No time for blogging

It`s the busy season at work, so not much computer time happening. Not much running time happening either (not to mention that it`s difficult to get motivated to run outside when it`s cold, rainy and snowy).

Girls are very excited about Christmas. Letter`s have been sent to Santa, parades have been watched and the Christmas specials on the TV are about to start.

Brennyn has a few more appointments at Sick Kids this month, one for dermatology and one for physio. After that, I don`t think we return to Sick Kids until Feb.

Avery`s tooth is still hanging in there. She can almost twist it sideways. I do believe the tooth fairy will be visiting our house before Christmas.

Obviously I was outvoted

It was a 3 to 1 victory at our house. The Christmas tree and decorations were set up last week. All four of us love the Christmas Season, but since only 1 of us works retail in this household and has watched the stores sneak in Christmas merchandise earlier and earlier every year, well I guess that person tried to maintain a little restraint. I say the tree does not come out of the box before December 1st, but as you can see, I was outvoted.

In this picture I'm sure Avery was saying "see how much fun we are having, who says you shouldn't decorate 6 weeks before Christmas. Crank up those Christmas tunes Grinch, I mean Mom".

Brennyn was rocking out to the above mentioned Christmas tunes.

Not giving up

Still searching for Avery's birth sister.
Once again I will list the information I have (just in case anyone new happens upon my blog).

The girl I am looking for was born Feb. 23 2004. She was adopted by a family from Norway and she was from Gao An SWI, Jiangxi.

I do also know her orphanage name, but will not disclose this info on the internet. Anyone wanting more information can e-mail me at
blair1849@rogers.com

Sick Kids

Brennyn had another appointment at Sick Kids today. One of the volunteers gave Brennyn a pretty necklace with her name on it. It's to collect bravery beads, you get a bead for every surgery, needle, physio appt., cast removal, etc. I think Brennyn is owed a few beads (like 10) but she has a lot of time to collect some new beads! She was so very happy to get this necklace, once again, I am so impressed with this hospital!
They really do treat these children with the respect they deserve, they don't talk down to them and they explain everything that is being done. Brennyn loves her physiotherapist and so do we!

We have to go back to Sick Kids on Thursday, twice in one week. At least we only live an hour away!! This time it's to see the heart specialist, just as a precaution. One person who has Brennyn's syndrome also had some sort of heart issue, so they just want to do some testing to rule any heart problems out. It is very unlikely that Brennyn has any heart issues!

Brennyn was such a trooper, she always is. I'm sure I wouldn't like all these people coming in and asking to see my hands all the time, but she just does what they ask (most of the time, she is only 4 afterall). She even said (after the physio had to massage her scar and mold a splint to her hand) "I did not cry mommy, I just looked like this (meaning she just looked straight ahead)". You could tell that her hand was hurting her a bit too.

My baby is growing up

Avery has been telling me her 2 bottom teeth are hurting for the past week or so.
Today I checked her tooth and sure enough, it is loose. Her first tooth is about to fall out.

Brennyn was very concerned, she thought we should get Avery to the dentist!

Now that was an emotion stirring TV show

I watched Harry's Law last night, only seen the show a handful of times, but I saw the preview for last night's episode couldn't turn away.

I'm going to have to assume that someone on the writing team has a child adopted from China. I just cannot see the average North American having that much insight into what is currently taking place in China and being discussed in the adoption community.

I really do not know what the right answer is in that type of situation. I know, logically that the child belongs with her birth family, she was forcibly taken by the "family planning officials" (not going to describe the whole premise of the episode, if you are really interested I'm sure it's being discussed elsewhere on the 'net).
Yet, the child has lived with her adoptive family for 4 years and only really knows this family as her parents.
The adoptive parents are also not to blame in this fictional account. They adopted a 2 year old and the TV show explains that they believed China to be a stable, uncorrupted adoption program. Isn't this what we all believed, once upon a time??
The most heartbreaking part of this case is the child. It is not the fault of either set of parents that this situation occured. The fault lay at the hands of the family planning officials. However, you can't go back in time and undo what has been done.

