Catching Up

I am posting with no pictures - I know - it's a sin!!  But - if I wait until everything is totally ready - I'll post next Christmas ;)). 

We didn't get to post any content with the last pictures that we posted.  The pics from the last post were with Olivia's Chinese Australian grandparents, Ron and Sue, also known as YeYe and Sue Ni Ni (Chinese for grandfather and grandmother).  Ron and Sue are a retired couple from Australia that volunteered at Olivia's orphanage for 4 years.  They were the ones that kept Olivia during her first ten weeks at the orphanage, feeding her every 1-2 hrs to get her the nutrients she needed to survive.  We are so thankful to them for taking such good care of our little girl!  If it weren't for them, she most likely would not have lived.

They have a son, daughter-in-law, and 3 precious grandchildren who live in Colorado Springs, CO.  They told us they were coming to the states to see them and to make several other stops to see families of children adopted from the orphanage where they volunteered.  They were interested and willing to come meet and visit with us, so they came and stayed with us from May 18-22.  We had a great time getting to know them and they were amazed at how far Olivia has progressed since she left China.  They will always be a part of our forever family!

We had Olivia's pre-admission testing this morning and all went VERY well!  Olivia is really so well adjusted now and she is so comfortable with Danny and me.  The only time she cried was when the mean needle went in her arm :(.  Except for that - the day was great!  Her heart cath and cardiac MRI are Wednesday and we will be in the hospital until Thursday.  We have to be at the hospital at 5:30am!!  Whew!!  Mommy and daddy are nervous, but know she is in truly wonderful hands (CHOP is the #1 pediatric hospital in the nation).

We loved (Julie's) President's Club trip to the Bahamas 6/3 - 6/7 and it was really good timing!!  We had to opt out of the trip last year because we had just come home with Olivia.  Both of our mom's came up 6/1 to stay with Olivia while we went on our trip and they are staying with us through Olivia's heart cath.  They go home Friday morning (6/14) :(.  We definitely miss having our family nearby!!!

Olivia is graduating from OT!!! :)  We will continue her once a week speech therapy, but the Occupational therapist thinks she has developed to things appropriate for her age!!  YAY!! 

Olivia is the funniest person I've ever met!! She loves to eat spaghetti noodles and we believe she is the BEST noodle slurper in the United States!! :)  Haha!!  That has kept us laughing too - the girl can slurp noodles faster than any human we've ever seen - it really is hilarious!

We'll post more as soon as we get some pictures up!!  Just wanted to give a quick update while I was actually sitting at the computer.  (I'm off all week to be with Olivia, have both moms here, and actually had a second to do this ;))

Much Love,
Danny, Julie, and Bing Bing

Ron and Sue's Visit - May 18 - 22

Waiting on Ron and Sue to arrive at the 30th St. train station in Philly.  We had 4 balloons that said "YeYe", "Sue Nai Nai", "It's Me", and "Bing Bing". (YeYe and Nai Nai is Chinese for Grandpa and Grandma)

Ron spotted Bing Bing and the balloons.

Even though it had been 14 months since she had seen them, it didn't take long for Bing Bing to open up to them.

Showing YeYe her kitchen.

Enjoying the bubble shooter that Julie bought her while we were visiting the Italian Market Festival in downtown Philly.

Showing off for YeYe and Sue Nai Nai in her ball pit.

Styling in her shades!

Striking a pose for daddy to get a pic.

Visiting Amish country.

Enjoying a walk with YeYe and Sue Nai Nai on our way to eat at the Amish restaurant.

Giving them a work out too!

Enjoying a break and the breeze with Mommy!

They give warning and for good cause.  At one point, the little pony tried to eat Bing Bing's sandal off of her foot.  She thought it was hilarious.  Now when you ask her what a horse does, she says "bite shoe".

Checking out the goat!

This is the pony that tried to eat her shoe.

