How Flipp'n Cute!

Ann at Redthread, the woman who assembled and sent our last care package out to Kai, really pulled through for us. She made some extra calls to the orphanage and was able to obtain a couple new photos and measurements for us. He is growing to be a big, healthy boy. He weighs about 20 lbs. and is 30" tall. He will be 14 months old on the 14th. We were surprised to also learn that they are planning to repair his cleft palate in China. We have heard many good things about the quality of the surgeries done in China. Although we are sad that we may not be there to care for him as he recovers, it will allow him to begin learning to speak that much sooner. If he doesn't have the surgery in China, his palette will not be repaired for several months after he gets home because of his transitional needs. Our fingers are crossed that we will receive our Travel Approval in the next few weeks. In the meantime, join us in kicking back and admiring the "cuteness" that is Kai. :)

Care Package #2

As I had mentioned in a previous post, we mailed out a care package to Kai several weeks ago. The small box included a few infant toys, candy for the nannies, a baby blanket, cameras and a photo album. Our package also carried a set of questions that we generated for Kai's caregivers in hopes that we can someday share pieces of his past with him. Unfortunately, the shipping slip that we were given did not allow us to track our package. We have no way of knowing if he received it. It was killing us that we might never get those precious bits of information. In my desperation, I solicited the help of one of the businesses in China that specializes in assembling and delivering care packages to orphanages. I really hope our original package made it to him- it was more personalized. In the end, we are glad that we paid for a second package to be delivered just in case. We opted for the "Chinese New Year" package. It included a small toy, silk pj's, a disposable camera, candies for the caregivers, and a letter from us. We re-submitted the list of questions for the nannies. This online store, http://redthreadchina.com, will guarantee that the package is delivered to the orphanage. I think he may get it at the end of the week or the next. I'll keep you posted if we hear anything.

Happy Chinese New Year!

What I've Been Up To

I've been trying to get a mish mosh of things crossed off our list this week. One of the things we are planning on doing for Kai is using alternative means of communication to help him out while he learns English and as he awaits palate surgery. We bought and laminated a series of baby sign language flash cards (which I am un-enthusiastically cutting out...there are 100 cards). It is easier having cards than a bound book; they can be laid out around the house as we learn/teach them to Kai. We are also creating a "communication book". This tool is often used with nonverbal students, those affected by Autism, etc. Most communication books are developed using a standard database of pictograms, however I'm just going to cut/paste/print different pictures off the web. Basically, a communication board is a series of pictures (with Velcro backings) that represent foods, activities, routines, people, etc. The pictures are often organized within pages of a 3 ring binder. On the cover of the binder are Velcro strips. The adult can present the child with choices or a sequence of events to help the child anticipate "what comes next". Both the sign language and the communication book are designed to encourage speech, not replace it. We want Kai to feel that his and our efforts to communicate will be rewarded with comprehension, not frustration and misunderstanding.

I also made a few book purchases (Amazon.com saw me coming this month). I picked up a book with Chinese phrases for our trip. It is VERY important to be able to find a bathroom when you need one :) . I also ordered a recently published book by an adoptive parent and fellow blogger. I'll let you know how it is after I've read it.

I also scheduled Kai's consult with the surgeon at Boston Children's Hospital. We set it for mid/late April to give him a bit of time to adjust. He will see our pediatrician a few days after we get home, but I've heard that the initial visit at Children's can take a while to book so I didn't want to wait until we returned to make those arrangements.

Lastly, our Visa's came in this week. I was a nervous wreck last month when I needed to send them out. To get your Visa, you need to FedEx your passports to some woman in NY. Passports can go for $50,000 on the black market - it was unnerving to hand them over to some random guy and trust that we would get them back in time. Trust me, all the other parents feel that way too - I'm not just being a control freak (not about this at least). Anyway, the Visa Department has mailed us the same THREE confirmation letters claiming that the American Consulate has been notified of our need for a Visa for Kai. I would assume that 3 letters means we are all set in the Visa department.

Well, I should go. I need to go pack for an INSANELY cold day of snowmobiling. Yup, I'm expecting it to be quite chilly. Oh well, at this point it's now or never - I'm gonna be a Momma soon!

Anatomy of a Care Package

Last night, three minutes before the post office closed, I was able to mail Kai's care package to him. We expect it to reach his orphanage by Friday. Many families send care packages in the hopes that they can introduce themselves to their child through photos and familiar smells. Some families send a set of questions for their child's nannies in hopes of learning a little bit more of their life story. I was limited to ten questions, anymore and we risk not getting any answers because the staff are too busy in their care taking roles. Our fingers are crossed that they will find the time to respond to these questions. If you look to the back row of the photo, you'll notice a small white notebook with Kai's picture. I figured that we have a better shot at getting a response if the paper is conveniently provided. We also sent two disposable cameras. We included a letter asking the staff to photograph Kai and the adults and children with whom he has developed relationships. I labeled his cameras with his name in his Chinese characters front/back. I also used the first picture in each camera to photograph a paper with our name/address/number/email in the event that our camera goes home with the wrong baby. We also sent Kai a couple of small toys. In the picture you'll see some stacking cups, a soft monkey rattle, a lion teether, and mesh ball. On the right, is our favorite item. We found a photo album for babies. It is soft, with crinkle sounding pages and has a handle with little sliding pieces. The fabric pages have brightly colored pictures and pockets for our photos. We put his picture on the front and ours inside. In the front row is a bag of chocolate with a note for the nannies to help themselves. Lastly, underneath all of these things, is a small flannel blanket that we have been sleeping with to help him recognize us. We bought duplicates of these items in the event that we don't get them back, but many families are fortunate enough to bring them home with their children.

Our fingers are crossed that when we pick up Kai, we will also be bringing home a set of these preserved memories to share with him as he gets older.