Good-bye!

Hello everyone!

Well I have decided to retire this blog and create a new one that is dedicated to both my girls. Since this blog is "Searching for Janie" and my other was "Hurry home Lexie" I feel that I need a new one since my girls are finally home and together (at last)!!! 

The new blog has a special title.....of course my last name is incorporated and these girls are the sunshine of my life. So the new blog is:

www.twosunshinedays.blogspot.com

You can access it by clicking on the address or clicking HERE.

I am still working on the layout but will hopefully have a new post soon. Good-bye to this blog. It has been nice documenting all the steps of this journey. 

Random Sweetness! ( a few new photos added)

I have so many thoughts running thru my head...so much to tell everyone, but so tired I can hardly think. The girls are great....just having a hard time adjusting to Georgia time. We have had several middle of the night parties at my house-hmmmmm. Anyone want to join us? Probably not, I kind of wish I didn't get that invitation either. 

But, I'm sure it will get better each day. In the meantime, here are some random pictures in no particular order.

Love to you all!

Tonya, Janie, and Lexie

On the last day in Taiwan, both the girls were napping in thier separate cribs-in separate rooms. This is how I found them--identical sleeping sisters!

I called Janie a "peeping tom" while in Taipei. The hotel we stayed in had vents in the bathroom door. Whenever mom or I would go to the restroom or shower, Janie would lay on the floor and peek at us. Funny girl!

Christmas Tree in our hotel lobby! Janie didn't like this baby carrier too much. I think she only stayed in it for a few minutes!

Outside the Taipei 101 building!

The 2010 International Flora Convention (I think that is what it is called) is in Taiepi right now. Beautiful flower exhibits everywhere....blankets of flowers and beauty!

Lexie at home sleeping in her own crib!

Janie showing Lexie one of the MANY, MANY, MANY toys she is willing to share! (hopefully)

Mimi and her girls on their second morning home!

On our last full day in Taipei we went to a little day market going on a few blocks from our hotel. Having been to Taiwan twice now, I am a little disappointed I never made it to one of the big night markets. I hear they are wonderful. However, I also hear they are BEYOND CROWDED. Wall-to-wall people all wondering thru tons of food vendors and other craziness. I just never could get the strength (or courage) to take Janie and for sure not Janie and Lexie....so we attended this smaller version....it was fun and interesting!!

Some of the interesting food vendors--there were lots of unusual things!

Some sort of dancing entertainment-not quite sure what we were watching-it looked like belly dancing. And yes, I'm pretty sure that was a guy in the middle--hmmmm. We had no idea what was going on, but Janie loved the music and was dancing and clapping too!

They had some children's games/activities. Janie had fun! Lexie tried but had more fun just watching all the other kids!

Home Sweet Home

We are home, we are tired, we are a little sick, but we are a family! As I type this my 2 angels are sleeping peacefully (until one of them wakes up). We are all adjusting to the time zone and sleep issues....but we will get in a routine soon. 

Thanks for all the prayers during our journey. We appreciate each and every one of them as they were all felt!

Pictures and updates soon!

We have the visa!!

So I know I didn't post anything yesterday. I was sooooooo tired. When the girls went to sleep I did too. Mom stayed up and did some laundry at the hotel while I crashed--and crashed hard! She woke me up and made me eat some dinner (room service she had delivered for me). I really didn't want to but was sooo glad she made me. I felt so much better today after having food and sleep. 

Lexie is doing great during the day! Still some night time grieving--but all completely normal and expected. Janie is doing better. Her sleeping is much better now!! YAY! But she is getting a little more aggivated at Lexie sometimes. She loves her and likes to play with her (some) but Lexie pulls up on everything (chairs, sofas, crib, etc) and she pulls up on Janie. Janie isn't too fond of having her arms and legs used as props for her little sister....and a few times Lexie has grabbed Janie's hair--that is really something Janie does not like. But she is so sweet about it, she just whines and says "help" to us....such a great big sister!

We had AIT appointment this morning and was able to pick up visa this afternoon! YAY! Today we are going to walk around and check out some more sights and maybe go on to the Taipei 101 building. We went last year with Janie and want to go again this year with Lexie.

Took the girls to Toys R Us to play and look around!

Janie loved playing all the games!

And yes, that is her climbing the game...those of you who know her, know how she will climb anything!!
Lexie fell asleep during all this excitement!

Then Janie crashed too--it's hard work being a big sister!

My attempt at today's sweet photo...not so much "sisterly love" happening here!

Janie is adjusting to being a sister by taking her "paci" obsession to a whole new level. Check it out! A total of 4 green pacifiers: 1 attached to her shirt, 1 in the mouth, and 1 in each hand. Pretty soon she will start juggling them or stuffing them into pockets! Silly girl!!

Lexie still enjoying her thumb!

Me and my girls!

We love you all and can't wait to get home!! 

