"Together from the start; always in my heart!"

Three girls together again...

Eliza, Jaiden and Emma

August 2008

Witchita, Kansas

Words cannot describe... seeing the 3 Yangdong daughters together; Eliza, Emma and Jaiden. Their lives once shared a common home, far away in China, in the same building, the same room. Through a red thread, their 3 moms connected, and a friendship began. Two years later, we (their 3 moms) made it happen...we brought the girls together again!

It was so fun; each so different, but yet sharing that same Yangdong spice..."sweet and spicey" as Megan says! Eliza, the youngest at 3, followed by Jaiden at 3.5 and Emma at 4. What an amazing time we had watching, laughing, breaking up fights, hearing "I sorry"; hearing giggles and checking in to see what they were up to, sharing mom conversations and experiences.

To add to the bliss, we met up w/ Tami and her 2 daughters, Amy and Anna, both from Yangjiang (where Yangdong SWI resides), but from neighboring SWI's. All 5 "Yang" girls gathered at a playground and talk about CUTE!!!!! ....Words just cannot describe... maybe the few pictures will help.

Ring Around the Rosey

At the zoo

No description needed!

Eliza, Jaiden and Emma...

Hairbands and glasses!

The Mom's
Megan (Emma's), Sarah (Eliza's) and Julie (Jaiden's)
August 2008
Witchita, Kansas



The 5 Yang girls...Emma, Jaiden, Eliza (back), Anna and Amy!

Eliza and mommy (a rare photo)...thanks Tami!

So hard to say goodbye...already planning reunion #2!

Our Zoo trip!

Pictures from our "day-cation" to the zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, last Friday, August 8th. We met my brother's family from Charlotte there. What a great, great day. Lots of walking, but beautiful.

About the zoo (from their website): "Our NC Zoo is nationally recognized as one of the nation’s finest zoos. It was the first American zoo designed from its inception around the "natural habitat" philosophy--presenting animals and plants in exhibits that closely resemble the habitats in which they would be found in the wild. The 37-acre African Plains exhibit alone is as large a many entire zoos. The 11-acre Prairie exhibit in the North American region showcases the zoo’s collection of bison and elk. The N.C. Zoo is also the nation’s largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo. Its African and North American exhibit regions span more than 500 acres with more than five miles of walkways. Another 900 acres are available for future development on this scenic site in the Uwharrie Mountains, considered by geologists to be one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges. "

Eliza loved the zoo...North America more than Africa...due to the many aquatic exhibits. She couldn't get enough of the various "ish" (fish) and "ing" (swimming). Yes, she's making progress on her words. She also kept saying "out" to get out of the stroller and run. Her absolute favorite and what I didn't get a picture of though, was the meerkats. They put on quite a show, wrestling and hissing at one another. Then they'd stop and look up at the glass to make sure they still had an audience and wrestle some more. It was very cute and funny. Eliza stood at the glass window for a long time laughing out loud and hissing back at them. A fun day after a whiney week!

If only she could get inside that tank and swim!
Cousin Luke...it's a little scary when these big sea lions press right up on the glass!

Waiting for the merry-go-round to start...
Here we go...whee!

Couldn't help noticing how LONG Allie's legs are.
How 'bout this shot...how cool is that...look at his paws and claws!
This ocelot was so beautiful...an amazing coat.

Okay, getting tired here (notice the glasses are off).
Getting more tired and less thrilled...but this is funny!
Okay, she's out...and the day is over!

Moments of reflection

So, first of all, I'm going to be closing out my "journey to me" journal site, which was the start of my journaling for Eliza. It's bittersweet to me. It's the place that I chronicled life just before Eliza, thoughts about Eliza and of course, our China trip. It's the place that I kept up w/ being at home w/ Eliza and it's one of my favorite places to look at and re-read...over and over. * * My how she has grown since being that little peanut! * * I'm going to have it printed on CD and I'm debating about whether I pay the fee for a Keepsake Book. I've decided that I'll close that journal after the last entry in August, which will be...TA DA... Eliza's and my trip to Kansas to spend a few days w/ 2 of our Yangdong family friends (Megan and daughter Emma; Julie, from Oregon, and daughter Jaiden). I think that will appropriately be a full circle moment for both Eliza and myself.

Eliza's referral photo...taken approx July 2005

Eliza today...July 2008!

