We're Still Alive

Hi everyone...I know we aren't posting much but it has been a tough trip so far.

The day after we picked up Hsin-Hua I was VERY sick. So sick I have lost 13 pounds. Not good.

Paul was a saint and entertained the little one all day while I barfed and slept.
Neither one of us has an appetite so even Pauly has lost about 6 pounds, which for him is really bad, since he is so skinny to begin with.

Hsin-Hua is not quite as easy going as they made her out to be. She has a little bit of a temper, and is a TERRIBLE sleeper. Last night was our best night so far where she slept in the crib for 4 hours. Then in bed with us for the rest. That wouldn't be so bad, but she is a terribly restless sleeper and is constantly moving and kicking and flailing about the bed, so that 4 hours was the only rest we have had in about 3 days.

We are running on no sleep, and very little food.

This was WAY too long to stay in Taiwan. We really wish we were home getting on a routine, and with all the support and comfort that home brings. If it hadn't been for her birthday we wouldn't have come so soon and stayed so long.

The sweet man at the front desk lent us his personal stroller for the rest of the trip. We couldn't find one for less than $150 and that is just ridiculous. If Hsin-Hua will take her morning nap, we are going to head out for a bit. We are hoping she will like the stroller as Mommy and Daddy's backs need a bit of a break.

The routine they told us she was on is complete crap. She doesn't sleep AT ALL close to the schedule they said. I think they just tell everyone the same basic schedule and then you are on your own to really figure it out.

Anyway...wanted to let you all know we are alive. Hoping the final few days get a little bit better. Then we get to start over at home on the wrong time zone. I am dreading the plane ride home.

Pictures from Hsin-Hua Day 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday Hsin-Hua

Today has been the most wonderful, happy and amazing day of our lives.

Hsin-Hua is asleep peacefully in her crib and we are EXHAUSTED.

We wanted to post a quick picture of Hsin-Hua's birthday party today...and we will post all the details and all the pics (there are a LOT) when we wake up in the morning.

Oh...and by the way...this baby DOES smile. A LOT!!! Who knew?

Right after we blew out the #1 candle.

The smiling happened AFTER she had some of her birthday cake :-)

Goodnight and we'll post more tomorrow.

Love,

Paul, Heather and Hsin-Hua

We Have Arrived!

The trip for the most part was uneventful..and we have safely arrived in Taiwan.

The first leg of the trip was Newark, NJ to San Francisco. We did leave about 1 and a half hours late, but it just made for a shorter layover in San Francisco..so no big deal.

The dinner they served us was AMAZING! We felt like we were in that episode of Seinfeld where Jerry is in First Class and Elaine is in Coach.

We were feeling giddy so we took a few pics of Pauly.

They had pretzel rolls with dinner...Pauly was a fan!

Ice cream sunday after dinner. Look at the beautiful sky behind Pauly!

The map on the airplane right before we landed in Taipei. This leg of the flight (San Francisco to Taipei) was LONG but not that bad. Pauly slept straight for about 7 hours. I slept on and off for about 6. I watched movies for the rest of the trip.

Kitchen and dining area of our room.Living room area of our room.

Little office area next to the bedroom area. This is where I am sitting right now while I type this.

OH...and BTW...as I was sitting here typing this, all of a sudden I felt queasy in my stomach, and saw the blinds on the window start to swing back and forth. In fact the whole building was swinging back and forth like you were on a boat. I don't know for sure...but felt a little like an earthquake if you ask me.

Bedroom area.

Bathroom.

We got cleaned up, unpacked and I think we are going to leave to go to Taipei 101 in a few hours to walk around and get lunch. We are going to try to go the Shihlin Night Market early this evening, get packed up for tomorrow and then hit the sack early and get one last GOOD night of sleep.

Talk to you soon.

Love you all,

Paul and Heather

2 Hours Until We Leave For The Airport

We are packed.

A cat sitter who will stay with the cats is booked to stay at our house for the ENTIRE trip...so not only will the furry kids have company, but she will also take care of the house, the plants, etc.

We are leaving!!!

I have INSANE butterflies in my stomach.

We are flying across the world and when we come home we will permanently be a family of 3. This is overwhelming!

Well folks...the next post you read will be from Taiwan.

Love you all and talk to you soon.

Hsin-Hua Video

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I wanted to test this slideshow feature so I can use it to post lots of pics from Taiwan. It is WAY easier than posting individual pictures. Enjoy Hsin-Hua through the last 10 months.

Final Update

We got our final update from TWCA last night.

These pictures are from June 30...so about 3 weeks ago.

The green dress Hsin-Hua is wearing is one we sent her about a month ago.

She only gained about 1/2 a pound since last month...and in the one picture it looks like she at least has one tooth on the bottom. I guess we will know for sure is about 6 days!

