The End...

...is only the beginning!

This blog was started on June 24, 2008.  Four years later, our long-anticipated, much-loved daughter Sophia has been home for over a year.  It has always been my intention to use this blog as a record of our adoption journey and God's faithfulness to us.  That has been accomplished here and Sophia is now a well-integrated member of our family.  Therefore, this will be my last post on this blog...from now on you can find me--and Sophia--at our family blog, www.merrilymusingmom.blogspot.com!

Praising God for His faithfulness on our Silk Road Journey...

Forever Family Day...A Year Later

What a difference a year makes!! In the throes of adjustment, sleep deprivation, and PADS after Sophia came home last year, I never thought I would make it through another day, let alone a whole year!  But as so many of my dear friends encouraged me in those hours and days following Sophia's first "Forever Family" day, the outlook did get better and is totally different now.  I thank God for those dear friends who cheered me through those rough days when I wasn't sure what in the world we were thinking...you know who you are!!

Sophia on her first "Forever Family" day, one year ago.  Her foster mother felt as though she was "giving one of her children away as in marriage", thus the white dress.

So, it's time for a one year update.  We've been so busy, I didn't keep up too well with my monthly updates, but I'll try to recap what Sophia has accomplished recently.  She is a totally different little girl then the one we brought home a year ago.  There are still many areas in her life where growth is needed and expected, but she has certainly made a lot of progress in one year!

Mobility:  When Sophia came home, she wasn't walking.  She now runs everywhere, including on uneven surfaces, without blinking an eyelash.  I have to make sure I stand between her and freedom, because she will take off on me in parking lots and stores!  She loves life, and will often hop and skip with joy when she's happy or excited about something.  She does not use her sure step inserts in her shoes currently because she has outgrown them.  We are awaiting our next doctor's visit to see if she really still needs them.  The only physical issue we are really still dealing with is a little bit of spasticity in her right arm and hand.  She received one round of botox a few months ago which has helped loosen those muscles, and she has started occupational therapy at Hershey Medical Center to strengthen the muscles while they are loose.

Vision:  Sophia received glasses a couple of months after coming home.  She did really well with them for awhile, but in the last couple of months, she won't keep them on.  We are planning a follow up visit to see if her vision has changed or perhaps she has grown to the point where the glasses don't fit properly.  But she seems to be seeing fine without them!

Eating:  This was a HUGE issue when we came home, as Sophia was only drinking a thick, gooey substance that we made from rice powder and cereal from a bottle.  She quickly adjusted to milk and some solids, and with the help of a feeding clinic, she is now pretty much eating anything.  Just in the past month we have totally given up the bottle and are drinking from "big girl" cups!  That was a battle, but we survived it!!  We are so proud of Sophia in this area!

Communication:  This is our biggest area with Sophia right now, as she does not really talk.  However, she can communicate her desires with little problem!  From whining to crying to all out temper tantrums, developmentally Sophia is in the "terrible two's and three's".  However, it is encouraging to see her at this point, because it is a natural progression in her development.  She will pull you to what she wants and use a few words like "num-num" to indicate what she wants.  Her receptive language is much more developed; we know she understands a lot of what we say to her.  We are working with her speech teacher at school and in private therapy to develop pre-communication skills to prepare her for talking in the future, however that might look for her!

Overall Growth:  Sophia came home barely able to keep 2T clothes on her little body.  She has grown several inches and gained weight accordingly.  She is now in 4T clothes!  We totally missed using her 3T summer clothes, as she skipped those entirely!  She no longer looks like a toddler, but very much like a preschooler.  Her eye contact and interaction with others outside the family has improved so much as her confidence has increased along with her bonding and attachment.

So, as you can see, our little girl is growing up!  We are so grateful to God for the blessing He gave us in our daughter.  She has made a difference in our family and we love her so much.  We will forever be thankful to her foster parents and the investment they made in her early life...they laid the foundation on which we have been building the last year.  We look forward to seeing how Sophia grows and develops in the future.  God has a special plan for our Taiwanese princess, and we are so humbled and grateful to be able to be a part of it!

Sophia two weeks ago at the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh.  This outfit was handcrafted for us to be used a year ago when we brought Sophia home.  However, it didn't fit (too big!).  Now, it's perfect!!

We love you, Sophia Elizabeth Chia-Lin Fisher!

