One Year Later

Well, it has been one year since we met our little lovebug Charlotte.  Words can not describe the last 365 days.  Here is a little slideshow I put together to share some of the love she has brought to us.  Enjoy!


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Surgery Tuesday morning

Well, friends and family, just when you thought the blogging was over...IT'S BAAAAACK!  I will try to not overwhelm folks with the details of the last few months...and the details of the next few days.  I wanted to let you know that we have appreciated all of the love and support we have received since coming back from China with little Charlotte.  She has added an amazing spark to our family, and we are thrilled to be learning about her and loving her every day.  Joely is doing wonderfully as the big sister.  Charlotte is in love with her and lights up when she sees Joely walk in the room.  Awesome.

So, here are some of the highlights of the last few months, as well as a summary of what will happen tomorrow in the surgery.  I will try to update the blog as best as I can, so everyone can be informed of the progress.

Highlights:

 Sisters rolling in the hand -me-down-Barbie Jeep.  Too awesome!  Yes, daddy makes Charlotte wear a helmet and walks beside the vehicle with a long stick to keep the door closed.  AND yes, she did try to jump out while it was going.

 Charlotte would give anything to be in school with Joely.  She says hi to every kid on the playground as we walk Joely to class in the mornings.  Charlotte carries around her own backpack now, loaded with fake keys, a wallet, and even her own homework bundle. 

 Yes, this is Davis, CA.  We rode our bikes down to campus and got to see the former President of the USA, Mr. William Jefferson Clinton.  Charlotte was not impressed. 

The Scarecrows and the Farmer at Halloween.  Charlotte is a good sport.  She was asleep by 7:20.

Our family feels truly blessed to have been able to adopt Charlotte and we seem to have adjusted to each other quite well.  God is amazing. 

The next few days will be tricky for us all.  Charlotte is scheduled to have her cleft lip and palate repaired tomorrow morning in Roseville.  We have complete faith and confidence in the medical team.  The scarier part is knowing your little girl is probably going to be scared and in pain.  Oh boy.  We could use your prayers for a smooth operation and recovery.  She will be home after only 1 night in the hospital.  Yowza.  We will keep the blog running to let you all know how we are doing.  This parenting thing is pretty amazing.  Thanks for being our support system.  We need you all!

Much love,
J Kam

We are home

Well, everyone, we made it.  Safe and sound back at home.  I have to say it is really good to be home.  I will post some pictures later.  Just wanted to give a brief update of our status, since I have received some panicky emails from my family!

We arrived at SFO to our dear friend and neighbor.  He caught some great pictures of our family stumbling out of the baggage terminal...giddy with lack of sleep, too many pineapple buns, and joy at being on solid ground.  Once we arrived home, we discovered our house had been beautifully decorated and CLEANED by our dear friends.  What a blessing.  PLUS a delicious meal was waiting for our 3 am dining pleasure.  Awesome.

Charlie and Joely are doing well together.  Joely is starting to warm up to the idea of having a little sister.  Today she said, "I think it is actually ok to have a little sister now."  Phew.  She likes to play with Charlie, and has done a great job at getting back into the swing of school.

Charlie is exploring all over the house.  She has opened up every cupboard and has spread stuff all over the place.  She is really good natured, and has even started teasing me.  She hides behind the wall and then looks at me with a giant smile like "peek a boo".  Very cute.  The bad news is she does not sleep well after 12 am.  Phew.  Tim and I have spent a lot of time rocking her in our arms, getting her to sleep while we pace the master bedroom walk in closet.  Tonight Tim told her in Cantonese that she does not need to be scared here and that Mama and Baba will be here all night and into the morning. She seemed to understand and nodded her head.  Then she went to sleep.  Please pray that she stays asleep all night.

I want to thank all of you for your kind and encouraging words on this journey.  It meant a lot to have a large and loving support group pushing for us back home.  I think we will keep the blog going with our progress and upcoming medical appointment information, etc.  I hope it will not be obnoxious, merely informative!  I will also put up some pictures of our girls at home soon.  Love love love, J.

