Back to School and Update

Well it's back to school time!  Some of your children may have already started?  I'm sad to have the Summer over, but there is also some comfort in the routine of the school year.  My kids are excited to start back, so that's GOOD!  Hopefully I will be the only one shedding tears the first week back-lol lol.  I wanted to get this post/update out to you since my schedule will definitely be getting busier with school back in session.  😫  I will still keep you up to date with milestones and fundraising opportunities to help us with, but I will not be as active during the daytimes on social media.  Know that just because you may not see me post everyday, there is ALWAYS ALOT going on behind the scenes for the adoption process.  Our hard work to complete paperwork as soon as we are timely able according to the process, is an ongoing process.  And this Mama is doing everything I can to get our little baby boy home as soon as the process will allow!  Please still keep praying for our process and for our son's health while he waits.  I have applied for a couple more grants, but don't have any idea if we were accepted or not at this point?  We still have the largest part of our adoption expenses lying ahead of us.  We still owe our agency about $5,000. and then we will have the travel and in-country expenses/fees to pay in order to complete the adoption in the amount of ~$19,000.  So I am keeping the faith that He will continue to see us through these large financial challenges.  You have all been so wonderful and supportive in your donations, participating in our fundraiser sales, and just staying engaged with our process.  Doug and I are humbled by your choice to walk beside us on this beautiful and miraculous journey of LOVE.  Please don't stop, and I hope you don't loose interest.  I know it's a long process- believe me no one knows more than ME!😣  You won't regret following along, I promise!  You can continue to help us tackle our fees by either donating to our AdoptTogether site (link at the side of this page), and/or donate to our PayPal address at WaldmanAdoption@hotmail.com.  Keep an eye out for the current or ongoing fundraising events. And above all, please keep our family in your prayers.  *Pray specifically for financial provision to complete the adoption, the health of Ming, speedy process to get him home, and balance within our existing family while we work so hard to get him HOME!

Excitingly, we did receive an update on him today.  There really was no new information about him developmentally that we did not already know.  Unfortunately it did say he had been fevered the past couple days, but this a.m. his fever had resolved?😷  So of course, I quickly responded that if he became ill and needed to be hospitalized if they would please notify us and keep us up to date. (for what it's worth??? Sadly-probably not much.  But I felt like I had to say it.😝)  The measurements they provided were: weight= 21 lbs (lost a lb from last update), his foot measures=11cm, 24 teeth, chest=47cm, head=45cm, height=80cm.  With the exception of his feet, he's a little guy😍 lol lol

First thing Doug texted me was, "What are they doing to my boy putting him in Hello Kitty girl clothes!!!!😱"  LMBO  Oh Doug...!😂 

Current Fundraising Opportunities to help our Adoption of Ming:

1) For the months of Aug.-Nov. Laura Shankel is graciously booking mini and full photo sessions and donating 50% of each sessions' price towards our adoption.  Please contact her today to book your family's photos 330-604-3283  Laurashankel@gmail.com

2) Sharon Jackson is offering a DoTerra workshop this coming Sat. as an Introduction to Essential Oils.  She is donating her 100% of her sales commissions towards Ming's adoption.  She has also created an event pg. on FB, so anyone that is not interested in the course, but would like to order some oils can contact her, and she will place the order on behalf of our adoption. https://www.mydoterra.com/sharonajackson/#/  You must notify her via email Sjackson1075@gmail.com if you want your purchase's commission to be put towards our adoption. Thanks.

3) We will continue to offer our Tshirts/Tank/Sweatshirts Sales. So please visit our store for styles, design, pricing, and ordering.  http//waldmancraigheadadoption.bigcartel.com (hyperlink also at the right side of this pg.)

4) DONATE

I will leave you with this precious video of Ming.  These pictures and videos are priceless to us families that are in the LONG process of waiting to bring our child HOME!

Adoption Triad

Good Evening Everyone,

I want to thank all of you that participated and helped us assemble our precious puzzle picture of Ming!  I just love how it turned out, and even more meaningful are all my friends and family represented on the backs of the puzzle pieces.  It is so moving and amazing to see how each one of you have helped in different areas and times of our fundraising thus far, and Doug and I are so appreciative and grateful.  What an AWESOME village we have gathered here.  And you are all moving mountains, and will help us cross oceans to bring our son HOME so he can get the necessary medical care that he needs to thrive.  Thank you <3

Some people have asked about our T-shirts sales, so I wanted to share with you the inspiration behind the designs we helped create. The adoption community loves a good adoption inspired T-shirt, but with that being said there are a lot out there all the time for us to order and help support other families in the process.  So as you can imagine there is a little challenge to come up with something original and that will appeal to others.  We discovered very early-on in our first adoption process, the adoption symbol or triad.  (Probably because my husband likes tattoos, and he thought there could be some cool tattoo designs made with this symbol incorporated-lol.) 