Easter, Updates, and More

Miss Beautiful during an Easter egg hunt with her cousins Josh, Caleb, and Abbie

We got this shirt in China and I must say that I LOVE IT :).  We had gone swimming at the indoor pool.

In her 4th of July outfit (in April) and posing with Aunt Mel during their visit from NC.

I like brownies :)

She LOVES gymnastics!!!  We started a mommy and me gymnastics class on Saturday mornings.  My dad was in town this weekend, so Danny and dad came and took some pictures :)

She does so good on the balance beem

Danny's older brother, Randy, and his family came in town the first week of April.  Bing loved having family in town and they sure loved on her.  I didn't have the time to post all the pics, but I will soon!  They went to downtown Philly and saw the historic places there, we dyed Easter eggs, had an Easter egg hunt, and just enjoyed time together! 

Olivia had her 2 year well visit (yes, a few months behind) and our little pumpkin is growing!  She is now 2 ounces shy of 23 lbs.  This places her 3rd percentile on the American growth chart, but 13th on the International :).  She is almost 31 inches long which, at this time, doesn't place her on either growth chart for height.  However, she has grown 4 inches since we arrived in Philly - so she is growing!!!  She went to the dentist and now has 16 teeth!!!  Can you believe that - 16 teeth in 12 months!!!  CRAZY!!  The pediatrician said she looks amazing and is doing SO well!  Said she looks and acts like a normal little 2 year old :).  She did say we could throw some extra butter on her toast and maybe a few milkshakes now and then :).

Just wanted to give a little update b/c it had been so long!  Will update more when I find a moment to sit! :)

Happy Gotcha Day Beautiful Girl!!! March 28 - 1 Full Year Together :)))

Wow!  It is so hard to believe that we have been a family for a year now!  So much has happened and so much has changed in just a year that it is hard to believe, but it has all been for the better.  We've had numerous doctor appointments, ER visits, tests, procedures, and hospital stays in Mississippi, Alabama, and now in Philadelphia.  Olivia has gone from not being able to sit up, hold a bottle, or feed herself to crawling, walking, running, talking, feeding herself, and revealing an incredible personality all along the way.

 

Waiting with anticipation of meeting Olivia for the first time.  (Julie's dad went with us to help out and to be our videographer.

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 In walks our little Bing Bing and our lives have never been the same!

Our first introduction to each other!  With her beloved nanny known to her as "mama" and who we now affectionately call "Auntie Wang"

1st time to get to hold her!

1st photo together as a forever family!  You are looking at 2. Proud. Beaming. Parents.  Can you tell? 

Remember this pic??  We had just gotten her back to the hotel and taken her ponytail out and my girl had some crazy hair!!

 

Making our new family of 3 official on March 29th.

She has loved her daddy from the very beginning ;)

The was the face we fell in love with half a world away just a year ago

Our beautiful little angel today.  How. Precious. Is. This. Face...

So funny!  When we tell her to pose - this is what she does.

I love my "bubba" and he loves me (for the most part :))

Not a beautiful picture of mommy, but oh so precious of my little one!!! 

 She's home.  We are thankful!  She has been the light of our world the last 365 days!  We spent 8 years as a married couple without her and now can't imagine our lives any other way.  She has changed things for sure - the amount of sleep for one :))).  I wish you could all get to know her like we know her - she keeps us laughing!!!  She does the funniest things and we are just in awe of her.  

We are thankful to her Chinese mom and dad - thankful they chose life!!!  We are thankful that she can say "mommy and daddy" and we are thankful that we are ones that get to hear those sweet words from that sweet voice.  Yes, I believe "thankful" captures what we are one year later!

What I always heard about adoption I now know is true --

She isn't bone of my bone or flesh of my flesh, but she is MIRACULOUSLY my own!!!!

We will ask you to continue praying for our family.  Olivia has a heart cath coming up June 13th and this mommy and daddy are not looking forward to it.  We are scared.  We lay her at His feet and know He entrusted her to us and we must entrust her to Him!!!  Thank you for your prayers - we will keep everyone updated!!