Ella's Gotcha Day

Ella with Mrs Chen

Ella didn't like me much here

Ella with Grandma Jo

On May 8, 2007 in the Mayflower hotel in Wuhan China Ella walked in and my life has never been the same. Joanne and I had come down to the lobby to meet our guide and in walked Ella with Mrs Chen (Foster Family Coordinator for the Wuhan Childrens Welfare Institute). Ella saw me and started walking the other way. Thankfully that has changed and she walks with me holding hands. Just yesterday she leaned down and gave me a kiss on my hand. My love for Ella grows every day just like my love for Elizabeth. Its wonderful to see Ella bonding with us both. Yesterday morning she was with me when we dropped Elizabeth off for school. Ella gave Elizabeth a kiss good bye and the biggest hug with legs wrapped around her big sister. Wow. I love moments like that.

Last night I told Ella her China story and she listened wide eyed and got a little sad. She misses her China Mom. I don't blame her, Ella's Foster Mom loved Wu Shuang Zhi with all her heart. I have always felt Ella was well cared for by a wonderful person and I really wish we had been able to meet her and talk to her.



I want to take this time to thank my Aunt Joanne for going with me again to China last year. My Uncle Mike was going to go but his passport was so slow in coming, even with all the calls Mike made. Both Mike and Joanne are my Mom's siblings. It was amazing that Joanne was able to step in and go when Mike couldn't. It would have been great having Mike along but it was wonderful how Joanne just dropped everything to go again. Joanne has been like a mom to me ever since my mom died when I was 8. She is my aunt, my best friend and now my daughters' Grandma Jo. We couldn't be more blessed.



It really is hard to believe a year has gone by. But, then I see the changes in Ella, Elizabeth and me and realize how much has happened. Ella has gone from a sad, pissed off 2 year old to the lovingest little girl in the world. She waves at everyone, holds my hand with glee and loves to give me kisses and hugs. Ella is learning her words at lighting speed and now that she is in speech therapy, maybe we will be able to understand her better. A former care giver at Elizabeth's school saw the girls this week. He said, No more crying - that's good. For the longest time, Ella would be crying or having some kind of fit when we picked up Elizabeth. Now she is a happy toddler. The same can be said for drop offs at daycare. It used to be lots of tears and my heart aching every morning on the way to work. Now its "I play with Mia Mom?" (Ella speak for is it a daycare day?) I say yes, she says kiss, Hug mom. And off she goes and my heart is happy. Thank you Beth for taking such great care of my girls and loving them and showing them how to be the best girls! You are an amazing daycare provider and I am glad we are friends too.

I also want to thank my best friend Reenie. She took care of Elizabeth while I was gone and took a huge weight off my shoulders. I knew with Reenie taking care of Elizabeth, I could relax and focus on Ella. I love the special bond Elizabeth and Reenie have and now Ella is pretty keen on her too. Who wouldn't be? When I called every day to talk to Elizabeth and Reenie I could tell how well Elizabeth was doing and that is all because of Reenie. Thanks again Reenie - How lucky we are we all sat at the same lunch table freshman year of high school all those years ago!


Update:
We took pictures right before we left for School, Daycare and Work. So here we all are 5/8/08. The girls did a great job taking pictures.