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today we met our precious daughter, Sophia Elizabeth, for the very first time.  After three years of working on her adoption and waiting for God's timing, it was like a dream come true.  I've been reminiscing and rejoicing in how God has continued to work in Sophia's life and our lives over the past year.  If you care to reminisce, here are my posts from that day...

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Praising God for His faithfulness...

Five Months Home!

Yesterday was Sophia's five month home mark!  So many times in recent weeks I have commented to people that sometimes it seems as though she has been here forever, so I have to remember that she has only been in the U.S. for five months.  She has accomplished so much in such a short time!!

This past month we continued with Sophia's various therapies, but we also had a myriad of appointments that were scheduled close together.  This month Sophia had an EEG, an MRI, an orthopedic appointment and an opthamologist appointment.  All of this has resulted in orthotics and glasses and a return visit to the neurologist in a week or so.  Never a dull moment!

In other news, Sophia got to meet our dear friend, Aunt Sharon (Metzger) this month, and she got her ears pierced!  Below are some photos from the last month...enjoy our beautiful princess!

Sophia with Aunt Sharon

Showing off her shades!

In her beautiful fall outfit for Kindermusik dress up day

My happy girl!

Finally using her push-along toy the right way!

The bag says it all...

Little pink sparkly studs...what else??

PADS

Hard to believe it's been 10 days since I last posted...it really feels like an eternity.  We have been home in PA for a week now, and it's honestly been the hardest week of my life--right up there with those mind-numbing, sleepless weeks after giving birth.  Sophia has had a very hard time adjusting to sleeping at night, and we have had a hard time knowing how to help her.  As a result of very little sleep, high anxiety, jet lag, etc., etc., my health went downhill very quickly last week, resulting in a doctor's visit and trip to the ER.  Consequently, I have been diagnosed with PADS--Post Adoption Depression Syndrome--a very real and crippling syndrome akin to Postpartum Depression.  Fortunately, my husband and I recognized the symptoms of depression and I am now on some medication to help me over this hump, and my wonderful mother is here for the first week of Dave being back in Indiana to help me get some rest and proper nutrition.  This is uncharted territory for me...I usually have it all together and under control.  But this was beyond my control.  But not beyond God's.

This afternoon I began feeling somewhat like myself again, but I know I have a long way to go, and proper rest is so key.  Sophia has been doing pretty well during the day, alternating between playing by herself or with her brothers and wanting to be snuggled.  We have gone to the pediatrician and tomorrow she has blood work to endure, but so far things look good.  Eating has been a struggle, but she is doing better every day.  So I really have a lot to be thankful for.  We are getting to know one another and the bonding is coming slowly but surely.  Last week it was hard to even be around her...it was a conscious choice each day.  Now I am beginning to enjoy her little personality.  We have a long way to go in our bonding and attachment, but it's starting.

I can't thank you all enough for your prayers for us during this time.  So many of my fellow adoptive parents have been my cheerleaders during these three weeks.  I am indebted to all of you.  Adoption is a beautiful thing, but it's not without it's challenges.  And adopting a toddler, as my sister who adopted two at once says, "is not for the fainthearted!"  But as my mom said just today, she believes that Sophia will be a blessing to many in the years ahead, and I am beginning to agree.  I can't wait to get her therapies started and see just how far her determination and strong-will will take her.  God has given her so much potential!

I promise some photos soon, but several children are clamoring...back to the reality of motherhood!

Praying for a good night of sleep!!!

Visit to Cathwel

Thanks to all of our prayer warriors, Sophia settled down last night and slept well.  This morning we allowed her to wake up slowly, as is her custom.  She sleeps fairly late, and today it didn't really matter.  She didn't want her bottle this morning, although in hindsight, having used a new bottle, I don't think she could really get the thick stuff that she drinks out of the bottle.  But she didn't complain.  She did eat a little egg, rice porridge, and mashed banana at breakfast, but still not a lot of anything.  She definitely needs more practice with solid, even soft solid, foods.

Around 11 a.m. we headed out the door to visit Cathwel and the Jonah House.  Cathwel is the organization here in Taiwan that our agency uses for Taiwanese adoptions.  They are a Catholic organization, and we have been very pleased with what our experience with them.  Our social worker suggested that we come down to visit today, and I'm so glad we did.  We took some extra diapers and other gifts for the workers and children, and spent about three hours in one of their play rooms which allowed Sophia to run around and play.  It was SO nice to see her playing.  It really gave me hope and settled my nerves some about how she will react when we get home.  I think she is bored in the hotel a lot of the time.  (Can't say that I blame her!)

