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.