I've realized I'm not much of a photographer...that or my camera just stinks. Two other Yangdong family friends whose blogs I enjoy catching up on (Tiffany and Kelly) are quite the photographers...colors, lighting, of course their "subjects" are so photogenic too. Anyway, I've been trying to capture the sunflowers in bloom and our hen, Emma, posing (rousting) at dawn next to them, but couldn't quite do it justice.

Everyone keeps asking me if I've noticed a difference w/ Eliza having glasses. Yes, definitely! She is actually watching tv now and she is enjoying her puzzles. Don't think I'm not going to let this child sit and watch a tv program either. It's long overdue and a joy for me to see her "watching" the program. Of course, having a 3 year old home all day, it's a nice distraction for me to be able to get some things done too!!

Eliza watching Barney!!!!

While I was posting...

While I was posting the last entry, it dawned on me that the room got very quiet. (Eliza was watching Berenstein Bear's and bouncing on the couch.) I turned to look for her and found her sound asleep in a sitting position on the couch...it's only noon?

Here's a photo of Hogan and Allie. Allie has grown so tall and filled out over the summer. She's the best big sister too. She has earned quite a bit of money babysitting (her sister) this summer, giving Derek and I golf time. We're playing in a Friday night couple's league. Allie has also been reluctantly selling her old horse things on craigs list (saddle, helmet, boots, etc.). She's been very brave during this transition time. She was so sweet, she bought me a t-shirt from our local Feed Store yesterday. It has a horse's face on it w/ a ring of flowers framing the horse. The horse looks exactly like Clark. She said it was the only one and was the first shirt she saw when she went into the store. She said it was a sign from Clark. How precious!

Just a little Clark story to share...we bought him shortly after moving to the farm. When we brought him home, he settled in as if he'd lived here before. I had my show horse "Louie" (Louis) at the time and Clark's name, when we bought him, was CJ. So, because he settled so quickly and was so great on the trails, we named him Clark...after Louis and Clark. Well, some months went by and we were cleaning out one of the many sheds on the property. We came across an oil painting, sitting high on the shelf in the shed, it was done by the young girl who lived on the farm before us. It was a very, very good painting of a horse. Well, guess who the horse looked like? You got it, Clark. So, from then on, we decided that perhaps Clark had lived here before? Who knows?? Either way, he lived a happy life here and gave our (then) little girl lots of happy memories. Thanks for taking such good care of Allie, Clark!

Seeing well...

Eliza is doing great keeping her glasses on. This was the first week at The Little Gym that she had her glasses and boy did she improve; finally loving the balance beam. Before this, she was a little afraid of the height; I'm sure now, it was because she couldn't see well. She also got into the obstacle course more than ever this week.

I'm only finding the glasses left around the house once or twice a day (oy...note to self, buy a brighter, colored pair next time). Boy do her eyes look tired when she takes them off and isn't wearing them. She rubs and rubs at her eyes when her glasses are off. It's so funny watching her push them up on her nose to adjust them. (We've had to get them adjusted a few times; I think we've got it now. Gotta love her tiny little flat nose!)

So, on the Eliza, Hogan and I front, we have been enjoying our morning walks together. Sadie is just too old to handle a daily jaunt anymore. Hogan is doing great on leash and following the heel command. He walks right beside the jogger and sits when we stop. I've taught him to sit when a car approaches, other walkers, joggers, dogs approach. I especially wanted him to get used to walking beside the jogger so that when he is in "therapy" dog mode and we're visiting hospitals or nursing homes, he won't be bothered by the wheelchairs and won't try to climb up on people either. (My 12 yo lab, still has to walk in front of or criss-cross the jogger.) He has been so easy to train and is the most obedient dog. He's only 7 months old. He adores Eliza too. The two of them are always together. It's really special to watch.

See Miss E...now you can see!

E-Highlights for the week:

"Ta da...Eliza got her eyeglasses today!"

Okay, Eliza officially wears glasses now. When she first put them on in the office, she immediately began looking around and smiled so bright. The prescription is a lot stronger than I thought, in the left eye. It's amazing how poor her vision is. She then began taking them off and putting them back on. Then she began keeping them on, but looking over the top as they'd slide down her nose. (We have to get them adjusted better. Any suggestions on how to keep glasses on a little flat-bridged nose?) At home, she kept them on the entire afternoon and evening. It was so fun watching her explore the house and her toy cabinet as if she was looking at so many things, literally, for the first time. Pretty cool.

"Mom, E and big Sis finally saw Kung Fu Panda!"

