Playing with Grandpa.
Olivia lets Grandpa hold her.
Olivia checking out Grandma.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Food Glorious Food!
Olivia loves food. We haven't found anything she wont eat. The rest of us can not have food without offering her some. When she see food she cries and whines. Tonight after she was done with what was on her plate she would lift it up and grunt for more.
Bob & I both agree that she is putting on weight. When I took her to the doctor last week she was 50% on height and 25% on weight. We have a feeling she will soon be 50% on both!
Colette
Friday, March 16, 2007
Doing Better
Bob is doing better. The shot has helped. He was able to sleep last night and his ears are starting to clear, so he is able to hear better.... Thank God. I was getting tiered of him not being able to hear me. As many of you know I don't have a soft voice. Anyway, if things continue to progress he should be able to go back to work on Monday. Olivia & I both now have colds, but are doing ok.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Update on Bob
I took Bob back to the doctor yesterday and they did a chest x-ray. He has pneumonia. They gave him a shot. Hope this helps. Keep him in your prayers. He also has an ear infection and his ears are plugged so he can't hear too well out of them.
I am pretty tiered caring for Olivia and getting over jet lag. Megan has been a great help and I couldn't do it without her. Next week is spring break, which will be nice to have her here at home.
Colette
I am pretty tiered caring for Olivia and getting over jet lag. Megan has been a great help and I couldn't do it without her. Next week is spring break, which will be nice to have her here at home.
Colette
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The 2 sisters Meet At Last.
These 2 pics were taken after we got home late Saturday night. What a proud big sister!We're Home
We’ll after a very, very, long day…. Or should I say a day and a half. YIKES! We made it home. We left our hotel at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning China time and 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon Tulsa time.
Everything went well flying from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. It was a very short flight and the plane wasn’t full so we had a seat in-between Bob & I. Then we had a short layover and boarded the plane to the U.S. They told us the plane was full. We only booked a lap-seat for Olivia, so we were scared we wouldn’t have the empty seat between us. Well, we lucked out and it was empty. HURRAY! Olivia did very well for such a long flight. She did get fussy a few times but we were able to calm her down quick. She played with the empty plastic water cups we had for hours and hours. She slept some and I actually slept a couple of hours. We landed in the US on schedule. After going through custom’s and security and many many lines we got to our gate. We got something to eat during our 4-½ hour layover. Well, our layover turned into an 8-hour layover. UGGGGHHHHH. Can you say frustrated. Trying to entertain a baby was interesting. Needless to say her squeaky shoes got lots of looks and smiles.
We finally landed in Tulsa at 12:30 a.m. Boy were we tiered. This would be 2:30 pm on Sunday in China. Needless to say we looked whipped. I don’t know if I have ever been that exhausted mentally and physically in my life. I knew it would be a hard day and it lived up to my expectations.
The bad thing was Bob started having drainage & a headache on Thursday before we left. Well, during our long layover he started running a fever. Poor guy. He has since gone to the doctor and he has a bad case of bronchitis and feels horrible. He is having a very hard time sleeping because of all the drainage. Here he has jet lag and is unable to sleep. Hopefully he will start feeling better soon and the rest of us don’t get it.
It was so good to see Megan. I missed her so much. It was neat to see her and Olivia together. Megan has been such a big help with Olivia. She has fed and played with her. Last night Olivia had her first real bath. Up until last night I was only able to give her a sponge bath. Anyway, Megan got in the bathtub and slowly I was able to get Olivia in the tub and bathe her. YEA! Megan is going to be a great big sister.
Well, this has taken me over 2 hours to write. I forgot how it takes forever to get things done with a little one. I need to try and get her down for a nap. This afternoon she gets her first doctor visit in the U.S. Wish us luck.
I want to thank everyone for all of the support and prayers while we were in China. Please pray that Bob starts to feel better and the rest of us stay healthy. I will try and post pictures of Olivia & Megan later.
Colette
Everything went well flying from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. It was a very short flight and the plane wasn’t full so we had a seat in-between Bob & I. Then we had a short layover and boarded the plane to the U.S. They told us the plane was full. We only booked a lap-seat for Olivia, so we were scared we wouldn’t have the empty seat between us. Well, we lucked out and it was empty. HURRAY! Olivia did very well for such a long flight. She did get fussy a few times but we were able to calm her down quick. She played with the empty plastic water cups we had for hours and hours. She slept some and I actually slept a couple of hours. We landed in the US on schedule. After going through custom’s and security and many many lines we got to our gate. We got something to eat during our 4-½ hour layover. Well, our layover turned into an 8-hour layover. UGGGGHHHHH. Can you say frustrated. Trying to entertain a baby was interesting. Needless to say her squeaky shoes got lots of looks and smiles.
We finally landed in Tulsa at 12:30 a.m. Boy were we tiered. This would be 2:30 pm on Sunday in China. Needless to say we looked whipped. I don’t know if I have ever been that exhausted mentally and physically in my life. I knew it would be a hard day and it lived up to my expectations.
The bad thing was Bob started having drainage & a headache on Thursday before we left. Well, during our long layover he started running a fever. Poor guy. He has since gone to the doctor and he has a bad case of bronchitis and feels horrible. He is having a very hard time sleeping because of all the drainage. Here he has jet lag and is unable to sleep. Hopefully he will start feeling better soon and the rest of us don’t get it.
It was so good to see Megan. I missed her so much. It was neat to see her and Olivia together. Megan has been such a big help with Olivia. She has fed and played with her. Last night Olivia had her first real bath. Up until last night I was only able to give her a sponge bath. Anyway, Megan got in the bathtub and slowly I was able to get Olivia in the tub and bathe her. YEA! Megan is going to be a great big sister.
