Ana (Angel) was our fifth adoption. It is so hard to think that she left Starfish 18 months ago. It seemed like yesterday. Time really is such a foreign concept. I know for the families, the wait is seems to be an eternity and for me, it just flies by. Our adoption wall is empty and has been for more than a month. This is where we put pictures of the families for the babies, the nannies and the volunteers to see. We have so many babies whose papers are in Beijing. Hopefully at the end of this month there will be some families who will have the great blessing of getting to adopt a Starfish baby.
In the meantime, here is a letter about Ana from her mom, Jennifer. Sophie is her older sister.
Amanda,
I've sent you a couple of photos we took of the girls on Mother's Day. Ana's vocabulary has improved dramatically---she says just about everything now, but we are going to continue speech classes next year at her new school when we move. There are many sounds that she needs to work on, but we understand what she is saying most of the time. Her health is excellent---a little bout of pink eye last month, but that's it. She taught herself to play Sophie's handheld Leapster game, so we got her one for Christmas---she can do all the games on her own. She can identify all her ABC's and numbers 1-10. We can't get her to count still---she says 1-2-4-8-4-2-8....40-91-42??? It's cute. She can copy words and wrote out a little Mother's Day card for me.
She loves to help me fold clothes, put her clothes away and pick out her own outfits. She spends a lot of time looking through her closet and picking out various shades of pink to put together. She really likes her undies with butterflies, hearts, and flowers and likes to pick out her own pair every day. She is so girly in her taste---she loves to wear dresses and spins around and yells, look Mom!!!
Anyway, we are looking forward to moving to our new home (when we finally find one) and having our little family all under the same roof again.
All our best,
Jennifer
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Laughter
I usually sign off with the Life, Love and Laughter because I think it encompasses so much of what we do at Starfish. I am not sure if I would survive it there were no great moments of laughter in this house. Here are some recent funny stories:
I asked Mickey to make a chart so that we could track how pictures we were taking of the 46 babies. Well, she came and told me we did not have 46 babies, we had 45. OOOPPPPSSS What does one mouth matter in all of this?
Jack is talking and yesterday it sounded like he called me by name. It stopped me dead in my tracks and I looked back at him and he was just smiling at me. The older toddlers always call me by name and I think he followed what they were doing. He has got such a cute personality!! He is shaking his hands and clapping now.
Thomas made is safely back to Starfish after his surgery in Hangzhou and is looking so pink. It is wonderful to see. The funny thing is they sent his heart medication home in a VIAGRA box. I laughed so hard. My question is this: He was at a children's hospital, how did that happen?
Rose has been fascinated with the fact that Justin does not have a hand. (Amniotic banding) She is always looking at his missing hand. The other day the nannies asked her where Justin's hand was. Without skipping a beat she said: It was not me, it was Sean, he took it.
Last night I discovered that Sophia can laugh out loud. I just loved it listening to that!!! If you tickle her tummy or kiss her in her neck she does a prolonged belly laugh. When I found Sophia she was a preemie with a cleft and very dark skin. The orphanage nannies told me not to take her because she was so dark and ugly and that she was very weak. I am so glad I brought her home in spite of what they said. She is packed on the pounds and her cheeks are now the widest part of her face. A real little chipmunk.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916Xian ChinaAt Starfish, we have taken care of 85 children to date, arranged more than 50 surgeries and had 20 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US (latest adoption to North Carolina), Netherlands, Norway and Spain. We currently have 45 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
I asked Mickey to make a chart so that we could track how pictures we were taking of the 46 babies. Well, she came and told me we did not have 46 babies, we had 45. OOOPPPPSSS What does one mouth matter in all of this?
Jack is talking and yesterday it sounded like he called me by name. It stopped me dead in my tracks and I looked back at him and he was just smiling at me. The older toddlers always call me by name and I think he followed what they were doing. He has got such a cute personality!! He is shaking his hands and clapping now.
Thomas made is safely back to Starfish after his surgery in Hangzhou and is looking so pink. It is wonderful to see. The funny thing is they sent his heart medication home in a VIAGRA box. I laughed so hard. My question is this: He was at a children's hospital, how did that happen?
Rose has been fascinated with the fact that Justin does not have a hand. (Amniotic banding) She is always looking at his missing hand. The other day the nannies asked her where Justin's hand was. Without skipping a beat she said: It was not me, it was Sean, he took it.