Adoption is a very complex system with very deep and mixed feelings with all the individuals touched by it, throughout the gamete of their lives.  Adoption doesn't even exist without great loss, and there are three primary sides affected by adoption.  

There are the birth parents, the adoptive parents, and the child; thus for the triangle symbol.  There are so many different emotions and situations that lead birthparents to the decision of adoption.  There is often great shame, fear, desperation, feelings of hopelessness, and even sometimes relief once they know their child will be loved and provided for.  But regardless of the circumstances and the ultimate decision, most a birthparents express that that they feel great loss and grief over their child. Birthdays of the child often bring back these feelings for a birthmother, year after year.

The second side of the triad: many people assume that the adoptive parents only experience excitement and anticipation of their adopted child.  Many adopted parents have waited and worked for years to complete an adoption.  Sometimes, the adoptive parents have had years of dealing with infertility or even loss of a child.  Adoptive parents develop very intense feelings and emotions throughout the long and trying adoption process.  Some adoptive parents/mothers even experience postpartum depression once they have adopted the child due to making the shift from the desire and dream of that child that they have worked so hard for, and now the reality of that child and how it has changed their family.  

Third, is the child themself.  Research has shown and more importantly we have heard from the voices of adoptees themselves, that one of the most important responsibilities parents hold for their child is their attitude they take towards adoption. Open and honest communication is vital when wanting to foster positive self-esteem and pride in their heritage.  

We have learned from adoptees that when families either overtly or passively communicate that adoption was not a topic for discussion, they grew up with a sense of shame about the secret and a perception of themselves as a second-rate citizen.  In addition, we now understand that beyond the initial loss of their birth family, there is also the loss associated with all the unanswered questions - what their parents looked like and why they were put up for adoption. 

In contrast to living the life of avoidance or a secret, adoptees have told professionals that when they grew up in families that celebrated adoption and the creative way they became a family, instills respect in self.  Including birth family knowledge and heritage communicated with honor, respect, and the attention that it deserves, says to the child that he/she and all that was involved in their becoming who they are is of utmost value.

Most important aspect of the adoption triad, it the heart, symbolizing how the three (birthparents, adoptive parents, and child) are forever intertwined.  They all represent the new family.  The birthparents give genetic gifts, the gift of ancestors, and their gift of the child.  The adoptive parents give their open hearts and arms.  The child unites both sets of these parents as a beautiful and unique creation both containing and binding together their heritage and their experiences.  

Now of course, when written in such simplicity adoption sounds so beautiful and easy, but adoption is NOT.  It's not for any of the triad.  Each family situation, as the individuals involved in the triad are unique and special and have to work through things differently and at their own pace.  This is also why many adoptive families speak of their "adoption journey" because adoption is just that.  Life and the new family is not set once the adoption if finalized.  These are individuals with an unknown history, a void, and often times scars from their life experiences thus far.  Healing, acceptance, trust, and unconditional love takes time by all the parties.  But most all adoptive families will tell you that no matter how arduous some families' journeys are, the child is always worth it.  There is hope, that beautiful healing can blossom even from a very broken start. And LOVE really is, what makes a family!

If you are interested in ordering or seeing our T Shirt designs, please visit our shop for the various shirt styles, colors, designs, and ordering.  (Portion of each sale to benefit our adoption.)

Click on the hyperlink at the right side of the blog. 

  or visit https://waldmancraigheadadoption.bigcartel.com 

Brittany's Hope Grant - increased!

Not sure if you read our last update from our AdoptTogether page? I shared that our family had been selected to receive a grant from Brittany's Hope, an affiliate program with Madison Adoption Associates.  Doug and I were going to sign the agreement and go get it notarized this weekend, when we received another email from them just Wednesday telling us that they had increased our grant another thousand dollars!!!!!!  Can you believe that!?!?  We originally were notified of it being for $5,000.  So we understood that we would be responsible to raise 1/2 of that amount and donate it to Brittany's Hope.  They would then confirm the donations raised and extend the total adoption grant to our adoption agency towards our fees/expenses.  Them raising our grant to $6,000. means we are responsible to fundraise $3,000.  That is the exact amount that our puzzle fundraiser will bring in when it is completely assembled!
Speaking of that.......have you seen our precious little guy's picture lately????  It's coming together thanks to all you donors sponsoring puzzle pieces.  Just look at him....he's so beautiful!

