How Do You Eat an Elephant? One Bite at a Time....

That's what I have been doing, each day, one bite at a time. That usually means making sure everyone has food, clean clothing, medicine, and is prepared for school. We have also tried to fold in some seasonal fun, such as putting up the tree and finalizing holiday shopping. But really, it has been a survival mode, and I am amazed at how tiring the jet lag really was. It is just now that I am starting to feel that I do not need to go to bed as soon as the girls go to bed at 8pm, which is what I have been doing since we got home.

Everyone is doing just great. We each have had some emotional ups and downs, but overall, we have settled into our routines with ease and positive attitudes. Shanna is an easy child to love and she tells everyone who speaks to her in Mandarin, that she loves each one of us. She has had a few occasions of tears, but it is mostly around wanting to do things her way, in her own time, or a barrier because of frustration and language limitations. She enjoys everything we do, whether it is shopping or cooking or playing, and she really enjoys helping, especially with washing dishes or vegetables. The girls are constantly playing together and are so cute to watch. Shanna's language improves every day and she says many things in a sing-song voice. "Goooood Mornnning, Mamma"! With her brilliant smile.

This is just after we got home, Jasmine and Shanna snuggling. Shanna calls her "Jot-meow"!

For several days, Shanna was going around saying "me louw shoe" over and over. We had no idea what that meant until the gerbils came home from the friends who were watching them. Then she ran happily over to them and said "Me louw shoe!!!!!" with a big smile on her face. Matthew looked it up on the internet and found that "louw shoe" means Little mouse and "me louw shoe" means "Mickey Mouse"! So funny.

Some friends came over with a special pink princess laptop for Shanna and the girls enjoyed back-to-back computing, just like Eric & me in China.

We have had lots of snow, and many opportunities for outdoor fun.

We have gone on lots of doctor appointments. This is the first visit to the dentist. Unfortunately, not the last, but of course, I knew that. She was very cooperative.

Also, she was so great during her blood test. She just stuck out her arm while they took about 8-10 vials of blood and never complained once. This was all routine testing to see what vaccines she needs and turns out she does not need too much else. Results show that she is very healthy and well.

Mary Alice was in the Spelling Bee this past week, and did great, getting into the final elimination round. Matthew had a holiday orchestra concert, which we always enjoy. We had trouble deciding who to take, thinking Mary Alice could stay with Megan and Shanna would go with us, only to have an enormous protest from Megan, so ultimately we all went, and then both girls fell asleep in the first five minutes. Matthew's group played last, and although it was a lovely concert, we were very tired!!

We had yet another adoption in the family. Megan had a Bitty Baby that Shanna had taken a deep liking to, and I mentioned this to my dear friend, Michele, who mentioned it to her dear daughter, who so generously offered to allow Shanna to adopt her Bitty! She was delivered with a very easy paperwork process,  the next day! Along with clothes, a front pack carrier, a tricycle and a bunk bed!!! Wow! We are so grateful and the girls love their babies. There was even one night where Shanna slept strapped in with Bitty.......

The cats have handled the changes with unruffled fur.

Shanna is really good with her chopsticks. I am thinking that I will need to send them to school with her!! She is broadening out her tastes little by little. She enjoys a good Sunbutter and jelly sandwich, and has sampled raw carrots and mozzerella cheese sticks, and even has had a few glasses of milk, with chocolate, all of which are staples in our house.

Megan is a little more clingy than usual, but overall, has been such a good little sister. She shares with Shanna and helps her all the time.

Shanna is so gentle with "Xiao mao" (She-ow and mao both rhyme with cow and means little cat)

Shanna loves to do puzzles and she is quite good at them. She concentrates a long time and does not get frustrated. This one was 5 feet long. She did it without help.

More snow fun. Those cute little bee mittens were a gift from her nanny, in her backpack. They are perfect for car rides and school.

We had so much snow, so the girls have played outside.  It takes 15 mins to get on and 15 mins to get off........They did play quite a while though. I had to call them to come in!

I don't know if you can see the debris in the background, but I am living with it for now, as there are so many more important things to attend to, like the sweet girl in front of the debris!

We had two successful visits to school, so far, once to Megan's classroom and again to meet with all the school staff that will determine her placement. They had a Mandarin interpreter talk with Shanna, and look at her photo album from Shantou. This really helped break the ice and she chattered happily with her. The school has a wonderful ESL teacher who is going to help Shanna learn English, and be her primary teacher of Reading and Writing. After they get to know her a little while they will assess her for any other services she may need. We have decided to try her in 2nd grade and see how she does. Shanna is SO excited to go to school and has asked me every day, many times, if "Shanna School???" She will start after vacation.

So, one bite at a time, the Elephant is being eaten. It is a big one, and Yes, the basement is still torn up and, Yes, I just moved everything upstairs to the craft room to make room for the tree. No, I haven't yet opened any gifts received in the mail-waiting for a moment where we can give them the attention they deserve. Yes, I finally opened the accumulated mail (only two days ago) and No, I don't have a Holiday Card yet. Maybe by Chinese New Year!

I am so thankful the many, many kindnesses and gifts that people have shared. I will personally thank you as soon as I am able, but for now, the group of you, my dear friends and supporters, please again accept my deepest thanks for all that has been given to us. We are so blessed by the miracle of friendship and family, and adoption. And now, I must go feed my family!!!