Goodbye China

This is it! We're heading home with Charli today! We're going home Charlotte, to a whole new life but don't worry, Mama's got you. Mama and Daddy are always gonna get you.

I think Tim will miss making new friends so far from home. He is hilarious, keeps saying he doesn't like to talk much but every time I turned around, he was chatting up a storm. He just went about charming everybody he met so, so long to all the people who laughed at Tim's jokes and thanks to the Victory hotel for being so comfy.

Goodbye lovely old people who strap buoys to their chests and swim in the murky green waters of the pearl river. Little bit "ew" but you are an inspiration to people everywhere!

Bye to all of you, young and old, who jog in loafers and flip flops. May nothing slow you down.

Bye to gymnastics guy who did his high bar routine in jeans and an orange polo shirt. So awesome.

Fairwell to the endless steams of brides with jeans and sneakers under their gowns. Happy marriages to you all. Maybe one day you will be called to adopt a little one of your own.

Thank you to the convenience store owners who stopped following us around like we were up to no good. After that first visit, you greeted us with all smiles. You made us feel welcomed.

A really big thanks to our coordinator, Michael. It really would have been a maddeningly frustrating ordeal without him and Tim would have never gotten to visit his parents' villages.

Special shout out to Starbucks and subway sandwhiches for making life just a little bit easier. And FYI: where  there's a Starbucks, there should be a western toilet!

Last but decided not least in any way shape or form, a fond farewell to the hotel espresso/coffee dispenser, the morning purveyor of Goo Goo's morning madness! She will miss you!

Goodbye lovely island. Since you dropped the heat and humidity, you've been a darn good host!

Mama, I'm ready! Let's blow this joint...

"Hey Joely, Daddy just wants to thank you for being great this whole trip. I love you so much."

One Day Left

It's almost go time people! Today we went to the US consulate for Charlotte's swearing in. Pretty unremarkable but it puts us at 1 day from getting on that plane!!!!! Woohoo!!!! We are primed and ready to go!

Our penguin walking drool monster is turning out to be quite the eater! She's chowing down on some moon cake right and coming at me with an open mouth and two yellow (from egg yolks) rivers of drool on either side of her mouth. I can't wait to take her to pau-pau's (Tim's mom) house. Pau- pau is going to go nuts when she sees we've got another power eater!

Charli is so different from when we first got her. She's walking and laughing and chattering away. She monkeys Joely's movements and is totally picking up English words. We're pretty sure she's saying hi love, hi mama, dada, eat eat and a few others. Man, this kid is adorable! All she needed was a little loving. Wait until you see this sweet face in person.

Charli is my new go to nickname. Somehow Tim came up with Chachamo. He thinks It makes her sound like a fierce warrior. Your guess is as good as mine as to how he came up with Chachamo. This is Tim Kam after all.

I'm so very thankful to God. I know He has been with us on this journey. I see it in the quiet subtle things like how well Charli fits into our family and how she does some of the same things Joely does like pulling on her hair when she's tired. I feel like all the mishaps were opportunities to let go of my anxieties and just trust in God and look how it has panned out!

All right my friends, we'll be home soon.  Thank you all for your encouraging comments and all your prayers!

Charli sure is getting the hang of this playing business!

Joely found a giant chess board. Such an observant kid. 

 

 

 

 Our two rascals at breakfast.

 

 

 

Looks like Daddy might still be in a state of shock at suddenly having two kids. Bet he's wondering if there are any more Orion pies left in our hotel room!

 

 

These's halls were made for walking. Up and down...back and forth...up and down...
 

Home Sick

This morning we were treated to big daddy belting out "We gotta get out of this place if it's last thing we ever do! " We double, triple and quadruple that!

I'm sure we all have scabies. I just want to come home and take a bath in a mass amount of medication.

It's so interesting, I'm seeing so many similarities between Charlotte and Joely. Chacha likes to put her feet on people's  laps just like Joely did when she was little, pulls her hair when she's tired and has that same quiet observant personality.