As predicted, Eliza loved it! As for Mom and big Sis, not so much. Okay, it was pretty good, but more violent and loud than we had expected. It was good though, don't get me wrong. Eliza didn't seem to mind the violence or the thundering noises. In fact, she was out of her seat and standing, practicing right along w/ the leg and arm movements and shouting "eyah". Allie and I were laughing so hard. It was very cute! She watched the entire movie. Later, I found a dancing-singing hamster at the drugstore, dressed as a Kung Fu warrior and when you squeeze his hand, he sings (in hamster voice), "Everybody was Kung Fu fighting..." I had to get it for her. It's her favorite toy right now.

...And that's the E highlights for the week so far~!

Another chapter closes

I dread writing that I wish for a year to be over when we're only 7 months into it, but it's true. 2008 has been a pain-filled year with the passing of our 16 year old golden retriever, Meg; a month later my dad, and just this 4th of July weekend, our dear old horse, Clark. Can you believe it?

Allie and (unflattering fat photo of) Clark...a year ago.
Such a good boy...bareback, no bit, just a halter...one of the best kind!
Allie, Clark and Georgie Girl - April '07

So, Clark rebounded from an illness a few months ago, we think a snake bite, only to end up blind. This weekend, he had a stroke; spent the weekend getting into the pond, disoriented and couldn't find his way out. We had to "fish" him out twice...not an easy task when the "fish" is 1000 pounds and resisting you. We had hoped he'd pass on his own, but Monday we ended up calling the vet to put him down. She confirmed that he most likely had a brain tumor, evidenced by his "floating eyes". Clark was Allie's horse; her childhood best-friend, she told me the other day. So, while I'm grieving yet again (c'mon already), I'm also grieving for Allie and also for our now alone horse, Georgie Girl, who is still calling out for Clark and refuses to come down to the barn. We're all a mess...

Trying to stay focused on each day and all the blessings that we have. The farm is back on the market. We are definitely ready to move on and take our happy, favorite memories with us; pass the farm onto the next family who will love it as much as we did. Hubby is very happy to give up the farm work, expenses, horses, etc., and have me join him on the golf course again (which was our first date and what brought us together those many...11 years ago). So, I've picked golf back up again and must admit that it feels good to be playing again. My joints definitely feel stiff and I don't have the swing I used to, but I can still hit the ball. Eliza has enjoyed riding in the golf cart with us on a few early evening outings. She'd rather run barefoot all over the fairways and green then swing a club though right now. Can you blame her? So, while we're not committing to any house until we sell the farm, we've been looking at some on the golf course. Could be a problem w/out a fence though...between Hogan wanting to chase golf balls (thank you to Brendan who currently uses our horse pasture as his personal driving range and has trained Hogan to retrieve his shots) and Eliza who loves running free and has been used to the wide open farm.

Update on her preschool services evaluations: she passed the hearing test, no problem. She definitely needs eyeglasses due to astigmatism in both eyes, severe hyperopia in her left and slightly in her right, and at risk for amblyopia. So, with hope that she'll keep her glasses on (ha, ha, ha), her visual development will hopefully kick in. We'll see. We have some cute, snazzy frames on order to try on...of course, dusty pink or lavendar will be the colors of choice. I pick them up tomorrow for a fitting; then they'll fill the prescription and she should have her glasses by next week. That's going to be interesting. I'll be sure to post pictures.

Okay, well that's all from here...that's enough, isn't it? Pool, golf, house showings...keeps me hopping everyday!

While the mouse is away...

So, I'm sitting here updating the blog and little "e" is supposed to be napping. All was quiet for about 10 minutes until..."thud...thud...thud...thud..." Because she looks so darn cute today and has been full of herself all morning, I decided to take the camera. This is what I caught!

Now, I realize that it appears by this blog, that Eliza is always jumping and climbing and on-the-go, well... she is, 95% of the time! I also realize that it probably looks like I run a loose ship, well...I don't. She does have her quiet and behaving moments and they revolve around having a tea party, playing w/ her doll house and of course, books. Today, I caught her getting into the pool bag, taking out a swim diaper and working hard to put it on all by herself; she did it, over her other diaper, mind you. Of course, the pool's not open until this afternoon, but she obviously wanted to get going! I didn't dare take it off until nap time because I was so proud of her for doing it ...Today is the fourth day of 100 plus temps...and it's only June?!





On another note, look how much Hogan has grown since February! I can hardly remember him being that small. He is outside picking up and "throwing" his tennis ball at the sliding door, of which I'm sitting on the opposite side of trying to finish this blog. I'll tell ya, do I ever get any me time?!

