Brennna News

Three weeks ago today we had one of the most overwhelming and terrifying days of our lives. It was also one of the most important because it was the day we met Brenna. We arrived at the Guangdong provincial adoption center along with many other families from all over the world. Just a few minutes after our arrival we were told that Brenna was in fact there and they brought her out to us. We were overjoyed to see her finally, but we could tell that from her point of view, this was a traumatizing day. She was so sick and looked so bad--we can't express what went through our minds. A few minutes after holding her, the nanny and nurse who'd brought her told our guide that she'd been hospitalized for one week and had just been released three days before. That began the crazy ups and downs of that week. Our parent hearts began fighting for our daughter that day and we are so thankful she's ours. She is a joy to watch as she gets better and learns about the world. She is granting us the privilege of getting to know her little by little.

Today as we think back on that hard time just a short time ago, we had a very different experience. We had our big appointment with the local international adoption clinic. We spent about 2.5 hours there between a nurse, social workers specializing in attachment and bonding, and a pediatrician. It was awesome! It's so encouraging to go where people understand what we're doing and can give us practical advice on how to best parent our daughter.

We got great news overall--she now weighs 15 pounds!!! That's 4 pounds in 3 weeks. Unbelievable!!! She's still the size of a 4 month old, but she's huge to us!! All of the tests that have come back so far are all normal!!! The main parasite they were testing for was negative. There are still other parasites we're waiting to hear about, but so far, so good. She does not have any problems with growth hormones or celiac disease. Her thyroid looks great and even her iron is good. The only other tests we're waiting for is all that they screen for in the newborn screenings. We'll see but we don't think they'll find anything. With that said, she was basically a healthy baby at birth (around 7 pounds) and then has been underfed for the last 18 months. Most likely she had a virus that put her in the hospital before we got her. I am being very careful in what I write on this public post, but as a parent it's so surreal to realize all of this...

With that said, our precious girl, our Brenna, our "Shao-shao" is doing very well! She is getting stronger every day and sits up for long spurts on her own. She gets around best by lying on her back and scooting around. She is rolling onto her tummy more and more which is GREAT! The doctor thinks she'll be crawling within the month. As far as attachment and family bonding goes, she's doing much better than the therapist would have expected considering all the deprivation she's experienced. She is quite a remarkable little girl if I do say so myself!!!

She LOVES the water! We went in the backyard yesterday to swim in our little pool and she LOVED it! She loves baths now, too! She splashes and kicks. She now rolls her arms to patty-cake and has signed "more" a few times. She loves to feed herself the things she can and is eating a ton! She also plays peek-a-boo with things--so cute!

It was great to hear some more tips from the therapist and know that we're doing what we should to give Brenna the best chance to learn what family means--it's still hard at times, though. We were encouraged to do as we thought--to limit her interactions with others until she knows us. This is so hard b/c we want to show her off and we know others already love her and want to meet her. But the therapist reiterated that if we do certain things now, it will pay off exponentially in the future. So, if you happen to get to meet Brenna and wonder what you can do to help, you can constantly redirect her to us when she tries to interact with you. All food, goodies, toys, etc, should come from us. Interact with Micah--he needs it! We'll also not be taking her out in crowds for about a month. We promise that you will get to meet her when the time is right. Enjoy the pics!

Pics of Trip

I'm just posting some pics really quickly. They're some favs, and I'll post more another time... The ones without Brenna are of the hour before we got her. Then, you'll see the one where we meet her. The other family pic of her and Micah in red is on oath ceremony day...

Sweet Home Alabama

Hi, family and friends! We made it, we made it! The last two days were grueling--a 2 hour train ride to Hong Kong turned into a 6 hour mini-bus ride--LONG story. Then, after the long 14.5 hour flight from HK to Detroit, we had a 7 hour layover that became a 9 hour layover after a late flight. Then, on that flight from Detroit to Bham, we had to put all our things throughout the plane and couldn't get to forumula, clothing, or diapers when both kids had major stink fests in their pants and Brenna got hungry...it was NOT pretty. But, we made it! My sweet mother in law was holding welcome signs and balloons for us and we cried and cried upon arriving. Micah slept from 1-6 am and Brenna 'til 9:30am. They're both napping now--which is nice!

