for her safety. I pray for her caretakers. I pray for her birth parents. I pray that the Lord will give her dreams of us so she will know us when we get her. When I pray into my worries and my aching, it eases the pain. I know we are so close to seeing her beautiful face. She just sometimes feels so very far away. And although we've never met, she is already apart of our lives. And we miss her not being here with us.

Craziness

2007-07-17T08:17:00.000-04:00

The Rumor Queen posted a crazy rumor about early December being included in the August batch. She's only rated it an R1, but how crazy is that?!!! And then this morning she had another R1 rumor about late November being included in August. This rumor is a little bit more believable, but still crazy. CCAA has only been sending 6-7 days of referrals at a time. To get to the end of November it would be referring 16 days worth. That would be quite a jump. So in my head I think this is crazy and there is no way this can happen, but in my heart I so very much hope it's true. :)

Nathan Then and Now

2007-07-13T08:28:00.000-04:00

Nathan Anderson Talley was born July 13, 2000. He is the older brother of Charlie and Madi and soon to be Mei. Nathan is a joy to everyone around him. He loves to make new friends and has a genuine love for other children. Nathan is our rule follower. He makes sure that everyone else around him understands the rules and why they are there. My favorite thing about Nathan is his amazing faith in Jesus. He knows that Jesus can do anything and believes that Jesus will come through for him. His dream is to one day see a blind man healed. And I believe he will see that happen. Happy Birthday Nathan.

Summer Mini Vacation

2007-07-12T10:30:00.000-04:00

This our attempt at a family photo. It's difficult to get eveyone looking in the right direction and smile, but I think it turned out good. We always have a blast in Tampa. We stayed at this hotel with a pirate ship pool for the kids. We had a great time!!!

July Referrals

2007-07-10T08:02:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that referrals went through November 14th of 2005. That means there are 28 days to refer until our turn. And at 7 days per month that would mean 4 more months left. That is unless they do more days or less days. But I'm hoping for more days. :)

My Sweet Girl

2007-06-17T15:23:00.000-04:00

Madilyn Brooke Talley was born via C-section on June 14, 2004. I was so excited that morning as I have been with all my children's birthdays. And this particular morning I would get to see my first daughter. I actually thought she was my last too. I had my tubes tied that same day also. But as you can tell from this blog, God had other plans for us. :)

My first reaction to Madi being born was..."Praise Jesus she's crying and sounds healthy". I usually only get a quick kiss and they sweep them off so I can go to recovery. My husband, I noticed, seemed more quiet than usual and then he leaned over kissed my head and said, "She has a clubbed foot. Everything will be fine." And he left with the nurses and Madi.

I can't even describe the heartache I felt. Was she ok? Was there anything else wrong with her? I cried from the time he left, all through the one-hour recovery room, and was still upset when they wheeled me into my hospital room. My sister went down to the nursery and insisted they bring Madi to see me right then. I needed to see that she was all right. And she was. She was perfect. I looked at her foot and winced. How in the world would she walk? Her foot looked like it was on sideways. The inside of her foot was touching the inside of her leg.

And so began casts and surgery and bar shoes. Sleepless nights. Ruined socks. Leg cramps. Leg spasms. Sleepless nights.

And now she's three and running and out of her shoes and no more casts. She won't ever remember what she had to endure that first year, but I will. And now Madi at three is my sweetie. She is my shadow. She loves her big brothers and mothers them. She adores her Daddy. She loves to sing and dance. She loves wide-open spaces. She can out run any three year old. I've never seen a child so fast. Her smile and laugh can light up a room. She is my hero.

June Referrals

2007-06-12T20:16:00.000-04:00

So referrals came out for this month on June 5. The CCAA managed to get to November 7, 2005. So that leaves us 35 days of LID's till they get to our LID which is December 12, 2005. My hope is that they make it to November 16th for the July ones. We'll see.