I can't post the video because for some reason it is upside down (we had to watch it on a laptop so we could turn it upside down :-))

You can't see it too well at this size picture, but up close you can see at least one tooth on the bottom.

This picture cracks us up. She has this look on her face like "seriously people...bowling pins...you are wasting my time by making me hold bowling pins". She looks SO irritated it is hysterical.

This one makes me sad. She is clearly either crying or about to start crying. I think she is probably ready for the photo shoot to be over and for someone to pick her up and hug her. You can't see it too well at this size photo, but MAN does this kid need a haircut. The hair on her left ear is so long it actually covers her entire ear!

Just 6 more days little peanut...and we will be with you!

Hugs and kisses sweet girl.

Mommy and Daddy love you.

One Week Left

Until Hsin-Hua turns 1 year old...AND we meet her to bring her home!

5 days left until we take off!

4 days until we are officially packed!

3 more days of work!

Holy Cow...this is really happening!

I am strangley calm and not stressed. I mean, I am not really calm, but it isn't nerves, it is just excitement. I just want it to be here already, and for the waiting to be over.

But me not being stressed...that is kind of weird.

Maybe this motherhood thing will chill me out a bit!

OK...Seriously...I Am So Excited!

I can't even take it.
On the one hand I am glad for the week and a half we have left to get things together at home, packing and at work...
BUT...
On the other hand...I am ready to leave like yesterday!
I am so excited I can't sleep, I can't concentrate, I just plain don't know what to do with myself.

I can't wait to meet her.
To see what she is really like.
I can't wait to know what she feels like in my arms.
I can't wait to know what she smells like.
I can't wait to get to know her, even just a little bit at a time...
What makes her smile, laugh, what makes her happy, calm, content?
What does she like to do, play with, snuggle with?
What does she know how to do? We saw pictures of her on her hands and knees and reaching up...but does she crawl...does she pull up? Can she stand? Take a few steps?

I just can't wait for this little person to be in my presence.
To just have her there...ALL THE TIME!

It can't come soon enough.
I am ready to meet my baby!

Travel Plans Are SET!

We are officially leaving for Taiwan on Friday, July 24th. We will arrive in Taipei Sunday, July 26th and will meet Hsin-Hua on Monday, July 27th (her birthday!!!).

I can't believe this is really happening.
The excitement, and nerves and emotions that keep rolling around in my head are unbelievable.

It amazes me that two weeks from today someone will hand me a 19 pound little person, who will forever be my daughter and the light and love of my life (in addition to Pauly).

This past weekend was tremendously productive!

-We got all our travel plans booked with the travel agent including flights and hotel.
-We made plans to meet up with my Chinese teacher in Taiwan...although she lives 5 minutes away from us, will be in Taiwan at the exact same time as us.
-We lowered the mattress on Hsin-Hua's crib (it was originally set up for a 6 month old).
-Washed all her linens and got her room all set up.
-Washed all her clothes and put them away.
-Finished purchasing gifts for the TWCA staff, Hsin-Hua's Foster Mother and Birth Mother.
-Our fabulous friends Pat and Rachel helped hang the blinds in Hsin-Hua's room.
-Pat also put the cabinet latch on the cabinet under the sink.
-AND thank goodness...they helped us install both carseats (could NOT have done that without help).
-My Dad agreed to come and stay with the cats so they won't get lonely! This is a HUGE weight off our minds. They are our children, and we know this transition is going to be pretty hard on them to begin with. A little love while we are gone will go a LONG way.

Each night we need to get something else done...but all in all we are in REALLY good shape.
I am obsessive compulsive, and stress about everything...so the fact that I am relatively calm (for me) is a sign that we really must be in good shape!

I did come down with some strange summer cold in my throat and I hope it clears up quickly. I am going to down Vitamin C like it is going out of style and see how that works.

Keep your fingers crossed for some update pictures this week!

HSIN-HUA IS COMING HOME!!!!!!!

We knew it was coming soon...we knew it could happen anyday...but then again, you still kind of think it may never happen.

Well...IT DID!!!

I got back to my office after getting lunch with a co-worker...and the email we have been waiting for over 8 months...well really 3 years for...was in my email inbox.

The email that said OUR FINAL RULING WAS IN!!!
HSIN-HUA is legally and officially OUR daughter!

It is the most amazing feeling in the world to know that our wait to bring her home is almost over.

We have tentative plans to leave between the 23rd and 27th of July!
THAT IS IN 2 WEEKS!!!

Holy Cow but we have a lot of things to get done between now and then.
This weekend we are finishing purchasing the gifts for our trip, we are installing the car seats in the cars, we are hanging blinds in Hsin-Hua's room and lowering her crib so she can't climb out!!!!

YIPEE!!!
HSIN-HUA IS COMING HOME!!!