Last night I discovered that Sophia can laugh out loud. I just loved it listening to that!!! If you tickle her tummy or kiss her in her neck she does a prolonged belly laugh. When I found Sophia she was a preemie with a cleft and very dark skin. The orphanage nannies told me not to take her because she was so dark and ugly and that she was very weak. I am so glad I brought her home in spite of what they said. She is packed on the pounds and her cheeks are now the widest part of her face. A real little chipmunk.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916Xian ChinaAt Starfish, we have taken care of 85 children to date, arranged more than 50 surgeries and had 20 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US (latest adoption to North Carolina), Netherlands, Norway and Spain. We currently have 45 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
Friday, May 15, 2009
Megan (Jasmine's) Trip to Disney
I love getting up dates from families who have adopted from Starfish. I love hearing just how much the children have learned and what wonderful lives they are leading since they left especially when you think about the fact that they were abandoned in some park/market/cemetery/hospital.
Megan was adopted almost one year ago and her mom sent a letter. Thank you Leslie.
Hi Amanda:
Well we left for China one year ago today. What a difference a year makes! Megan is still stubborn and more determined to do it for herself than ever. She hikes herself up and lays across the bathroom sink to wash her hands without using the step stool. She weighs 30 lbs now and wears 24 mo bottoms and 3T tops. We have been working on the potty training for months now. She is talking more and more but sometimes it's hard to understand her.
She did really great on our vacation and didn't mind flying at all. The girls had a blast at Disney and really loved Breakfast with the Princesses! Megan is also becoming quite the swimmer. We went swimming during Carly's reunion and Megan was getting pretty brave then. During our trip this time she went down a water slide with me, loved jumping into the pool and even floating on her back. Every time we saw a bird she would get so excited and shout "Momma I see a birdie". Every day while we were at Disney they would get so exhausted, crash and then start all over again. Carly kept saying this is the best vacation ever. Ken & I were so exhausted when we got back, we said now we need a vacation!
This weekend we're getting a new princess bunk bed unit so Megan will get a twin size bed instead of her toddler bed. They are both looking forward to this. Well I hope you enjoy the photos...she just loves taking pictures and when she gets hers taken she shouts "Cheese".
Take care, Leslie
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Megan was adopted almost one year ago and her mom sent a letter. Thank you Leslie.
Hi Amanda:
Well we left for China one year ago today. What a difference a year makes! Megan is still stubborn and more determined to do it for herself than ever. She hikes herself up and lays across the bathroom sink to wash her hands without using the step stool. She weighs 30 lbs now and wears 24 mo bottoms and 3T tops. We have been working on the potty training for months now. She is talking more and more but sometimes it's hard to understand her.
She did really great on our vacation and didn't mind flying at all. The girls had a blast at Disney and really loved Breakfast with the Princesses! Megan is also becoming quite the swimmer. We went swimming during Carly's reunion and Megan was getting pretty brave then. During our trip this time she went down a water slide with me, loved jumping into the pool and even floating on her back. Every time we saw a bird she would get so excited and shout "Momma I see a birdie". Every day while we were at Disney they would get so exhausted, crash and then start all over again. Carly kept saying this is the best vacation ever. Ken & I were so exhausted when we got back, we said now we need a vacation!
This weekend we're getting a new princess bunk bed unit so Megan will get a twin size bed instead of her toddler bed. They are both looking forward to this. Well I hope you enjoy the photos...she just loves taking pictures and when she gets hers taken she shouts "Cheese".
Take care, Leslie
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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The Great Wall Marathon
Casten and Emma have been training for the Great Wall Marathon on May 16th. They are both working for a German firm in Shanghai and I am so grateful to them for all their hard work and training. As if a marathon is not grueling enough, they are also going to climb thousands of steps. Their aim: They want to raise some funds for the Starfish babies. So far they have raised a total of US$3 195. If you would like to also support them please check out this site for a donation.
https://www.justgive.org/basket?acton=viewWishList&donorId=235961&listTypeId=1
I wish them cool weather and stamina to endure to the end and then to get a fabulous massage. My marathon would be taking on 46 babies and not running anywhere.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China
At Starfish, we have taken care of 85 children to date, arranged more than 50 surgeries and had 20 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US (latest adoption to North Carolina), Netherlands, Norway and Spain. We currently have 46 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
https://www.justgive.org/basket?acton=viewWishList&donorId=235961&listTypeId=1
I wish them cool weather and stamina to endure to the end and then to get a fabulous massage. My marathon would be taking on 46 babies and not running anywhere.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China
At Starfish, we have taken care of 85 children to date, arranged more than 50 surgeries and had 20 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US (latest adoption to North Carolina), Netherlands, Norway and Spain. We currently have 46 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Planting People
If your vision is for a year, plant wheat.
If your vision is for a 10 years, plant trees.
If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people.
Chinese proverb
What a great way to explain the vision I have I want to plant people. Yesterday I got my vision reaffirmed. We "planted" another nine babies. What a joy that is and at the same time what an incredible sadness because some had to stay behind. I will NEVER get used to the feeling of choosing from those children who ALL need to have the blessings of food, love, care and a family.
