A year ago today.....

A year ago today, we landed in Guangzhou, China to meet our daughter.  Upon picking up our luggage, we were told 'Surprise, we are going directly to the children!!'  We started rummaging through our luggage in the baggage claim area - it was total chaos!!

  

There were five families from across Canada on a bus headed to meet their children.  I remember taking pictures of everything we passed - apartment buildings, toll booths, shops.  I was so excited and nervous!!

Todd and Todd - about to become dad's for the first time!!

I think Todd and I will always remember that elevator ride up to the adoption office - crammed with the other parents, nervous and giddy.  And then the doors opened and there was tons of people (easily 50), crying children and crying parents (but for different reasons).  We didn't wait long, and we saw her for the first time.  I just remember saying 'Todd, that's her!  That's her!!'

Our first picture together (with a nanny fr the orphanage)

Our first family photo

Back at the hotel - not too sure what's going on

A year later and it's like she's always been with us.  Her transition from the orphanage into a family has been relatively smooth.   She's funny and loving to those she trusts.  She loves music and animals and dancing! A year ago today was the best day of my life.  Thank you Tahlia for opening your heart to us. You have made our family complete.

Nov 1, 2011

Tahlia's 2nd Birthday Party

My Grandfather, Tahlia and I

Tahlia and one of her best friends Bob

Happy Halloween!!

And we're back....

Wow, talk about taking a break!!  We've had a great summer and fall - working on the new farm property, celebrating Tahlia's 2nd birthday, starting playgroups, spending time with family, having baby alpacas and kittens - the list goes on!!

Tahlia is doing wonderfully.  She really is a total joy.  She is very determined and likes to 'organize' (aka boss) people and animals.  She plays well on her own and with me but we are working on playing with other children her age - she likes to hit.  Some-days I think we are getting there....but mostly I don't think we are.  :-)   

In July we had a wonderful (but too brief) visit with Todd, Laura and Lucas whom we traveled in China with.  We were so happy they called saying they'd be in Winnipeg.  Lucas is the same adventurous, loving, funny boy we met in China.  Tahlia wasn't too sure of everything, until he offered her a chocolate chip cookie!! 

I will write more soon (really I will!!), but I'll give you what you all really want - PICTURES!! 

Checking out the new baby alpaca

Look mom, I can climb up here all by myself!!  Can I drive??

First swing ride!!

Loving all our land!

Why can't I wear my rubber boots mom??

Corn on the Cob at the Threshermen's Reunion in Austin, MB

I'm the kitten whisperer!!  I LOVE kittens!!

 

Just pictures for now....

Over 2 months ago??  I can't believe that's the last time I posted an entry!!  So sorry.  We're just off to swim lessons, but I thought I could get a few pictures up for you all at least :-)

First Alpaca Show - April 2011

Helping Dad on the tractor

Watching tv while having a snack

Busy with Life

I can't believe it's been so long since we last posted!  Tahlia went for a follow-up with the plastic surgeon last week and he said he'd see us again when she's 4 or 5 years old. O.K.....she's healing up nicely and to help the scarring we should gently rub the site for 2 minutes every day for a while.  Seriously???  I don't think Tahlia got the message.  I'm happy if I get 10-15 seconds in.  One side of her lip is slightly higher, but with this rubbing it may help. And as she grow, it may change as well.

6 weeks post surgery

She's a very busy little girl.  She spends her days walking around the house singing, eating, reading, eating, giving the dogs treats each morning, eating, playing tea party.  She currently has 2 molars and 1 other tooth coming in, so there has been a lot of snuggling and carrying her around this week.  She's understanding tons of what we say now - she'll get her ball, take items to daddy, look for the cat.  She's not saying many more words, but is pointing to what she wants, or pulling us over to it.  She's put on 4lbs since November and now 2ft 5inches.  Her hair is growing, but isn't long enough for pig tails yet!  We're starting swim lessons in 2 weeks - we think Tahlia is going to love it!  We've also have started going to a play group in a town close by - great way to meet other mom's in the area and let Tahlia play with other kids!

I need to be picked up!!!

My first chocolate chip cookie!!

Hard work eating two crackers at once!

The Reveal...

The doctor gave Tahlia the all clear and she's eating real food!!  T.H.A.N.K. G.O.O.D.N.E.S.S!!  The last 3 days of puree food and restraints were the roughest - I'm not sure what we'd have done if we had to do this for another week.  She became extremely clingy and unhappy and crying and didn't know what she wanted.  BUT that's over and she's back to her wonderfully funny, loving and entertaining self.  The tape and the nose stints fell off/out on Sunday evening.  She's started exercising her mouth almost right away and has continue to do so. 