Last Day in Taitung

Today was our last full day in Taitung. We head back to Taipei tomorrow morning. Today our 2 main things on schedule were to:

1. Meet with the girls' birth mom again

2.Visit the hospital and nurses/social worker/doctors that cared for both Janie and Lexie

It was a great day. I think Janie has finally realized that Lexie is part of our family and not just a "visitor". We have still seen several jealousy moments but we have also begun to see her get really protective of Lexie....and still lots of sweet moments. Here are some from today:

1. For fun this morning we put Janie in Lexie's crib with her. They were playing and at some point Lexie got fussy so Janie gave her a pacifier.

2. I was in the bathroom giving Lexie a bath and she didn't like her hair being rinsed and was crying. Mom said when Janie heard her cry she took off running to the bathroom door to check on her.

3. This afternoon Janie woke up from a nap and Lexie was still napping she went over to her crib and said "baby" and looked at me and smiled.

4. Today when we visited the hospital one of the nurses was holding Lexie and Janie got a little upset and was reaching out for her. We had to tell her that she wasn't taking Lexie. She is ours.

5. Our hotel has a play area and I took Janie alone today to have some private time with mommy...several times she asked "baby?"

So sweet!!!!!!!!!! Melts my heart!!!!!!!

The meeting with the birth mom went extrememly well today. It was such a peaceful meeting-so much different than meeting with her last year for Janie's adoption. But that is all I will say on that. It is Janie and Lexie's story to tell...not mine. But it did go really well today. Lots of questions were asked and lots of answers given. I am so blessed to have met her, have pictures for my girls, and have answers to some future questions.

Tomorrow we head back to Taipei. Wish us luck as we attempt our first flight with 2 babies!!!

Take care! We love you!

By the way, Janie asked me to tell you that you will see lots of pictures with her sucking on her green pacifier. She is going crazy for it...at home I only allowed it in the crib. But brought it to Taiwan since I knew she needed something comforting. Well, let's just say she is EXTREMELY attached to it right now. I'm letting her have it, her world is turned upside down right now (new country, new sounds, new sights, new smells, new hours, and new family member). So, Janie asked me to tell you that she will work on giving it up when we get home.

Lexie asked me to tell you that she doesn't require a pacifier-her thumb works just fine!! 

Learning all about each other...

So today was a little more interesting. I think Janie has realized that Lexie is here to stay and not just "visiting". A little more jealousy is starting to show :):)

But, to be honest it comes in stages and is really only bad when she is tired and wants to have mommy cuddle her. One moment she is holding hands with Lexie, giving Lexie a toy, or asking about Lexie...then the next she is taking things away from her while making an angry face. Like I said, when she is tired she really gets upset with Lexie. 

Lexie is a VERY busy baby!!! Even more so than Janie. She grabs at everything and touches everything--she is extremely curious and smart. Janie doesn't mind until she is tired, then she gets mad when Lexie is grabbing at her or her things...we have seen a few tantrums. But we have also seen moments of sweetness with kissing, hugging, and when Janie's favorite song came on her DVD she went to dance and took Lexie by the hand to dance with her (sigh.....)

Janie is also a lot fussier than normal right now. We went to lunch with some Hannah's Hope staff and it was a nightmare. Not the lunch and not the staff--but Janie. Usually she will eat and then play for a while before she begins her "yucky restaurant behavior" but not today...nope, she was in her "yucky restaurant behavior" from the moment we walked in. I really do think it is all for attention. She knows if she acts this way, I have to react. But, wait until we get home and she doesn't get the attention she wants from it...I'm guessing it will stop then. Again, it isn't all the time--just a few moments each day. 

I'm still glad we brought her...I cannot imagine being here without her. She has helped Lexie's transition. Lexie loves to watch her big sister and wants to do everything Janie is doing....so cute.

Big day tomorrow: We meet birth mom and go to the hospital to visit the nurses who cared for both Janie and Lexie!

I'm off to go watch my girls sleep a little more before I go to sleep. I love looking at them sleeping...

Take care everyone! We love and miss you!!

Together At Last!!

Hi Everyone,

It is 4:30am in Taiwan and my girls are sleeping-yep, my girls!! Janie and Lexie are together. They both fell asleep around 8:00 last night so I went to sleep too..now I am up!! Lexie is amazing. She is beyond adorable...so tiny and so sweet. Janie is a great big sister. She is so interested in Lexie and Lexie is very interested in Janie. 

I have sooooo much to tell everyone, but I need more time. I just wanted to at least get a few pictures up.

I will say that Hannah's Hope (the home where Lexie was) is AMAZING. The nannies (special mommies) love the babies so much. They were sooooo excited to see Janie and so happy for the sisters to be together. They were sad to see Lexie go--lots of tears. To those of you that have traveled already-you know what I mean. To those of you waiting to travel, please know that your babies are being soooooo well taken care of and soooooo loved!! I knew it with Janie and I learned it all over again with Lexie. I had a short time to play with your darlings and I did get a few pictures for you...and if you sent things, they were given to the babies yesterday!! I will email each of you privately with more details about your babies (it might be tomorrow though)..we have a busy day ahead of us and my girls are keeping me BUSY!!