We took Brenna to her pediatrician today...she's already gained 2.5 pounds since July 6th!!!! She really had a come apart at the doctor's office--she has so much fear from her hospital stay I'm sure and I think maybe she just needed to cry some after all the change and stress she's been through. It was so good to be able to hold her and love on her as she came apart. She's a very brave, special little girl. The doctors will be testing her for all sorts of things, but we feel that most likely she'd been getting less than half of what she needs calorically and has a parasite. I cannot even begin to explain how it feels to know your daughter has been starving. So surreal. She's beginning to blossom more and more--the last few days she's starting to try and hold her bottle and touch food. We are quite sure that she was never allowed to get her hands anywhere near food--perhaps even hit or yelled at when she tried--but now she's learning so much. She's learned to wave the last two days and understands several words--her favorites are congee, eat, more, Mommy, and Daddy.

Thank you all so much for the amazingly clean house and the awesome food and sweet cards, pictures, and decorations!!! Brenna LOVES the picture of us as a family--she touches it and squeals--so neat! Brenna loves the congee her Chinese aunties provided--thank you!!!

Love, love to all!!!

Coming Home

Well, God did it! The paperwork was pushed through and we had the oath ceremony today at the US Consulate. God gave us favor with so many people and moved hearts to work overtime to get us on our flight Friday! Usually families have to return after the ceremony the next day for their child's visa, but they had ours ready after the ceremony!! Awesome! So, we leave for Hong Kong tomorrow and out of there Friday morning. We can't wait!!! We are a bit nervous about the cyclone heading this way and most of all about Brenna's health on the flight, but God has brought us this far, He can do anything. I'm too tired to think and need to go pack, but thank you for everything--for all of your encouraging notes and emails! We'll try and post some pics later...

Getting to Know Brenna

Well, each day we get to know our sweet girl more and more. It's a privilege to see each part of her she dares to share. Yet as she gets better physically, we see more of her broken heart and fear come out at the same time. Everything is scary for her, and everything exhausts her right now. Please continue to pray for her to learn to trust us, to learn to relax and let us be in control for her.

Here is what we know about our daughter so far: she LOVES congee! This is sort of a thick chicken and rice soup. She'll eat other things and does like forumula, but she lights up when we give her congee! Brenna also likes to play peek-a-boo, to be tickled, and to watch Micah do just about anything. She loves for mommy to hold her and sing to her. She LOVES to be called her Chinese nick-name: dai ye mei, big eyed girl. She already prefers for mommy or daddy to hold her. In fact, when others do, she protests mightily! She loves to kick her legs and hold her feet! She does not, on the other hand, love a bath...we gave her her first last night and we just got through it. We'd waited this long which was hard considering how sick she's been and not so clean. She has 4 teeth and enjoys throwing any toy you give her to watch your reaction and then demands it back.

This time in China has been quite a testing ground--for our faith and our family. We know that we know that God is good and mighty to save. He has lavished us with love, His presence, His wisdom, and His favor.

What's funny about this time in China is that we are really in little US like there are little China's in the US. We're in this lavish, gorgeous hotel with Papa john's delivery and hamburgers...the most hilarious thing is that Mattel has a deal with this hotel and they provide Barbies for adoptive moms--the Barbie is holding a Chinese baby. So funny!!! The best thing about this hotel is the breakfast that's included--imagine anything you'd want to eat for breakfast--western or Chinese--and they have it. We all pig out!

One funny thing about my mom--she reads the China Daily every day. We keep telling her she's going to be pro-com when we go home--so funny!!

It's so fun seeing so many other families from all over the world who are adopting, too. Their families are so unique and beautiful!

Well, I'm gonna go take advantage of this opportunity--both kids are sleeping with Daddy!

PLEASE pray for our paperwork as they are making us change from non special needs to special needs. We have been waiting to hear from the Consulate b/c it's the weekend--we've had to wait it out. We'll hear more tomorrow.

Love, love to all!

Snow Family Pictures

Please Pray

Made it to China safely and went to meet Brenna this morning early. She is very sick. Don't know all the details yet, but very difficult situation. Will update later. Please pray. Desperately upset.