A group of nine descended on the orphanage Monday afternoon. It was a great time because in the morning the decision was made that no foreigners would be allowed to go to the orphanage to visit because of the Swine flu. I was suppose to bring eight babies home but came home with nine. Every one of the volunteers brought home a baby and because of that they got to name them. There was so much activity as we weighed and measured them all, bathed and fed them. We will keep the babies confined for a few days and then some of the heart babies will go upstairs and the others will stay in the cleft home, which is now also a heart center.
This was made possible by an extremely generous donation from a Chinese American foundation. I am so grateful for that serendipitous meeting that took place in Luoyang and for the part that everyone played. To me that was really a miracle because everyone there had a part to play. Thank you so much to everyone involved and for the lives that you will have a part in changing.
Last night was such a special time for me. Everyone had gone home and at 1:20am they woke me up to come and help. So I had some choice experiences down there. Jessica just reached for my hand and held on to it as I fed her twice. This morning, she saw me and smiled the sweetest smile you have ever seen and just kept on following me with her eyes. Caroline cooed at me as she drank her bottle and I cooed right back. The closer it came to the end of the bottle the less she cooed and soon she was asleep too. Holding the new babies as they eagerly sucked so early in the morning has turned out to be my favorite part of yesterday. How incredibly blessed I am to be a witness to the changes that are going to take place in their life and for the hope that it offers for a chance to have a family of their own one day.
For those following Thomas' saga, he came off the ventilator yesterday and will be released to the general ward from the SICU tomorrow. I think he is going to be in the hospital for another two weeks. Our collective prayers have been answered.
I am stunned that we now have 46 babies at Starfish. I could never have imagined this would ever be possible. That is some incredible growth from where I started with six in September, 2005.
Thank you so very much for all of your support. I could never have done any of this on my own and I am so grateful for the help, emotionally, financially, spiritually and in all other ways that I receive.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China
At Starfish, we have taken care of 84 children to date, arranged more than 50 surgeries and had 20 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US (latest adoption to North Carolina), Netherlands, Norway and Spain. We currently have 46 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
If your vision is for a 10 years, plant trees.
If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people.
Chinese proverb
What a great way to explain the vision I have I want to plant people. Yesterday I got my vision reaffirmed. We "planted" another nine babies. What a joy that is and at the same time what an incredible sadness because some had to stay behind. I will NEVER get used to the feeling of choosing from those children who ALL need to have the blessings of food, love, care and a family.
A group of nine descended on the orphanage Monday afternoon. It was a great time because in the morning the decision was made that no foreigners would be allowed to go to the orphanage to visit because of the Swine flu. I was suppose to bring eight babies home but came home with nine. Every one of the volunteers brought home a baby and because of that they got to name them. There was so much activity as we weighed and measured them all, bathed and fed them. We will keep the babies confined for a few days and then some of the heart babies will go upstairs and the others will stay in the cleft home, which is now also a heart center.
This was made possible by an extremely generous donation from a Chinese American foundation. I am so grateful for that serendipitous meeting that took place in Luoyang and for the part that everyone played. To me that was really a miracle because everyone there had a part to play. Thank you so much to everyone involved and for the lives that you will have a part in changing.
Last night was such a special time for me. Everyone had gone home and at 1:20am they woke me up to come and help. So I had some choice experiences down there. Jessica just reached for my hand and held on to it as I fed her twice. This morning, she saw me and smiled the sweetest smile you have ever seen and just kept on following me with her eyes. Caroline cooed at me as she drank her bottle and I cooed right back. The closer it came to the end of the bottle the less she cooed and soon she was asleep too. Holding the new babies as they eagerly sucked so early in the morning has turned out to be my favorite part of yesterday. How incredibly blessed I am to be a witness to the changes that are going to take place in their life and for the hope that it offers for a chance to have a family of their own one day.
For those following Thomas' saga, he came off the ventilator yesterday and will be released to the general ward from the SICU tomorrow. I think he is going to be in the hospital for another two weeks. Our collective prayers have been answered.
I am stunned that we now have 46 babies at Starfish. I could never have imagined this would ever be possible. That is some incredible growth from where I started with six in September, 2005.
Thank you so very much for all of your support. I could never have done any of this on my own and I am so grateful for the help, emotionally, financially, spiritually and in all other ways that I receive.
Life, Love and Laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China
At Starfish, we have taken care of 84 children to date, arranged more than 50 surgeries and had 20 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US (latest adoption to North Carolina), Netherlands, Norway and Spain. We currently have 46 babies under the age of 3 at two foster homes.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
chinese.starfishthrower@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847
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