We were able to see the baby room at the Jonah house with all of the cribs and the sleeping babies (it was nap time).  Upstairs the older toddlers were also sleeping, but one little guy woke up early and came to join us in the play room.  If I understood correctly, he is 20 months old and has cerebral palsy as a result of his birth mom's drug and alcohol abuse while pregnant.  Interestingly, the caregiver left him in there with us so I was able to interact with him and play with him and hold him.  He seemed to love the attention!  Sophia was not very interested with him, but she didn't seem to mind him.  Later, one of the therapists came in and showed us how she was teaching him to crawl.  Dave and I commented later that it felt as though we were watching a commercial for this little guy...he sure was a cutie, though!

I know that a lot of people think about little girls when they think about adopting, especially from Asia.  But the majority of the children at Cathwel right now, ages 0-3, are boys.  We were told that next year the laws in Taiwan are changing regarding adoption because the Taiwanese birthrate is at an all time low, and the government wants to keep its citizens.  But many Taiwanese do not want to adopt children with special needs, so Cathwel expects that special needs kiddos will be very much available going forward.  Could there be room in your heart and home?

We left Cathwel about 2:30, right before a good, old fashioned thunderstorm.  Cathwel is located in a suburb of Taipei that is sort of in the mountains a bit...so beautiful.  We enjoyed our taxi ride there and back.  Now Sophia is napping and Dave and I are vegging.  We might try to venture out tonight...we'll see what the weather holds.  Last night we got Chinese take out...thought you might enjoy that photo.  It still makes me laugh to get Chinese takeout in Taiwan!

We have been able to change our flight to Saturday, so tomorrow, Friday, will be our last full day in Taiwan.  We have our AIT appointment at 9 a.m. our time.  We will probably visit the original Din Tai Fung restaurant for lunch, as it is right near AIT, and then hang out downtown while waiting to pick up Sophia's visa.  We plan on inviting our social worker to join us...she has been wonderful and we are so thankful for her!

Thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement after yesterday's post.  I found this quote in an article on the Empowered to Connect website today and it really resonated with me:

"As an adoptive dad, like all adoptive parents, my tendency is to focus on the miracle, blessing and joy of adoption – and rightfully so. These are the undeniably beautiful realities of the adoption journey. But they do not negate the equally unavoidable reality that there is no adoption without loss and pain. Adoption is at the same time born from and a response to hurt, loss and sorrow."

While the bulk of the article was pertaining to his adopted son's grief and loss, I think that most adoptive parents realize that there is grief and loss in their own lives in some way as well through this process.  I so appreciate my adoptive parent friends who have honestly shared their hurts and hopes with me these last 48 hours.  I also am so appreciative of all of my family and friends who have been praying us through this journey...some for the last three years!  Dave and I told Sophia today that she is one prayed over little girl--God has big plans for her!

With continued gratitude...



Dong Wu Hotel

We are staying at the Dong Wu Hotel in Taipei.  It is not one of the typical hotels that adopting families stay in, as it is not located in the heart of Taiepei, but rather in an area known as Dadaocheng, an older, historical part of the city near the Dadaocheng Wharf on the Danshui River, known for tea production.  It had very good review, however, and the price was right, so we decided to book here.  We can walk to the subway station to get around, and always call a taxi if needed.  I'll post some photos from outside later, but here are a few from our room, which they graciously allowed us to occupy as soon as it was cleaned this morning, long before normal check-in times.

The bathroom is equipped with all the necessities.

We have a "business double" room, whatever that means!

The shower is awesome!  It felt great after our long flight!

All the comforts of home...

The view from our 5th floor room.

We Made It!

Just a quick post to let you know that we made it safe and sound to Taipei! It was a 6 1/2 hour flight from Newark to Anchorage, and a 10 hour flight from Anchorage to Taipei. That was a very long flight to me! Unfortunately, the flight back with Sophia is 15 hours non-stop, and I'm not looking forward to it! But I digress...

Taipei is warm and muggy, and first impressions remind me more of Santiago, Chile in appearance (with a few traditional Chinese buildings thrown in!) then Beijing, China. They definitely drive more nicely here than in China! Instead of bikes everywhere there are motorcycles--hundreds of them--and they always come to the front of the line at a red light...it's kind of funny looking! We arrived way before normal check-in and the hotel was full last night, so we are waiting in the cafe area until our room is ready. It's very nice and cool in here, and the clientele showing up for breakfast are multi-national. We opted to stay at a smaller hotel off the beaten path (blink and you'd miss it on the city street!) but it has nice reviews from travelers around the world. I'll post photos later!