Janie: She is still having some sleep issues. It isn't jet lag-she just isn't sleeping much. But when she does finally crash, she crashes hard. But when she is awake, she is soooo happy and extremly wild and crazy!!! She loves Lexie-giving her toys, pacifer, etc and not too jealous. A little but not too much (yet). It is funny though, she wants to do whatever Lexie is doing. When I made Lexie a bottle, Janie wanted one too. When I changed Lexie's diaper, Janie got a diaper and laid down too....so cute!!!!

Lexie: She is an active thing. Loves to crawl around and grab everything in reach. Wants everything that Janie is holding. She is going to give Janie a run.....She is grieving some (which breaks your heart, but is a good thing). She is a much better sleeper than Janie. Janie has been up twice already tonight and cried loudly--Lexie just sleeps right through it. 

We are beyond thrilled and have so much more to share...just wanted to give you a quick update. I keep going from crib to crib looking in at my 2 sleeping angels! God has blessed me and my heart is soooooo full! I cannot even describe how amazing this is.

We love you all!

Taipei sights and the zoo!

First off--let me say it is taking FOREVER to download pictures to this blog---it was taking a while recently back home in America-but taking really long here too....so pictures may only be a few each day-sorry guys!

We just got back from the zoo...Janie is napping (yay) and mom ran down to Outback Steakhouse to get us some lunch-so I had a minute to give you an update.

First, let me say that it is "chilly" here but I am still sweating. This morning I had on a long sleeve shirt but this afternoon changed to short sleeves-all the Taiwanese are wearing jackets and bundled up--too funny! 

Last night, we were way to tired to do anything but this morning after sleeping in some (Janie slept about 6-7 hours) we went down for breakfast and to walk around this area of town. I'm not sure why Janie is having such a hard time sleeping--I guess this is her body's way of handling the change of routine--but she is doing great-such a happy traveler! 

When we traveled for Janie we stayed at the Westin in Taipei. It was WONDERFUL. This time we really wanted a suite so that we could have a separate living area for one girl if the other baby is sleeping!! So, we are at the Agora Garden. We would have liked to get a suite at the Westin or the Grand Hyatt-but we would have to win the lottery first!!

The Agora Garden is good. Notice I didn't say great-but I also didn't say bad--it is good. The room is good as far as size. We have a separate bedroom with a big bed, dresser, and a huge closet. A big/nice bathroom. And a living area with a separate work area and a kitchenette- although no cooking supplies (plates, pans, etc). It is definetly not the Westin but it is OK. It has some great pros, but some cons as well. It does have a nice view of the Taipei 101 building and the garden area is very pretty...our room overlooks it....I will post about it later in case any readers are heading to Taiwan and needing hotel advice....

Back to Janie!!!

How do you entertain a 21 month old on a 14 hour flight???

1. Coloring (or "culwor" as Janie calls it)

2. Barney/Sesame Street DVD's and player

3. Mr. Potato Head

4. More coloring

5. Etch a sketch

6. Baby Einstein

7. More coloring

8. And our favorite....her Mimi playing "horsey". Here is Janie crawling on Mimi's back to bounce!!!

It is a good thing the gentleman next to us was so understanding. He said he was a father to a 3 year old son-he was great....very friendly, thank goodness!

A few pics from this morning:

Janie and her MiMi

The Taipei 101 Building

There were 2 things we hoped to do last year but never did...go to the Taipei zoo and go to a night market. 

We went to the zoo today and are going to night market tonight. The zoo was GREAT!! It was only $2 (American price) admission and we didn't even see half of it--it's huge! Sooooo many people there-it was beyond crowded but so much fun. Janie's favorites were the giraffes (or "raffe" as she calls them), the monkeys, and of course the elephant. She got an elephant puppet suvenior! 

There was also a new exhibit at the zoo today. It was called an American woman with blond hair carrying a cute Asian baby. Yep, that was me! I remember getting looks last year with Janie--this year is no different and I got sooooo many stares today. One lady stood right in front of me (only about 1 foot away) and just looked at me. I just smiled and finally moved away--tooo funny!

I love this picture above. Janie saw the shuttle train and kept saying "Choo Choo" so we rode it from the back of the zoo to the front exit. She waved to people and other trains going by. Then when it stopped she said "Yay" and clapped her hands....such a funny funny girl!

We are going to attempt the night market tonight. I've heard it is CRAZY CROWDED on weekends but it will be easier with just Janie instead of taking 2!!

Tomorrow we head to Taitung to meet Lexie and have her join our family! Can't wait!