Couldn't resist these pictures

Anna loves pulling up


Ryan playing Anna's favorite game with her, Peek a Boo

Chinese New Year Part II

We attended Chinese New Year in Reno with a group of families who adopted from Asia. It was so nice to meet others in our area. There are 2 other girls from Taiwan, both adopted through St. Lucy's in Southern Taiwan. Samantha (the girl in the light dress) is Richard's daughter (who Anna is with in the second picture). When we were frustrated with trying to adopt from China and India, it was Richard who told us about adopting from Taiwan. On his experience, we started the process of looking seriously at Taiwan. It must have been meant to be because the day Richard was in our office and told us about Taiwan, our original agency asked us about switching to Taiwan and I also read about it on a blog group. Hard to believe that was just a little over a year ago. Look where we are now!


Ryan and "Three girls from Taiwan."


Anna and Richard




Some of the girls take language and dance lessons from Gigi and performed for us. They were so cute to watch!

Chinese New Year

Ryan and Anna get their Red Envelope






We had planned on eating out on the first night of CNY, but Ralph wasn't feeling well so I picked up Chinese take-out. When I picked up the food I showed pictures of Anna in her traditional outfit to the owner of the Mandarin Gourmet who we have known in passing for years. I didn't realize, but he is from Taiwan also. He said that he and his mother are some of the few from Taiwan who live in the area. We are planning on eating dinner in soon to show Anna off.

The kids had fun with the Chinese food and opening their Red Envelopes and fortune cookies.

We got our first stupid comment today

I think I handled it very well. And now I've worked myself into a pretty admirable snit. I think it took me by surprise since no one has said anything unsolicited in the almost 4 months and when I do talk to people they have been so nice. I know you all would understand.

I was getting my brows waxed and had Anna with me. Being CNY, she was in a little traditional outfit (she was so cute!) and I had a jacket on I bought in Taiwan. This older lady came in and talked to the staff there. I have to say, she already appeared angry and I get the impression she may be grieving. So, she sat down and looked at Anna for a few seconds. No, not the usual look, but more like she was looking at something unappealing. Then in a angry manner she asked

"So, is she yours?"

I said yes, I adopted her from Taiwan.

Then she asked "So why didn't you just have your own?"

I said when I had my son I went into heart failure and was looking at a heart transplant for a year. And while I recovered, I can't have another bio child. (I probably wouldn't have explained all that, but I was already a little upset and wanted to give her a little verbal slap back).

She then asked, also angry "So, is your son still around?" I thought Yes, but thankfully not right here!

She responded looking at Anna, "So what do you have to do to get one of them?"

I started to explain "A lot of time, energy, paperwork and money..."

She interrupted and asked "So, what happens to the PARENTS? Don't they care about them?"

Nicely, I said Anna's birth mother was in college when she got pregnant and it's not common for women in Taiwan to raise babies alone."

She interrupted again and stated to ask something basically to the effect of...So they just give away the kids to whoever will take them?

I started to say here's what we had to go through to even qualify but I was called back. Probably a good thing.

I think although the questions bothered me, it was more the angry way it was done. Very aggressive. I understand as a Clinical SW why people act the way they do, but it's totally different when you feel someone is attacking your baby. Now I want to go back and slap the woman, and I don't mean verbally!

-----
Update:

As Anna's father, it would have gone as far as "Why didn't you have your own?" to which I would have replied: Why don't you mind your own g-dammed business?

Further comments would have been met with cold glares, reciprocal rudeness, targeted flatulence or pistol-whipping. (As appropriate.)

My wife is a genteel woman of great patience. This is a Good Thing given that she's married to me...

R.

Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is Thursday, February 7th. On the 9th, there is a celebration at Circus Circus for families who adopted, or are adopting, from Asia. Most of the kids are from China, but there are two others I know of from Taiwan. Ryan is looking forward to wearing his Kung Fu outfit and I got a new traditional pant set for Anna as the ones I bought in Taiwan are too big.

January Photos

With Family Friends the Larsons and Aunt Sue at Cambria



Anna and Ryan with Great Grandma Force and Grandpa Mike



With Aunt Sue and Great Grandma Jernigan



Fun in the Tub!






Anna had her first "road trip" in the end of January. Anna, Ryan, mom and Grandma left for a week to see family in California. We stayed in Sacramento the first night, then on to King City in a torrential downpour. It was wonderful to see Great Grandma Jernigan, Aunt Sue and Uncle Chuck (and Harley their 125 pound lab!) and Aunt Karen and Uncle John.

Then it was off to Cambria, a beautiful coastal town on the central coast, for several days of R&R. We stayed at a wonderful hotel with a deck looking out on the ocean. We relaxed at the hotel and visited the Elephant Sea Lions with family friends Sandy and George Larson who volunteer as guides. All went well until Ryan developed an ear infection and we had to take him to the ER. The next night he was feeling better and Anna got a temperature, just in time to get back in the car for the next leg of our journey.

We stopped at Red Robin north of Fresno for lunch. Right after we were seated, Anna started fussing and threw up all over herself and Mommy. Luckily we had some clothes we had already worn we could change into as the suitcase was at the hardest spot to reach in the car. Hey, they were a lot cleaner than the ones we had on!

We finally arrived at Great Grandma Force's in Murphys, which is several hours from home. We had a nice visit, but had to cut it short due to an arriving winter storm.

After a stressful drive home over snow and through avalanche areas, we finally arrived home a week after we left. It was a great trip, but we were all happy to be home.

Now, several days later, Anna is home with a high fever and ear infection. She started antibiotics today and will hopefully be feeling better soon.