Will post more later...thanks for your prayers!

The Rest of the Story

If you notice the counter at the top of this blog, you will see that today marks the one year anniversary of when we were officially matched with Sophia.  In just a few short days (10, to be exact!) we will meet her for the very first time in person.  Wow!

If you are a newer follower of our journey, you may not know that God specifically brought Sophia to our attention twice in our quest to find our daughter in Taiwan.  We were "logged in", so to speak, with the orphanage our agency works with, but due to an increased interest in Taiwanese adoptions, the matching had slowed way down.  We were not looking for a baby, however, so our agency contact told us to keep checking the waiting children listing.  A few months earlier I had been checking around on other agencies' waiting children listings, and had requested information on a little girl listed with another agency.  The social worker attempted to get information for us, but couldn't find anything out from her contacts in Taiwan.  Meanwhile, we found another little girl on our agency's listing.  There was something about her pouty lips that looked familiar, but it never crossed my mind that I was looking at the same little girl that I had requested information on earlier.  The photo was different (she was older), the birthdates were different by a few days, and her name was spelled differently.

After we had been officially matched with Sophia, I met another adoptive mom who was adopting from Taiwan with our agency.  She was excited that we were adopting Sophia, as she had seen her photo as well, and was praying for a family for her.  She clued me in to another waiting children listing where Sophia was listed.  You guessed it...it was the same site where I had first seen Sophia and had requested her information!  What a way for God to confirm to us that Sophia was our daughter!

When we received Sophia's documents to review, we realized what had happened.  She had been with one foster family her first year and a half of life, but was switched about two years ago now.  The first family was in a different location that was probably supervised by a different orphanage.  So she was listed with an agency that used that orphanage.  Then, when she was moved to her current foster family, her file switched to Cathwel, our orphanage.  That's why the other agency social worker couldn't find any updated information on her.  We know that she was moved at just the right time for us to be able to find her with our agency because God willed it.  That's the kind of God we serve!

This is one of the first photos we saw of Sophia.  She is probably around two years old in this photo.

So now you know...the rest of the story!  

Two Weeks (minus one day!) and Counting...

Yesterday was two weeks and counting until we leave for Taiwan!  It was a busy and emotional day as I led my kindergarten in their graduation, including my own son, Benjamin.  My how time flies!  But another "to do before we leave" item is checked off my mental list, and that feels great!  My kindergarten children are now done with school for the year, so while the older kids finish up next week, I will dismantle my classroom and check yet another item off my list!

My parents were up for graduation yesterday, so we discussed the childcare plans with them for our trip. They will be watching three of our boys for a good portion of the time we are away, then have all four for a weekend, and then back to three for a couple of days before we return.  Our older boys' summer camps coincide with our trip, so they will be duly occupied.  If you think about it, though, pray for my parents as they are not used to the daily routine of caring for little ones anymore!

Dave is home, too, for the weekend, after a 2 1/2 week trip to Indiana.  We have been able to discuss some of our thoughts regarding our upcoming transition to five children, and he seems so much more calm about it than I do!  Basically, he's expecting the worst and will be pleasantly surprised otherwise.  I'm trying not to have any expectations--we make a good pair, I guess!

It's almost surreal to think that after three years of planning, waiting, preparing, and wondering, we are almost to the point of meeting our daughter.  God is good!  Soon I will be able to post her photos and introduce her to you...I can't wait for you to "meet" her!

Expecting a blessing...

Three Weeks and Counting...

Three weeks from tonight--almost to the minute that I am typing this--Dave and I will be checking in at Newark International for our flight to Taipei and Sophia.  Wow...I can't believe I am typing that!  The light at the end of the tunnel is near.  Tonight some dear friends of ours held a fundraising potluck dinner on our behalf with dishes from our adoption cookbook.  It was such sweet fellowship.  I love how adoption brings people together--in so many ways.  Through the donations received, we are now able to pay our airline tickets in full--isn't God good?

Please continue to pray for all of the logistics of our trip, and for Sophia's attachment and bonding to us when we meet.  Humanly speaking I can't even fathom the emotions she will be going through when she leaves all that is familiar to her in just a few short weeks.  Please pray that God will supernaturally work in her little heart and mind.

I hope to be blogging and posting photos as we travel, so stay tuned to this blog!  Thanks for being a part of our Silk Road Journey!

One week closer to holding Sophia in our arms...