We are applying polysporin twice a day on the surgical site and it is looking very good.  There's some bruising but the doctor was very happy with the result so far.  We'll got back in a month for another follow-up and go from there.

Sunday - just after everything fell off

Today - 'Why are you taking my picture again??''

Today - I LOVE REAL FOOD!!

Post Surgery Update - Day 11

Tahlia is still doing well.  From what I can get a look at, everything seems to be healing nicely.  We have post-surgery appointment on Tuesday Feb 15, so we'll find out for sure then.  And hopefully they'll tell us, no more restraints (PLEASE!!!), back to 'real' food, and 'everything looks good, we'll see you in a month'.  Keep your fingers crossed!  I've had to trim the steri-strips on one side as they lifted and were flapping around.  Her nose stints are getting looser but I think they'll probably hang in there until her appointment.  They are causing her to breath loudly and mouth-breath more which causes more drooling.  The syringe feeding is still going well.  In fact, I'm a little concerned she's not going to want to feed herself!  The restaints are a pain.  Tahlia will whimper/cry when they have to go on, even though she still holds her .  Her sleep is very restless as I think she just can't get comfortable.  During the day, we've (I've) been keeping them off quite a bit.  She's not interested in touching her face, it's putting toys in her mouth I need to watch.  But if I tell her no, she's just move it away and continue playing.  I have to spend more time on the ground playing with her instead of doing dishes, laundry, etc but she's much happier, which makes mommy much happier!!

So what does Tahlia do all day??  She loves to hug the cats, play with her little people housing/farm complex, sing, play on the sofa, and most impressive of all......she decided she can walk by herself today!!!  Walked down the hall, from the LR to the kitchen, to the front door.  I think this should continue into tomorrow, but we'll see.  We also went to our first highschool basketball game today.  My niece Elizabeth is playing in a tournament and we got to see her team win!  Tahlia was very good and enjoyed clapping and hearing us encourage the girls on.

Singing while playing on the couch

Getting ready for bed!

Loving my kitty Bob!

Post Surgery - Day 3

Where's my lunch?!?!

Miss T is still doing great.  Eating and playing like usual....except her arms are stuck straight out!  We took a walk outside today as we're finally getting some nicer weather.  And Grandma (my mom) came for a visit.
We continue to be amazed at how well she's doing.  She'll hold her arms out for us to replace the restraints, happily plays and crawls around, and is pretty good about taking her medications.  She's wanting to be babied a little more than usual, but we're more than happy to snuggle and cuddle and reassure her that we'll help her.  She's such a little treasure!!

Post Surgery - Day 2

Tahlia is doing fantastic.  It's amazing how resilient kids are.  She's not complaining about the restraints, just trying to make it work with them on.  She's not always thrilled with the outcome but she's determined!!  She slept well through the night even though we woke her up twice for medication.  She took a good nap this afternoon and has really enjoyed having Daddy home to play with!  She's kept him busy playing with the 'little people', walking around and around the house and she's loving that he'll carry her around.  She's eating well but I'd like her to drink a little more.....probably just a paranoid mom :-)

We didn't get any pictures today, but we'll post some tomorrow.  She's got a bit of a black eye and swelling on her right side but everything is looking good.  She's trying to make some facial expressions but only her eyebrows move - it looks like she's had too much botox!

And we're HOME!

Last night went well, but we got 'roommates' about 10pm. :-(  The adults were fairly loud and the mom watch tv until after midnight and then turned it back on about 6am.  Tahlia was a trooper and slept through most of it, I wasn't quite as lucky.  She had a few syringe feeding of formula through out the night and needed only a little bit of cuddling comfort.  She was cheerful this morning but was ready to get the IV out and leave!  We had fantastic nurses and the doctors were great too. 
We were discharged by 10:30am (with a little prodding), went back to the Dugald farm and packed up and are now at the Brandon farm.
Tahlia is continuing to eat and drink well.  She's wanting to be carried a lot.  Her personality is shining through the drugs and pain - she just too cute!  We have her on liquid Tylenol every 4 hours and she sleeping in her crib now.  We'll see how our first night goes!

Day 1 is over for Dad

It is about 8:30pm and I just got back to the Dugald farm. Christine is spending the night with Tahlia and I am spending it with 2 of our dogs.

