Update!!!!

We received a little miracle for Lizzie's birthday....an update on Ellie.  She is absolutely beautiful!  So excited to hold her!  (If she'll let me)  She's had a haircut, not my favorite, and a dress that is a little too small and shoes a little too big...so cute!  She looks really good!  Look at those big eyes and that perfect mouth.   She is 30.86 lbs and 3 feet tall now.  Yes, she is perfect!

LOA!!!!

Hurray!  LOA, (Letter Seeking Confirmation of Adoption), has come from China and we, of course, checked that "YES, WE WILL ACCEPT THIS CHILD!"  We signed it, sent it off with our I800, and now the 10-14 week wait begins.  In the mean-time, we're frantically trying to raise the remainder of the money, fill out more paperwork, apply for our visas, make sure we are set on the name, and begin to prepare to travel to China.  Her room is ready (she'll share with little sister Lizzie) and we have clothes, shoes, and most the other things to take with us for Ellie.  I'm feeling overwhelmed, excited, anxious, and peace.  I don't know how they exist together, but somehow they do!  

Update from China

We received an update on April 2, 2013!  Ellie (Sun Xin Jie) is growing so fast.  She is beautiful!  She is listed as healthy, which is a miracle after seeing her CT scans with hydrocephalus and a hematoma in the lower part of her occipital lobe.   We'll still need to have an MRI done when she comes home, but it is a true miracle.  Isn't she beautiful?  We are excited to meet her!

Sun Xin Jie 

3/28/2013 Update

Age	Weight(kg)	Head(cm)	Chest(cm)	Height(cm)	Feet(cm)	Teeth	Health Status
2y2m	14	52	51	88	13	16	Healthy

Medical/Development:

Her current health is good.

She can walk, run, jump and go up/down stairs.

She can say mama and baba.

She can use potty during the day time, but still uses diaper at night.

She knows red.

Personality:

They call her Xin Jie.

She is shy, but smiles easily.

She likes rolling over when sleeping and sometimes she likes lying on stomach. 

General:

Her sleeping and diet schedule:                  

Sleeping time: 8:30pm-6:00am

Eating time: 7:30am, 12:00pm, 6:30pm

Nap time: 1:00-2:30pm

She eats congee, steamed bread, noodle.

She is in the orphanage now.

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

We received some very cute photos of Ellie a couple days ago.  We sent a birthday cake to her for her birthday on January 14.  She turned 2!  We went through a company called Lady Bugs n Love.  We also sent her a birthday package, which hopefully she received!  These photos are of her and her nanny at the orphanage in ZhouKou, Henan, China.  We are so anxious to finally meet her.  It most likely won't be until September, but we are moving forward and things are progressing.

 

 

Introducing Ellie Mei

On November 8, we requested to view Sun Xin Jie's file from the Special Focus list at CCAI.  After having her file viewed by a couple of doctors, requesting copies of her CT scans and having a pediatric neurologist review them, and much fasting and prayer, on November 19 we let our agency know that we wanted to move forward to adopt this little girl!  She captured our hearts and we knew that she was meant to be part of our family.

We immediately contacted Kelsey, our social worker, to begin our homestudy.  Because of the new Hague Convention rules, we could no longer use Suzanne, whom we had used for our adoption with Lizzie and whom we loved working with.  However, Kelsey has turned out to be a great resource and we instantly became friends.  She is also doing all she can to help us move through this process as quickly as possible!

We officially have begun the paper chase!  We are so excited and cannot wait to bring her home.  They anticipate it taking 9 months.  Our social worker is doing all she can to help us move quickly on our end, but then it is in the hands of the Chinese Government.  We are so excited to welcome this little miracle into our home!  She and Lizzie will be 17 months apart!

 Henan Province Zhoukou City Social Welfare Institute

Adoptive Development and Condition Report

Name:                         Sun Xin Jie

Gender:                      Female

Date of Birth:            January 14^th, 2011

Date Entered Institute: May 14^th, 2011

This infant girl was abandoned May 14^th, 2011, inside the Zhoukou City Hospital on Jianshe Road in Zhoukou City.  After a 110 call to the Police Command Center, they informed the Zhoukou City Public Security Bureau Jinhai Road Police Station.  The Zhoukou City Public Security Bureau Jinhai Road Police Station Police performed a thorough search but they were unable to find parents or relatives of the child, and they determined her to be abandoned.  Afterwards, the Zhoukou City Public Security bureau Jinhai Road Police Station brought her to the Zhoukou City Social Welfare Institute.  A physical examination administered upon entering the institute recorded that she was 55 cm tall, weighed 6 kg, had a head circumference of 47 cm, a chest circumference of 45 cm and she had hydrocephalus.  Based on her physical condition, her date of birth was estimated to be January 14^th, 2011.  She was given the name Sun Xin Jie.

When Sun Xin Jie hears sounds, she will turn toward them and respond.  After she entered the institute, she received meticulous care, and she does not often cry.  Her personality is quite introverted and her sleeping habits are quite good.  She can differentiate between strangers and people she is familiar with. She can call out mama.

From the time that Sun Xin Jie entered the institute until now, she has lived inside the institute.  Her daily life is one of routine and her life habits are very good.  She generally eats once every 3 hours, and her supplementary meals consist of: little steamed buns, cookies, rice porridge, milk, etc.  Each day she defecates 1-2 times and urinates 6-8 times.

Sun Xin Jie’s present measurements are: 78 cm tall, weighs 12 kg, head circumference of 51 cm, chest circumference of 50 cm, and she has hydrocephalus.

Signature illegible

Zhoukou City Social Welfare Institute

June 13^th, 2012

  These are all the photos we have of our little angel.  Hoping and praying for an update, but so grateful for these, and to be able to have a video link (even if very short).