It's a small, small world

Earlier this week we received a card in the mail with a return address we didn't recognize.  Well, we were familiar with the address...because it is a street located in our neighborhood...but the last name didn't ring a bell. 

What I read on the card inside the envelope gave me chills. 

A couple, who live less than a minute away from us, just at the other end of our development, had heard of our adoption story from another couple (a friend-of-a-friend situation).  And ironically, they themselves had just adopted a three year old little girl from China in May...yes, May...the month after we were in China.  She wrote all her contact information in the card and suggested we get together.

The next day I emailed her and asked the usual China adoption questions...

What agency did you use?
When did you travel?
What province is your daughter from?

She quickly replied and her response left me stunned...breathless! 

Her daughter is from Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province. 

Hangzhou is where Tim and Dawn's daughter Charlotte is from!

What are the chances...really...that two little girls from the same city, in ALL the cities of China (a huge, HUGE country) would both be adopted within weeks of each other and end up in the United States of America with families that live only 10 minutes from each other?

Slim to none?!...Highly unlikely?!...

Well, I'm not done yet...

We are pretty sure they were at the very.same.orphanage in Hangzhou. 

I'd call it almost miraculous.  I still have chills.

We have plans to meet, and I can't wait to get these 3 little girls together. 

Audra's 1st day of Pre-school

Today my little girl took a huge step. 

She is becoming a "big girl" right before my eyes...almost overnight!

 

Today's was Audra's 1st day of pre-school.

 

 

She seemed excited to go when I talked to her about it.  But I wasn't sure if she really knew what I was talking about...what "going to school" meant.

 

I am so glad she is at the same pre-school my other kids went to.  AND she is in the very same classroom with the very same teacher Maura had until just last month.  Audra has gone with many times to drop Maura off and pick her up, so she is familiar with the building, the people and the routine.

 

She recognized Miss Anne right away, took her hand, and walked into the classroom with her.





 

 

She was so excited to have her very own backpack, and a cubby with her name at school.

 

 

Her teacher said she did well on her first day.  She followed directions and participated. 

And not one tear!

 

When she got home three and a half hours later she climbed up on the couch and fell right to sleep.

 

Pre-school is hard work!

Bears and Birthdays...

I have been anxious to get the girls to Build-A-Bear for their first time.  I had promised to take Charlotte for her birthday (I know I'm a little late) and my girls had gift certificates given to them by Audra's godmother. 

Maura has been there many times...she is a pro!  She helped explain each step of "building a bear" to Charlotte and Audra.  The "bear stuffer" who worked there was so patient with the three girls and gave each girl (and they stuffed friend) extra special attention. 

Audra was a not a fan of the stuffing machine...but then, when no one was looking, she went over and stepped on the pedal on the floor...and stuffing went flying all over the store.  It looked like it snowed in the store!  Never a dull moment!  You have to watch that little one..when she's being quiet she's usually being sneaky!

 

Getting the new friends stuffed...

 

Kissing their hearts and making a wish before stitching them up...



 

Charlotte with "Baby" and Maura with "Cutie"...

...yes, Maura "Built-a-Pony" (not a bear!)



 

 Audra with "Princess"...

  

"Fluffing" their fur...

 

Dressing their new friends...

 

 Creating the new friends' birth certificates...

Packed up and ready for the ride home...

 

Tonight we celebrated Riley's birthday with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. 

He turned 12 this past Thursday...12 years old!!

My birthday was on the 13th, so of course my mom made sure I had my very own cake.

Not so sure how I feel about those number candles on my cake though!

I tried to swap them around to make Riley 13 and me 27...I was willing to give Riley one year for me to lose 10 years! 



 

Audra's rough day

Audra is now fast asleep, recovering from her tough day.  She had ALL of her dental work done at CHOP under anesthesia.  When I took her to the dentist in June they were only able to get a very quick peek inside her mouth but they could tell right away that she had "a lot going on in there".  And because of her involved medical history (despite only having a few months home to have a medical history!) it was decided that it would be safest to do everything in the OR. 

She was a super-star today.  (But isn't she everyday!)  She (and I) are so lucky to be cared for by so many of my amazing colleagues at CHOP.  And many others stopped by to check on her and just say "hi". 

I was able to go into the OR with her until she was off to sleep.  Our first update from the nurse....

"the dentist said...Wow, there's more going on in there than I expected!"

 

In the end she needed 4 root canals with crowns, and six more fillings for cavities.  No wonder my girl hates having her teeth brushed...I am sure all of that must have hurt so much.  And it really hurts my heart to think that this is such a preventable thing, and that she probably didn't have access to what we consider typical dental care while she was in China. 

 

An added bonus today was that they were able to draw the MANY vials of bloodwork she needed done...while she was asleep!  AMEN!  (her tummy troubles are still lingering so GI wanted more bloodwork done)

 

When we were brought back to see her in the recovery room she was being held in a rocking chair by her nurse...a very dear friend of mine for many years.  Audra, and I, are so very blessed.  She really was in the best of hands all day.  With people I know very well and trust will all my heart. 

 

Now she is sporting some signs of her rough day:  swollen lips, chipmunk cheeks, bloody nose and just appearing...black and blue eyes! 

 

She is one tough tiny little girl.  

sunday

How fast our little weekend get-away came to a close.  Before check out we headed down to the Madagascar themed "Crack-A-Lackin' Cook-in"...

a buffet breakfast with the characters, photo-ops, autographs, and of course...

DANCING!

 

King Julien remembered Riley and his "moves" from the dance party last night.  They had a little dance-off  right there next to the breakfast table and Riley was so happy that he remembered him.

 

 Audra was just as afraid of the characters today as she was yesterday.  I thought maybe she would warm up to them a teeny-tiny bit having seen them the day before...but NOPE!

Safe from the characters in big brother's arms :)

 

....yes, he needs a haircut...I know, I know!

saturday

Here's a recap (mostly in pictures) of our Saturday...

 

We walked along the waterfront:

(the weather was absolutely perfect today)

Posing with the Peep-mobile...in front of the Peeps store:

Sitting on the cow in front of Ben & Jerry's:

Enjoying some Rita's:

Sharing some Rita's...and some love :)

 

And a favorite...riding the waterfront carousel:

 

More fun in the pool:

 Audra being silly with the camera (above)

And loving the pool with arm floaties on...which are bigger than her (below)

Then the much anticipated DreamWorks Experience began... 

 

Our first event was the Rise of the Guardians scavenger hunt...

which took us all throughout the resort searching for clues that would lead us to the answer...

which resulted in a prize for the kids!

It was actually pretty tricky at times, but Riley loves a good puzzle or mystery and he did VERY well.

 

 

Then, King Julien's Dance Party, with many of the DreamWorks characters:

 

 

 

 Riley is our dancing fool, with a soft spot in his heart for "characters"...

he would have stayed there dancing with the characters ALL night long!

 

Shrek chose Maura to dance with during "Dancing Queen"...

 

 

 

Fireworks to end the day:

 

 

And finally...sound asleep with their stuffed Peeps!