Well, this has taken me over 2 hours to write. I forgot how it takes forever to get things done with a little one. I need to try and get her down for a nap. This afternoon she gets her first doctor visit in the U.S. Wish us luck.
I want to thank everyone for all of the support and prayers while we were in China. Please pray that Bob starts to feel better and the rest of us stay healthy. I will try and post pictures of Olivia & Megan later.
Colette
Friday, March 09, 2007
Leaving Olivia's Homeland
It is 5:00 a.m. Saturday here in China and 3:00 p.m. Friday in Tulsa. We are showered & packed. I am about to wake Olivia up for the day. Our very, very long day. We gain 14 hours so it will be a 38-hour day. We can actually say the longest day of our lives. We are really dreading the 3 flights. We fly from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, which is only an hour flight. Then we fly from Hong Kong to Newark, New Jersey which is a 15 ½ hour flight YUCK! Then after going through customs and a long layover we have a 3 hour 45 minute flight to Tulsa. We are scheduled to arrive at 9:00 p.m.
We have loved China but are ready to go home. This has been a journey of a lifetime and we want to thank all of our family and friends for their support and love. We want to send out a very big THANK YOU to the Peters for keeping Megan. We have never worried for her safety, always knew she was being well taken care of and loved. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Megan we love you and miss you and can’t wait for you to meet your sister.
See you all very soon.
Love, Bob, Colette & Olivia
We have loved China but are ready to go home. This has been a journey of a lifetime and we want to thank all of our family and friends for their support and love. We want to send out a very big THANK YOU to the Peters for keeping Megan. We have never worried for her safety, always knew she was being well taken care of and loved. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Megan we love you and miss you and can’t wait for you to meet your sister.
See you all very soon.
Love, Bob, Colette & Olivia
Adoption Completed
Today we went to the U.S. Embassy and got all of the finaly paperwork. Bob & I swore to forever take care of Olivia. When Olivia takes her first step in the U.S. (Newark) she will offically be a United States citizen.
Colette
Email Buddies
I have been emailing with these 3 other moms for quite awhile. It was neat to finally meet each one of them and see their babies.
From left to right: Mary & Addie, Jackie & Gabi, Katie & Sofie.
Colette &Olivia
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Group Picture
This is our traveling group. We have come to really bond with some of the families. I will forever have wonderful memories of our time together.
Shopping at the Mall
Shopping at a shopping mall. Colette had fun buying pearls.
Eating some pizza at the Pizza Hut.
The Famous Red Couch
Daddy & Olivia
What an experience. It was hard to get the babies to cooperate. There were 10 babies from the Hunan Province that got their babies in Changsha. Once we got to Guangzhou we picked up 4 special needs children. There were 2 boys & 2 girls. The boys didn't join the group.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
A Special Message for Big Sister
Hi Megan. We miss you and cannot wait to see you on Saturday. We love you. Mom, Dad, and Little Sister
Monday, March 05, 2007
Dinner with Friends
Daddy, Olivia & Mommy
Katie , Sophie & Marc
We went to dinner with our friends from St. Louis. Both girls are from the same orphanage. However, Sophie was in foster care most of it. The week before we got the girls they both were brought back to the orphanage, so they were together for at least one week, maybe longer. They play well together, it is so cute! I think they will miss each other when we all head back to the states. I know that Bob & I will miss Katie & Marc. We plan on making a trip to St. Louis to see them.
We went to dinner with our friends from St. Louis. Both girls are from the same orphanage. However, Sophie was in foster care most of it. The week before we got the girls they both were brought back to the orphanage, so they were together for at least one week, maybe longer. They play well together, it is so cute! I think they will miss each other when we all head back to the states. I know that Bob & I will miss Katie & Marc. We plan on making a trip to St. Louis to see them.
Colette
DAY 13
We are back in the room, Olivia and Bob are both sleeping. I still have to pinch myself to convince me this is real. I feel as though I am living a dream… a wonderful dream. Our family is finally complete. I can’t wait for Megan & Olivia to meet. I feel for us to be able to give Megan a sister it is a true gift. I feel very fortunate to have siblings. I love my brothers & sisters very much. If we can give our children as wonderful of a childhood that I had they will be blessed.
It is hard to believe we are half way around the world. I remember as a child trying to dig to China. A girl who thought the only way she would get to China was by digging. And, now I am in China getting a beautiful daughter.
China is very different then the United States. I am having a hard time even explaining it. I will forever have a special place in my heart for this country but realize how fortunate we are to live in the US. I hope someday to bring Olivia back to her birth country. Our agency (Children’s Hope International) does tours for families they have worked with. Maybe when she is a teenager.
This hotel is full of adoption families with children from China. They have a breakfast buffet every morning and everywhere you look there are babies & more babies. When you get on the elevator more then likely there are American parents with a child from China. People are from everywhere in the US. It is so neat here at the White Swan Hotel, everyone is so friendly.
Colette
It is hard to believe we are half way around the world. I remember as a child trying to dig to China. A girl who thought the only way she would get to China was by digging. And, now I am in China getting a beautiful daughter.
China is very different then the United States. I am having a hard time even explaining it. I will forever have a special place in my heart for this country but realize how fortunate we are to live in the US. I hope someday to bring Olivia back to her birth country. Our agency (Children’s Hope International) does tours for families they have worked with. Maybe when she is a teenager.
This hotel is full of adoption families with children from China. They have a breakfast buffet every morning and everywhere you look there are babies & more babies. When you get on the elevator more then likely there are American parents with a child from China. People are from everywhere in the US. It is so neat here at the White Swan Hotel, everyone is so friendly.
Colette
Medical Exam
Olivia did very well on the medical exam. She cried some but over-all she did well. She weighs 18 pounds 2 ounces.
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