Rumors Rumors Rumors

2007-05-21T07:44:00.000-04:00

So here we are in the middle of the month and rumors are starting to make their way around the bloggisphere. The most recent and exciting one is that CCAA will get through November 20th this batch. I think I would flip out if they made it this far. I am expecting through at least the 10th of November. Either way I think we will have our referral by August or September and travel in October or November. So our prayer request is that Mei's paperwork would be released and for the Lord to protect her and preserve her for us. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress.

Flint River Photo

2007-05-21T07:30:00.000-04:00

Precious

2007-05-18T16:51:00.001-04:00

My Big Guy

2007-05-15T08:01:00.000-04:00

So my baby boy is now a kindergartener. It really goes by so quick. He is sooo excited about going to school with his big brother. What a sweetie!!!

Conversation with my two year old.

2007-05-15T07:53:00.000-04:00

Me : Mary Joyce is coming this morning.(a family friend adopted from China)

Madi: She coming our house?

Me: Yes, she's coming to our house to play.

Pause

Madi: And Mei too?

Me: No, but Mei will be here soon.

Madi: Mei in China.

Me: Yes, Honey, Mei is in China.

The most facinating thing I find about this conversation is that she related Mary Joyce( a baby from China) to our baby Mei(who we have never seen). She's one smart cookie!!! :)

Very Sad Reality in China

2007-05-04T11:37:00.000-04:00

Adopting from China has caused me to be very aware of the plite of the women over there. I have heard stories and seen documentaries about how severe the problem is of women being mistreated. This is the most recent article I've come across that deals with this issue. Women in China have absolutely no choice when it comes to the welfare of themselves or their children. My heart breaks for them. The women in this article did not want to have abortions. They were forced to. The province where this took place is very well known for allowing babies to be adopted internationally. The wait to adopt a child from China has increased to 17 months and climbing. China claims that less babies are being abandoned, thus the reason for the long wait. I guess I assumed that this was because more families were able to afford to keep them( which is a good thing), not forced to abort them. Here is the article if you would like to read it. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9766870

Through with October..Finally

2007-05-03T07:38:00.000-04:00

CCAA has finished matching babies with families whose Log In Date(LID) was from October 27 -November 1. I can't tell you how excited I am that they are out of October. It took 4 straight months to do it, but they did. So I'm praying they make it through at least November 10th in June. If they can do about 10 days at a time, we should receive a referral in September. We'll just have to see.

Fun Day at Andersonville

2007-04-25T07:27:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful family day at Andersonville, GA on Saturday. This was my favorite picture of the day by far. For some reason I'm not sure that DCFS would approve of our choice of discipline. :)

Two Days

2007-04-13T13:28:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted about this because it's been a hard week for me emotionally. The CCAA only accomplished two days worth of referrals this month. So they did October 25 and 26 of 2005. I was pretty devastated, but I'm doing fine now. I know we'll get her in the exact right time. And this little referral batch is only narrowing exactly who we are meant to have. So I choose joy over depression. And peace over turmoil.:)

Happy Easter!!!!

2007-04-08T19:12:00.000-04:00

Savannah Fun

2007-04-02T14:21:00.000-04:00

Mike and I in Savannah. He really spoiled me this weekend. I was wined and dined the whole time. I don't think I ever stopped smiling. :)

Here was our entertainment for Friday night. These two guys were great!!

River Steet in Savannah. By far my favorite part of our trip. I had the best time there shopping, people watching, eating, more shopping.:)

And We're Off !!!

2007-03-30T08:17:00.000-04:00

To Savannah that is!!

Mike and I are off for a weekend getaway. My brother and his wife have graciously offered to watch the kids for the weekend. So we get to go away and have some alone time.:)

Referrals On the Way

2007-03-30T08:12:00.000-04:00

Everyone is on pins and needles today!!! Rumor has it referrals are on the way!!! There is no word so far on the cut off date. I'm hoping for at least November 3. I'll post more later.