Chacha is blossoming right before our eyes. She's talking and chatterering. I  can't understand anything she's saying but it's fun. She's feeding herself and yesterday after her first bite of broccoli she pointed excitedly to it for more. And she laughs big laughs as of today. It's so awesome!

It is wedding central here. Gobs and gobs of bridal photos with the most awkward poses. Also fashion models galore in wool coats and ski hats in the heat and humidity.

We're headed to the US consulate tomorrow morning but there is a potential protest in front of the consulate too. We need your prayers the all goes smoothly at the consulate. We really need big prayers that none of us get sick. Each of us getting run down and feeling off and my brain is going through all the worst case scenarios . We just want to come home!

This is not one of my most upbeat posts. On a cool note,  Tim got to visit not only his mother's village but also his father's. He saw some family and was able to see the sites of both of their childhood homes. It was a highlight for Tim.

So off to bath and sleeping. Charlotte is wiped out. Hopefully no walking the halls tonight!

Chacha wiping her own face for the first time.

Chopper

Who has a chopper?! Come chopper us out! We are so ready! 4 days left. We are on the down slide now. We can do this!

Checked 3 times so far. No signs of lice! Feeling very thankful for this!!!!

The hotel room is trashed! Crumbs and stains all over - on the beds, the chairs, the carpet. Food and supplies covering every possible surface. Overflowing garbage can. Empty water bottles wherever we look. Half bottles of juice, some with no caps. Half eaten loaves of pineapple bread. Coke zero bottles, each with only a few sips left. Joely's books and crafts spread out. I bet if the housekeepers dread coming to our room!

Chachi slept through the night thanks to a little Claritin magic the doctor prescribed. Did I forget to mention that this little one HATES the crib! Think she probably spent too much time in one at the orphanage. So each night Tim pushes the beds together and we sleep family style minus daddy who sleeps on the floor so he won't roll over and accidentally have a smushed Charlotte. Wondering how long before she sleeps in her own bed.

It's only been a short time but we're starting to see her personality. It's encouraging. I think Charlotte likes our crazy family. She watches us and smiles.

Hangin' Out

Now we're talkin'. Just the way I like it. A girl for each leg!

Joely found a roman styled patio at our hotel. We......muuuuust....keeeep......the.......pillars........from.......col...lapsing!

Chachi and her paper

 

Come to Mama

Flailing! That's the word I looking for. Chacha was flailing in the car and it was impressive! Joely was in shock and said "this is the worse car ride ever!"

This little one really likes to walk and she's gotten fun. She goes fast and then slow then she puts her paper down, picks it up and says "ai yah."

And yesterday she came to mama for the very first time! It's happening my friends!

Adjusting

Well, we didn't make it to the orphanage. Charlotte wasn't having any of it. She was kicking and screaming and standing up and throwing herself back. It was no easy feat but this little girl did it! She was crazy! This is the first real fit she has thrown and it's about time. I tell myself this is a good thing because it means she's done assessing and now her true personality is surfacing. The other moms here told me to expect this.  So I tell myself it's a good thing...again and again and again and again. Could be she's feeling more herself because she FINALLY had a pooperaduper! First one in four days and in the tub, of course.

That Tim and Goo Goo! Peas in a pod, itching and scratching like mad. I told them they need to pull it together! But they think it's sooooo funny. Oh, what am I going to do with those two!

Please, please, please no scabies! No scabies....no scabies.....

Tough Night

Oooh rough night. Poor Chachi kept waking up. She's so itchy. She kept waking up rubbing her hands and feet. Maybe it really is scabies...ughhhh. No sleep last night. Joely was a star. Never made a peep. Joely has been a real trooper this whole trip. It hasn't been easy on her. "It's always business." or "talking, talking, talking" as she likes to point out.  She says "kids just want to play" and this sure isn't a trip to Disneyland. The other night, she said "Mama, you don't even have time to get me my toothbrush." sigh... It's been a looooong trip. We just want to come back to Davis with Charlotte. At least the China part is done. We pick up the tb test results this morning and next week we go to the US consulate for her visa then we are outta here.

