I ordered two little Chinese Calin dolls on line for the girls this Christmas. Emma is really into baby dolls. I picked up some doll clothes at Walmart and wrapped them up for Christmas too. The day after Christmas, Emma was in her room playing with her dolls and dressing them. I happened to be in there putting up laundry and overheard her talking to her dolls. She threw her Chinese baby doll out of the crib and said, "No China crib, baby!" I walked over and sat down and said, "Why can't the baby lay in the crib?" She said, "Baby no like China crib." I asked why? She said, "Baby cry in China crib. Baby scared." Then she got this far off look in her eyes and started sucking her fingers and drooling. I said, "When the baby cried in the China crib did someone come and take care of her?" She started crying and saying, "Baby cry 'mama'! Nobody come. Baby scared!" I said, "Emma, God heard the baby cry in the China crib and sent her a mommy and daddy to love her and keep her safe for ever and ever." She said, "You ever never leave me?" I said, "No, we'll never ever leave you. If you cry at night, mommy or daddy will always come." She kept repeating "you never ever leave me." several more times. I kept reasurring her and hugging her. I've read that when something triggers a memory from their past, you shouldn't distract them, just comfort them. It's healthy for them to greive those painful memories. I asked her if there were other babies in cribs around her in China. She said, "Yes, all da babies cry. Nobody come." She just stood their sucking her fingers with huge tears falling down her cheeks. I held her and hugged her and said, "I'm so sorry nobody came Emma." She said, "Mama, pray for babies." (We often pray for the orphans at night asking God to give all the children in the world mommies and daddies.) So we prayed. Later that night she wanted me to lay down with her and she talked about the China babies and cried for about 45 minutes until she fell asleep.
When Keith visited her orphanage in China, he took pictures of the room with all the cribs. The floor was cement surrounded by four concrete walls. It was very cold. All the steel cribs were lined up in row after row. The thin mattresses were more like boards. Emma's bed was about right in the middle. Often in the orphanages, there are 2-3 caretakers in the day, and "total lockdown" at night. That means, no caretakers at night. If the children wake up sick or with a nightmare, no one is there to comfort them. And you can imagine when they bring a new orphan in, the baby cries all night, not yet knowing it will do no good. Eventually they learn to cry silent tears... for themselves and each other. Emma was 2 and half when we got her. No doubt, she has some horrific memories. When we first came home, I'd often go in to check on her at night and find the covers over her head.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Holiday fun
The last half of December has been eventful. An aweful stomach virus went through our family again, but in between all the sicknesses we had some holiday fun. My (Michele's) sister's and their kids came in town for a cookie swap. We had so much fun. We went into downtown Athens and had lunch and went in a few shops. We also celebrated Ellie's Birthday. Then the next day, Keith and I took Ellie, Emma and Ali to Chuckee cheeses to celebrate Ellie's Birthday "kid style." Ellie missed her Christmas party at school because she was sick, but we were able to go to the Chinese playgroup's Christmas party. The girls have watched "Merry Christmas Drake and Josh" about 1000 times so far this season. I don't get it??? But hey, they seem to. The boys have spent lots of time at home over the holidays and the girls (and Keith and I) absolutely love it!!! I'll post the pics!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
We said goodbye to KC (KittyCat) today...
KC's been a part of our family for 17 years. Today we had to bury her. KC was a small, beautiful, medium length black haired cat. She wasn't always the most affectionate cat however. She would purrr and cuddle with you one minute and the next she'd swat at you unexpectedly. We pretty much kept our distance unless she sought out our affection; then we'd ever so carefully pet her. Her last week of life however, she seemed to be trying to make up for the last 17 years. She loved and nuzzled with us and purred her goodbyes. She even climbed up on the bed one night with Keith and I and our dog Buster and stretched out on Keith's stomach and slept. We always knew KC loved us in her own disfunctional way. Everyone took part in the funeral for our beloved pet. Keith and Drew dug a grave in our back yard and buried her. They made a cross to mark her grave. Ellie colored a beautiful plaque and placed it beside the grave. Keith read a scripture (Job 12:7-10) and said a few words and when we asked who wanted to pray, Emma insisted. She said, "Tanktu God for our lunch and snacks and for Ray and Fei (her and Ellie's Chinese mentors) and for a great job, Amen"... and we all said Amen.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
"Look at my happy face"
Emma's latest little phrase is "look at my happy face mom." She tells me that when she's just so happy she could pop, when she's grateful for something, or just to let me know she's ok after she's been crying. I love the directness and vulnerability in children. Oh if we could all be that way...
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
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