3 Months Ago Today...

in a non-descript room in Changsha our lives changed forever when a very scared baby was placed in my arms.  What a difference 3 months makes!  Hadley is the light of our lives.  She is always on the go, always busy, and always ready for a hug or kiss.  When she was placed in my arms, she didn't cry -- she just stared at me with those big dark eyes.  It is obvious that she was well taken care of -- she was healthy and clean and had obviously been fed well (which is not an easy task with a cleft baby) but she wasn't loved.  She didn't even acknowledge when the nanny left or react to her departure in any way.  Having known her for three months now, she was scared to death, but she was willing to take a chance.  It didn't take her long to decide that these strange looking people might not be so bad.  She still gets very quiet (which is NOT her normal) when she is not comfortable, but she clings to us.  She cries every morning that I take her to daycare because she doesn't want me to leave.  I doubt that she had ever been hugged or kissed or told that she was loved or she was special or beautiful -- she hears that everyday now and she just eats it up.  She greats me with hugs and smiles every afternoon after work -- there is nothing better to come home to.  She continues to amaze me.  If it's possible, I fall more in love with her everyday.  I can't wait to see what she will be into next!

Surgery day is getting closer and closer -- just 6 days now.  I'm getting more nervous everyday -- I'm ready for it to be over with.  Please keep her, us, and her doctors in your prayers.

I'll close with some pictures...

The Fall Carnival at my school was last Friday -- my parents brought her up so I could see her and show her off (THANKS!).  She's dressed in her Minnie Mouse costume but kept taking the ears off.

Yes, that's a dog bowl on her head!

This smile says it all