4 Weeks & Counting!

The weeks are really flying by now!  It's hard to believe that it was almost three years ago that we began this journey in earnest, and now it is almost time to meet our daughter.  Our journey certainly hasn't been without its twists and turns, and even now, so near the end, it's not a cakewalk!  But God has been so faithful through it all, and we know that He who started this good work will see it through until it is completed!

I was able to finally book our hotel in Taichung, the city where our daughter is currently living, so our accommodations are set.  We will probably be having to use public transportation quite a bit, but I'm told that even taxis are pretty convenient to use there, and not too expensive.  I'm looking forward to the adventure of it all, as I definitely am a traveler at heart!

Please pray in these last weeks that God will continue to orchestrate His perfect will in our lives as things are pretty hectic with the adoption and our impending move to Indiana.  I am very cognizant of the need to transition Sophia as smoothly as possible, and all of the bonding and attachment issues that need to happen, and I'm praying that in the midst of this chaotic time, God will give her a supernatural peace and contentment.  Also pray for her foster family.  They are very attached to her, and she to them, and while they are doing a fantastic job preparing her for adoption, I know their will be a big sense of loss on their part, too.  I'm really looking forward to meeting them!

Finally, continue to pray for our needed funds.  We are about halfway to where we should be, but I know God can move mountains in these last weeks.  I'm so thankful for some wonderful friends who are planning a fundraiser for us next week here in Jonestown, and for all of our friends, family, and even strangers who have given towards our adoption expenses these last three years--we couldn't have done it without all of you!

Counting the days...

We Got First Decree!

From our agency coordinator today:

David & Terri,
We received an update from Cathwel.  They said that they received the first (or civil) ruling on your case!


Hooray!  God is good!  We should be traveling mid-June...more details to come.  And as soon as we have a final decree, I will be able to introduce you to our daughter.  I can't wait!!

Only two more months, Sophia...

Tax Deductible Donation

Up until now, we have not had any way to offer a tax deductible receipt to anyone who wished to make a donation to our adoption fund.  However, for the next month or so, our church is taking up a special offering for our travel expenses--the final amount needed to bring Sophia home--and is willing to add any additional gifts that might come from people outside the church.  The church will then issue you a receipt.  If you would like more information on how to do this, please e-mail me at tfisher83@myexcel.com.  Thanks!

Trusting God to provide to bring Sophia home...

Amazing!

This song from Third Day so eloquently, yet simply, states what I think of when I think about adoption.  In many ways, our adoption of children here on this earth is a picture of God's adoption of us as His children when we put our faith and trust in Him for eternal life.  The words of this song, along with the masterful visual presentation in the video, is a powerful demonstration of this truth.  These guys get what it's all about!  Thanks, Third Day!

(Note:  You will have to turn off the music player at the bottom of this blog page to hear the video!)

So thankful that I'm adopted into the family of God...are you?

Christmas Frenzy

I can't believe that Christmas is right around the corner, can you?  As you begin your Christmas shopping, why not support a family in the process of adopting a child by purchasing items that they are selling as a fundraiser?

   

As you know, we are selling our Forever Family cookbooks (currently on sale...by 3 get 1 free!) and our Chinese, handpainted ornaments to help financially as we bring home our daughter Sophia from Taiwan.  But there are MANY other families in the midst of this journey who are fundraising as well.  Christmas Frenzy was set up by an adoptive mother of six as a way to get the word out about families who are fundraising for adoption.  God has not called everyone to adopt, but He has called everyone to care for the orphans...Christmas shopping from these families is a way you can do just that!

Thanks for caring for the "least of these"!

Finally!

The e-mail I have been waiting to read for over four months finally arrived today...our legal documents have arrived at our agency and will be on their way to our house tomorrow!  Praise God!  Last week was a rough week at our house, but through it all, God proved faithful, as always.  I received several e-mails from friends just telling me that God had laid us on their heart, and they were praying for us.  (Thank you...you know who you are!)  I know that God's timing is best, and I look forward to seeing His continued hand in our adoption process.
Please pray that we can get all of the authentications done promptly, and our referral dossier can get back to Taiwan ASAP!  Oh, and we are still in need of a few thousand dollars, but what's that to our Great God?!

Another step closer to bringing our daughter home...

Hope is Fading...

...not for our daughter waiting in Taiwan, but for the millions of other boys and girls around the world who are waiting for their forever families.  View this post on my sister's blog to see a powerful video created by a young man who gets it!