I really don't feel that this story was just that, a story. I think something similar to this could easily happen. Children are being kidnapped in China, and some are being taken by overzealous government officials. I cannot imagine my life without my children, and if one of my children disappeared you can bet I would do whatever it took to get them back.

Families in China are trying to be heard, and I hope someone will really start to listen.

Nobody should be put in this position, especially not a child.

2 posts in one day (oh and this may be TMI)

Can't believe I forgot to post about our latest trip to Sick Kids. Brennyn and I drove down for her 9:50 appointment to have her cast removed (by the way, not a good time to drive to an appointment downtown Toronto, just saying). We are about 20 minutes away from the hospital, stuck in traffic, and I look back at Brennyn. I thought she had been spitting on herself, her chin was wet. Brennyn says "Mommy, it not drool, I barfed".
She was so silent, I had no idea when this had happened. I couldn't pull off the highway so I gave her a bag just in case.
10 minutes later, she was sick again and everywhere but the bag.

Sick Kids said to come in anyway, since we were almost there. Brennyn got a brand new pair of scrubs from the gift shop and her cast is now off.

Don't know what happened, she was great the next morning.
Her hand looks great, I am so impressed with this hospital. We go back again next week to start the physio.

When it rains, it pours

Or, it's almost wintertime and our furnace has been shut off. Nine year old house, and the furnace has a cracked heat exchange. Therefore, the gas guy has to (by law, and for our safety) turn off the gas to the furnace. Thankfully, it has been warmer than usual this November.

Not something we were planning on purchasing anytime soon, but that's life!
May be putting the back to school plans on hold for one more year. Not just because of the large purchase we are currently making, but I'm thinking it may work better once Brennyn is in school full days. Also, gives me time to make sure I am picking the best program for me (it's a toss up between the college Social Service Worker or going to Teacher's college).

Well, that's all that is new around these parts. Really hoping nothing else goes in our 9 year old house. They sure don't make things to last anymore!

This year we celebrated Avery's Day with her friend (and our friends) and "china sister". It's so amazing to watch these two girls grow up together, and even though they don't see each other all that often, they remain great friends!

Happy Avery Day

Five years ago today I was finally handed my beautiful sweaty little daughter. She took one look at me and started crying and cried for 3 hours straight. Once we started to peel off some layers of clothing (I was afraid to take anything off because our social worker had said "this is a scary situation for the children, do not change them/bath them, this clothing has all the smells they are used to"). Poor Avery was in 4 layers and it was 25 degrees outside (very, warm in Nanchang).

I think I was sweating just as much, first time mom with a screaming child and my husband had to leave to do all the paperwork. It was all good though, I was just so happy to finally be a mom.

Seems like this all happened yesterday, yet now she is a big sister and in school.

Avery, you are such a smart girl, always been wise beyond your years (perhaps this is why you have a difficult time relating to kids in your class). You are your own person, no dolls or disney princesses for you. You can be stubburn and you still have that temper but on the plus side, nobody is going to push you around my girl!

I love you so much Avery, and still can't believe how lucky I am to be your mom.

Still searching

Nothing to report on the search for my daughter's birth sister. Just wanted to bump this back up to the top of my blog on the off chance that someone clicks on the blog.

Here is the information once again:

Adopted from Gao An, Jiangxi. Born Feb. 23 2004. Adopted by a family from Norway.

Once again, I would love to provide her family with some pictures of the birth family including her sisters.

Also, I am still requesting any help I can get in my search. I have been very fortunate to have someone from Norway post this info on a Norwegian Forum. Thank-you again!


On another search topic, we have finally started the search for Brennyn's family in Xi'an. Using an organization that many people find controversial, but they seem to have a lot of contacts in China so I'm going for it!

Both girls are the "star of the week" at school this week (every child in the class gets to be the person of the week at least once, I'm thinking they do by last name or something since my kids are it the same week).
This year the teacher gave them a little fun sheet to fill out. One of the questions is, What do I want to be when I grow up? Brennyn's answer: Garbage Lady. The other question was, Favourite food? Brennyn's answer: Mushrooms and Tomatoes. I tried to give her some other suggestions, but she insisted on mushrooms and tomatoes.
She cracks me up!

Oh and Avery wants to be Superman when she grows up.