One Year Ago Today my world shifted

Its funny how some things stay the same even when the world has dramatically changed. I am at home today because Ella has Walking Pneumonia. She is doing great but its a big day for us anyway.

About this time last January 10th, I was at home because Elizabeth was sick. I had recently gotten a new laptop and had a teleconference I wanted to take part in from work. So, I was setting up the work from home software on the new laptop and had time to check email before the conference started. Imagine my shock and surprise to see 4 emails from my adoption agency titled Referral of Wu Shuang Zhi. I had no idea it was coming. I had submitted my paperwork to China in November of 2006 and had a December 2006 LID date. But, I also put my name on a list for Waiting Children.

I swear I tried looking at the paperwork first. And I had to be careful when I looked at the picture so Elizabeth didn't see, just in case. I was exploding inside my body while I looked upon the pictures of ShuangZhi for the first time.


Here is part of the documentation:

Surname: Wu 武 (family name; martial)
Given names: Shuang 爽 (open, frank)
Zhi 芝 (sesame)

Wu Shuangzhi has pale skin, a round face, a pair of bright, black, large eyes that are very animated as though she could speak with them. Her personality is extroverted. She smiles when she sees people. She is lively and adorable. She gets along with the group. She especially likes to play with other children. She likes a lively and noisy atmosphere. Her favorite activities are watching TV, listening to music and playing outside. Her ability to accept things is very pronounced. When she sees funny gestures on TV, she imitates them. Wu Shuangzhi is very smart, when she sees people she knows, she smiles and greets them. So the people who live all around her like her very much and often come play with her.

Ella was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate. I wasn't sure what that meant for doctor visits etc and called my daycare provider, Beth. She knows alot of people in different types of situations and I hoped she knew someone I could talk to. She gave me the number of a single mom that had adopted 4 kids with different degrees of cleft. Perfect! We talked that night. During the day I used the Internet to do research and then the next day at work I faxed Ella's medical paperwork to our pediatrician. She didn't see anything worrisome so I called my agency and said I accept. We didn't get to travel until May for Ella so it was a long wait but not the wait families are still dealing with. I pray for my friends that are waiting and can't wait to celebrate their referral days with them!

Here is Ella today:


I told Elizabeth that weekend. I couldn't wait any longer to let her know she was now a big sister. We had a special shirt waiting for the occasion. She was very excited and couldn't wait to tell everyone.