One Year Update with Karine (Antonia), Adoption 30 to Canada

Dear Amanda,

It is so hard to believe that one year has already gone by with Karine(Antonia)!  What an amazing year it has been!   Since our last update, Karine continues to amaze us.  The girl loves to talk!  There is not a dull moment in this house with her.  :-)  She's now speaking in 3-5 words sentences.  She's having some difficulty with articulation but the speech pathologist is encouraged with the progress she's been making.  So are we!  She has grown 10 cm (4in) this past year and her hair has grown out enough that we can tie it back.  She knows all the letters of the alphabet and recognizes quite a few numbers.  She's now recognizing her colours.  Her favourite colour is red.  I think it might have something to do with Elmo.  ;-)  She continues to enjoy going to a play group once a week and gymnastics too.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Karine enjoyed the Christmas decorations and of course opening presents on Christmas morning.  I know you don't get much snow in Xi'an but she looked like a pro this winter shovelling the snow with her little shovel and making snow forts with her brothers.  Karine was really looking forward to the Easter Bunny.  As you know, she has quite the sweet tooth! ;-)  She kept reminding us that the Easter Bunny would be bringing her chocolate.  She had a lot of fun with the Easter Egg Hunt.  This spring, we went to the sugar bush which was a lot of fun.  The kids really enjoyed tasting the maple taffy on snow.

Now that the beautiful weather is here, Karine has been enjoying being more outdoors.  Especially jumping on her trampoline and riding her bicycle.  She is still in love with Elmo and has a special seat behind her bicycle for him.  We always have to make sure that Elmo is strapped in his little seat.  It's so cute to see her looking back to make sure he's still sitting behind her.  We've enrolled her in swimming lessons and so far she loves it!  I'm not surprised as the first time she went in the pool she was like a little fish.   I hope everything is well with you and everyone at Starfish.  I know that you have been very busy with the recent baby surgeries.  They are very lucky to have you, Amanda, as we know what your love and care can bring to a child.  Karine would not have been so well adjusted and happy if she had not been with you.  We will be forever grateful!   God Bless,   Nicole

Visitors from Sweden: Joseph (Milo) at Kristian's House in Denmark

Hi Amanda.

Just want to tell you that we had a wonderful evening with the “Starfish family” from Sweden.

Joseph (now Milo) and I, looked at each other for about 10 min, and then we played, romp about and laughed for about 4 hours. We had so much fun and our parents have promised us, that we absolutely should see each other again some time!!!!! J♥♥♥

Today it is exactly one year since I came to Denmark, and tonight we (my mum, dad and me) will celebrate with homemade dumplings and fried noodles, yummy yummy!!

Have a nice weekend in Xian!

Love from Tim (Kristian)

Life, love and laughter,
Amanda

At Starfish, we have taken care of 136 children to date, arranged more than 165 surgeries and had 57 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada and in China.  Our latest adoption was to Australia  We currently have 46 babies under the age of 3 and a half at the foster home.  We have 14 babies who are matched and we are waiting for their families to come and get them, so there will be a mass exodus in the summer.

We had two medical teams successfully completed 35 cleft lip and palate surgeries in April and May.  We are so proud of these teams and want to thank them so much for their efforts.  Our grateful thanks to the Xian Children's Hospital for being the venue and for working so well with these teams.

Starfish Children's Services

US Tax Number:  20-4682916
Xian China

Website:  www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
Blog:  http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
Blog:  http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
Email: throwingstarfish0913@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847

Tim's First Winter in Sweden

This is a short video of Tim (Called Bryan at Starfish) and his first winter in Sweden.  Thanks to his parents for sharing this with us.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhyYbHrlloM&feature=player_detailpage

 

Life, love and laughter,
Amanda

An Update on Norah, Adoption 16 The Netherlands

Dear Amanda,

Here's some new photos. Can you believe it's been more then 2 and a half years since we got Norah (called Rachel at Starfish) ? Time sure flies!!!

She's an amazing girl, we are so privileged to be her parents!!!!

Norah enjoys school. She's still good at jigsaw puzzles and loves doing those. She knows all the letters of the alphabet and can count to hundred.

I've included some of her artwork; thought you might enjoy that.  This year she learned to ride a bike without side wheels and she is just now learning to roller skate.

She loves her big brother, but they fight a lot too. This girl knows what she wants and she will not let him be bossy!!! LOL

I included some photos from our visit to the circus too. She loved it and even got to sit on a horse and ride two rounds. She was so proud of herself!

We can't wait to see you and everybody at Starfish this summer, especially Xiao Liu. (her nanny while she was at Starfish)

See you soon!

 

Love, 

Jet