Today we head to Charlotte's orphanage. We need your prayers. I think it's going to be tough.

Family Time

Hoo ha, hoo ha.... This is what Charlotte says when she walks. Maybe this should be her nickname. How about Chachi or Chacha? We're trying them all out on our new little girl. Maybe we'll use them all...hmmmm.

It's a crazy ride we've been on. Tim looked at me the other night and said "It's so weird, yesterday we only had one kid and now, one day later..." My head is still swimming a bit. You all know about the cleft lip and palate but she is also developmentally behind schedule. Although she is about 2.5 years old, developmentally she is roughly on par with an 18 month old.  Sure could use your prayers that we see her blossom now that she has a family to love and care for her. Also, after her required visit to the doctor, her skin condition was diagnosed as scabies. Oh please, please, please no scabies. We are covering her neck to toes with medicated ointment so hopefully we won't be the scabies family coming back to the states.....but I sure do itch... Oh my!

On a lighter note, the world is a very funny place. Here I am halfway across the world and what do I see here on Shamian Island, China? A woman wearing the exact same dress I had on two days before. Needless to say, I have not worn that dress again!   Then at the civil affairs office Tim made a point of shaking the hand of a man wearing the same shirt as was but a different color. Too hilarious!

Last night we went to a restaurant recommended by our guide (who by the way has been fantastic even though we are always late meeting him - in grand Kam fashion - and deciding things at the last minute) and it was crazy. We were on the third floor which looked straight out of a Chinese movie with dark wood panelling and red lanterns. There were  two big private rooms on either side of us and let me tell you, it was boys night out. There was hootin' and hollering, pushing and shoving. It got so bad that Tim hustled us out of there pronto while he stayed to pay the bill. When he finally emerged, he told us he had finished off the garlic and ginger from our delicious meal. That Tim is a funny man! The menu was wild with lots of dishes for good health and lots of stuff like rat snake with veggies, fried sand worms and dragon tortoise  and of course, we musn't forget the eels cooked to order. To top it off, all the live fish were in a big tank on the sidewalk surrounded by buckets of other delectables. Mmm...mmm good. Dorothy, we're sure not in Kansas anymore.

The funniest thing in the last few days though has to be Tim's discovery of Orion pies. They are like moon pies and last night as Joely, Charlotte, and I were drifting off to sleep, I opened my eyes one last time just in time to see Daddy sitting down, on the other side of the room, happily munching  away on an Orion pie. So funny.

Now for some big girl time with Joely who has been absolutely amazing this whole trip. Couldn't have made it without her.

Delectables for your choosing.

 Daddy and Joely mugging for camera. How can you not love them?

Chacha kicking back on mama after a long hot day.

Our new little buddy. 

Would have smuggled him out if he would have fit under my shirt

Taking a break with our guide. Waiting for the tiger show to show.

                                                        How cool is that!

 Here we are in Jurassic park area of the safari center. 

Don't be scared Daddy, Joely will save you!

Finally, a day off from all the appointments so we wandered off to awesome safari park. Here are a few of the 30 some odd white tigers. They are incredible.

Joely knows how to work it! Taking advantage of community exercise equipment.

                                                      Where's Joely?

Whew even little kids get tired playing in this heat and humidity.

She's Ours!

It's done! The big day has finally come! It's official and Charlotte is here and she is ours.  She is a sweet little one with beautiful long lashes and arms she frequently lifts seeking to be held.  She doesn't have daddy-o-s bubble  butt yet but we're hopeful! We've been having a pretty easy time so far but she's a smart one and catching on to bedtime clues. We think the skin condition she had is foot and mouth disease but in the healing stages now.  Thank you for all your prayers. I know God is answering them. Counting down the days until we all come home to our wonderful western toilets that we will never take for granted again!