Then, with sweet old Meg, who passed away...

Today...4 months later!

School's out for the summer!

Swimming w/ the big kids in the 5 ft section!
So independent...
Kept trying to swim away from the camera and daddy in the pool!!!

Just a quick post. Our meeting w/ the preschool services at our school system last week went well. We have more evaluations pending still as well as an audiology screening and an appt w/ a pediatric othamologist. Eliza failed the vision screening that they performed at the meeting. A "crescent" appeared in both eyes with their MTI photoscreening camera. This indicates that she probably has a vision impairment w/ either near or farsightedness. So the appt w/ the opthamologist will clear that up and whether she'll need glasses or not going forward. Don't know how I'll keep glasses on her since these days she won't keep sunglasses on or even keep a clip in her hair?!

As for the pool this summer, she's a fish! Today, she enjoyed being tossed into the air and under the water she'd go. Hmmm... She is so tan already and with the 103 degree days we've had already, I'm happy to be in the pool with her. Hope you're all staying cool!

Simply "E"

Covered bridge Derek I visited on way to Charlotte...

"Simplicity is the glory of expression." Walt Whitman

Tomorrow we will be meeting Eliza's early intervention case worker and the pre-k special ed teacher to outline Eliza's "classes" (therapies). In preparation, I've been spending the last two days making notes about Eliza's likes, dislikes, successes, areas that she is lagging in, etc. I'm also craving a good, short novel because I spend all my reading time trying to better understand how I can help Eliza blossom. My head is spinning and I need a good distraction. Anyone have any recommendations?!

Eliza is still non-verbal and that is our biggest challenge. She seems to understand the receptive end of our communcation, but now I'm wondering if it's the "routine" that she's understanding. Truth be told, my heart hurts most days because I feel like I'm a failure. I know that's not true, but let's face it, what parent doesn't have that expectation that they'll be able to teach their child to talk? I love when people tell me to practice the ABC's or counting or say her name, the word mom, etc... all day long. As if I'm not already doing all that. I smile politely. I've tried babysigning too. Eliza hates it and gets really angry with me when I try that. She shakes her head no, clenches her jaw and looks at me like, "What's your problem, don't you get me?"

She is so smart and she is so strong-willed. One moment, still a baby needing me and my encouragement; the next minute wanting to figure something out on her own. The other week, Eliza and I were visiting my friend who came home with her 8 yo daughter, Lucy Jing, from China recently. Eliza was chattering something while my friend and I were visiting. My friend asked what she was saying because her new daughter sounds like that too (a sound like, "doy, doy, doy, ding, doy, ding...") I looked at her and said, "I thought it was just baby talk. Do you mean she could honestly be saying something in Chinese?" I hadn't even thought of that because she didn't make a sound for the first year home. I thought for sure, by now, once she started making noises, it would be english. As our caseworker told us though, english is her second language. While she wasn't speaking yet, for the first 20 months, she heard her native/primary langauge. As for why some children come home from China and begin speaking english, she said that it's similar to adults who can not speak multiple languages. They're brains are wired differently. Some people are creative and good in the arts; others are math and science, etc. We'll see...

There's always her laughter and probably the reason that I'm so game to take her to fun parks, the pool, skating, etc...it's at these places that I "hear" her thru her laugh and feel her heart sing. I suppose I'm also looking for something that will spark a word. She's most vocal in the pool (sounds, not words). We can't use the arm floaties at our pool this year, so life vest secured, Eliza is venturing out of the baby area of the pool now. She spent yesterday afternoon, in the deep end, kicking away and didn't want me holding her. The big kids were jumping, diving, playing a game of football... all around her. I was so afraid for her. I kept trying to bring her back into the shallow end. She would turn right around, lift the rope and swim under it. Yet, the day before, she was petrified for either of us to let her go! With that said, I'm anxious for her "classes" to start, but worried too. What if? I know she hates being pushed and I'm worried about why she isn't speaking yet.

One of life's greatest lessons in parenting, I suppose, is altering our expectations and building on the realities. This non-verbal reality is something that I've been pondering and praying on every day, all day, 7 days a week, month, year, etc. I'm turning this over, to God, and to the experts...and that's hard for me (not the God part). As a mom, it's hard not to be the "all" for your child when they're so young. As a mom, I have to re-define my value. That makes me sad right now, but I hope in time to find peace in it.