Tahlia really did do very well. On day one not only did she take out her IV, but removed her restrains 4 times, and managed to master the syringe feeding. For dinner she had a bowl of cream of broccoli soup, a jar of beef baby food, and some ice cream; all by syringe. She actually seemed to just enjoy leaning back and having Mom push it in.

Well, I am ready for bed and I hope the 2 girls get a good night sleep. If all goes well Tahlia will be released tomorrow.

In our room and resting comfortably

Tahlia was in recovery for about an hour before we got to see her.  She was carried into the recovery room from surgery as she woke up quite quickly.  And then she was able to get her IV out, hence the delay in us seeing her (they had to put a new one in and had trouble).  Anyways, as we walked in the nurse was snuggling her and she looked up when she heard our voices.  She came right to me and cuddled on my shoulder.  We only stayed in recovery for about 10-15 mins before we took her up to our room.  So far we don't have a roommate which is great.  They nursing staff has been fantastic and are very flexible so that it's as easy on Tahlia as possible.  She just got another dose of Tylenol at 2:30 and we tried our first feeding.  Tahlia was very cooperative and ended up taking about 120cc of apple juice/water by syringe in a very short amount of time.  The nurse was very impressed that she did so well on the first try....but that's my girl ~ smart little cookie!!  She's been sleeping off and on most of the afternoon.  We've seen bits of her personality poking through already - interested in the Coke can, pulling her blocks apart, and of course loving her crib music aquarium!  I'm so glad we brought it.
I'm already noticing quite a difference in how Tahlia looks.  There is some swelling and bruising but I'm really amazed at the difference.  I've included some pictures, but if you're squeamish don't look at them.

She's out of surgery.....

Dr.Ross said Tahlia's surgery went very well.  He took a picture of her so that we wouldn't be surprised when we get to see her (which should be soon hopefully!).  He had to remove her one front tooth and she has stints in both nostrils.  More to come later...

And she's off......

Tahlia's nurse took her off to surgery at 8:15am - no tears or screams - just curious about what was going on.  Dr.Ross talked to us before hand and will come and talk to us once surgery is done.  We're just hanging out in the cafeteria reading the magazine Lisa and Kris got me (thanks!!) and I know the treats you gave us will come in handy later!!!  We're both pretty tired already - not much sleeping last night - I think we were both concerned about sleeping in. 

Here's a couple pictures from this morning.....

Thank you....

Just wanted to thank everyone who has called or emailed to wish us well tomorrow.  Miss Tahlia is fast asleep and I'm about to go and take her bottle away (insert mom with tears running down her face).  Poor little thing has no idea what is about to happen.  I think its probably better that way.....

Anyways, thanks so much for all the well wishes and prayers.  Will post tomorrow!!

Chris

Countdown to Surgery

Tahlia's surgery is scheduled for Monday, January 31 at 7:45am.  We (Todd and I) are starting to get nervous.  I think we've been pretty good, but it's starting to sink in.  Anyways, as long as everything runs on time, she should be done and out of recovery early in the afternoon.  Tahlia and I will spend the night at the hospital and (hopefully) be discharged early afternoon on Tuesday.  We haven't decided for sure if we're going to spend Tuesday night in Winnipeg or come back to Brandon.  We'll play it by ear.  For the next couple of weeks, Tahlia will need to wear arm restraints 24hrs/day so as not to touch her mouth.  The nurse explained that the lip will be like tissue paper and so tugging or jabbing would be a bad thing!  She'll only be able to eat/drink liquid or pudding like foods - hello blender!!  And that it can only be served by cup (not a sippy cup) or by syringe.  There is to be no forks or spoons and solid food.......this is going to be interesting.......hard to understand how we're going to do this, but we aren't the first family to do this and we won't be the last!!

Tahlia is doing great!  She's a total joy and we're so in love with her.  She's gained 2 lbs, loves all foods, and is getting taller!  Loves music - LOVES MUSIC!!  She's started singing to herself while playing in the last few days - I don't know what she's singing but it's so cute.  She's close to walking, and is starting to communicate more with us.  She's got a few words - Kiki (kitty - shocking, I know), hi, that (as in take me to THAT, i want THAT, what's THAT), and lots of babbling - she's had some fairly lengthy conversations with herself!!  She's loving the cats and dogs - sometimes a little too much for their liking, but for the most part she's fairly gentle with them.  She's doing well with other people.  She doesn't have problems being in crowds as long as Todd or I are holding her.  And she's been great with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins - she seems to remember them and really, they show her tons of cool stuff that mom and dad don't/won't!!

We'll try to update the afternoon/evening of surgery!