Oh yeah! We're real sisters now!

Rice anyone!

 It's official!

First night-night. Charlotte didn't want to sleep but resistance is futile.

Daddy is on this baby thing! He fixed the 3am bottle, has made Charlotte laugh and makes sure everyone's bellies are full. The big test is still to come though - no poopy diapers yet!

Sleeping babies

Leaving Hong Kong

We had to have a final feast before leaving hong kong. Check out Joely 's chopstick skills.

The train from Hong Kong to China was pleasant. Crossed the border and arrived in Guangzhou at about 7:00 pm. After a harrowing taxi experience we arrived at the Victory Hotel. Lovely place.

Joely showed off her monkey bar skills and made friends at the local park by the hotel.

We went shopping in Guangzhou for a couple of shirts. The 35 million crush of humanity is hard to get used to. So are squat toilets. And no tp. But we blessed by so much. We met with our local guide today. We are briefed and ready for tomorrow's big day. We have an appointment to meet Charlotte tomorrow at 2:30 at the local civil affairs office. She reportedly developed a skin condition similar to eczema. They are medicating her and it has cleared up. Kind of weird news to hear. We could use some prayers that it is not contagious. Actually a lot of prayers that this phase of our journey is as smooth as possible. "it is crunch tiiiiime!"

Phase One of Operation Charlotte is Nearing Completion

We have had a great time in Hong Kong. We mostly did the typical tourist stuff (big open air bus tour, exploring shopping malls, getting used to the subway system and of course eating). To quote Joely K: "Hong Kong is like Chinatown in San Fransisco, except you can never get out".

Tim has finally met his hero Bruce! We had to go all the way to the top of Victoria Peak, but it was well worth it!

"Sometimes, you just need a little candy" said Tim. This was probably the highlight for Joely so far!

 

After a really steep tram ride, we were treated to this breathtaking view from the top of Victoria peak. Awesome.

Hong Kong is clearly the shopping and food mecca for many.  We learned the average person spends $700 per day here. So far, the typical Kam cheapness has continued to flourish.  No designer bags, cars or pricey fashions for us.  Net expenditures for four people over three days has not cracked $400 according to Tim's accounting. Keeping it real!!!

We are off to find some dim sum, then board the train to China later this afternoon. Will post from there.  Hope all is well back home!

On our way!

The first phase of Operation Charlotte has begun! We landed in Hong Kong at 6:00 am local time. A wonderful flight, even though it was not exactly how we planned it. Long story short, I forgot Joely's passport in the computer printer at home. Discovered this at check in for our 1:00 pm flight in SFO. Soooooo, we rented a car, drove home, recovered the passport, then made our way back to the airport. Thankfully our travel agent was able to get us rebooked on seats for the 1 am flight. Truly, this was less painful than I thought it would be. Joely slept before we took off. We had space, delicious food, and all the entertainment we could dream of at our fingertips.

Tomorrow we will see family, tour around etc. in Hong Kong. It is not terribly hot, but is quite muggy. I hope we can take a trip to the sea world type park.

Thanks for all of your prayers and good wishes for the trip. We really appreciate them. I will post again soon. hopefully with pictures!

The visas are in hand...yes!

After a lot of craziness, I am happy to report that we now have visas to enter China.  It is really happening now.  next step:  packing for the trip.  I may not have time to post another blog untiil we arrive in Hong Kong.  We will see.  If not, we will see you when we return.  Please excuse any brevity in my posts from China.  Just keeping it simple.

This is a test...and a leap of faith

This is a test...in many more ways than the obvious.  We are leaving to go pick up our beautiful little girl on Sept. 3.  Many hills and valleys have been crossed since 2009 when we decided to adopt.  I am sure there will be many more to come.  I have started this blog to help us capture and share this beautiful event with people who love us and support us, and who have been there along the way.  The first challenge:  does the blog work?  AND how do I do it???

The second challenge is to continue to have faith in God's perfect timing for our family.  This is truly an amazing experience.  The countdown begins.