 I get all warm and fuzzy everytime I go downstairs to update the puzzle.  I'm doing this in my storage room of our basement, lol lol.  If you had 2 toddlers and 9 year old that is consistently kicking a soccer ball or shooting baskets around your house-YOU would TOO!  Plus it's quiet down there.  I think it's my time with him right now <3  Thank you for your warm wishes and little messages on your sponsored pieces.  I can't wait to talk to him about each and everyone of you, and your connection with our family and now part of his homecoming.

It's interesting, since Lanzi has come home, we find ourselves talking about our meeting them (our girls) in China, what we did, what their gifts were we brought them, how old they were........etc often. They will even quarrel over whose China it is, "My China."  "No, it's my China!"  lol lol  I even heard Lanzi telling Tingzi today that she was adopted from China.  I stopped dead in my tracks to see what next was going to come out of that little mouth of hers......  I had never heard either one of them yet say that before.  That girl amazes me!  She is only 3, but wiser than her years!  Then, at dinner, we somehow ended up in conversation again about them being from China and Lanzi asked if Jace was too?  I said, "No......"  And she of course was quick to ask, "Why not?"  Doug and I exchanged nervous looks as to say, OK who is going to take the lead on this one???? 😬  I of course, continued with, "He was born from Mommy's tummy."  What Doug and I were perceiving as a delicate conversation and trying to choose our words wisely, quickly took a turn to funny, thankfully.  Lanzi quickly made a disgusting sound and face as though she was appalled by that image!  LMBO. 😂 "Were we born in your tummy?"  "No...... you girls grew in my HEART!"  "Aaahhhh," she said.  "I love you with all my heart Mommy!"  💗💗
Tingzi and Lanzi both love watching their Gotcha day videos and looking through their lifebooks, frequently.  This puzzle will definitely be something that _____, I'm sure will also want to look at and talk about often with us.  (You notice, I left his name out?  Aren't you just dying of curiosity?)
Well come on folks, let's keep this puzzle reveal going.  1) I want to be able to refer to him by his name  2) We all now have a goal to reach ($3,000.) and then Brittany's Hope will match it!  That is such a blessing!  Each of you sponsors are a part of making that grant happen.  We can do this!
Only $10./puzzle piece, and you can send your sponsor/donation via our PayPal account  WaldmanAdoption@hotmail.com or you can send it via our Adopt Together page (see the link at the side of this blog.  Sponsor a piece for each member of your family, or from your children.  Feel free to put your message or your family's name(s) in the comments section of your donation.

You are already so loved, my son.  And there are a lot of people gathering to watch your story unfold and help bring you HOME!
Love,
Mama, Baba, Jace, Ting, & Lanzi  XOXO
                     and your Village

Happy 4th of July!

Hope you all have been having a fun and memorable holiday weekend celebrating our independence day.  We have!  We spent Sunday afternoon with friends celebrating our adoption and watching our kids play together.  It was a perfect day for a cook out and perfect fellowship for the entire family.
About a week ago my sister helped me make our photo book (digital photo album) to send to our son.  This is recommended to make and send to your child, in hopes that the ayi's will share it with the child and help prepare them for our faces, who we all are, and that we love them and are coming for them.  We made these for both our girl's adoptions, and they were both reviewed with them and they still had them on the day we met them in China.  Lanzi loves looking at hers and we can often times find it hidden underneath her pillow today.  We should be getting his in the mail from the digital company I imagine this week?  Then I just need to figure out how I'm going to get it to him in China!
Monday I received an email from my social worker notifying me that our homestudy update had been reviewed and approved by our adoption agency.  WOO HOO!  So now it can get sent to her supervisor for proofing and notarization.  After this important document if finalized and notarized we can move onto submitting our I800A to USCIS.  We are also able to start applying for some grants. (there will be many late nights ahead writing.....  :{  )
If you are on FB, you have probably noticed our puzzle fundraiser is coming along.  We now are up to 52 pieces.......only 248 more to go!  C'mon friends, aren't you at all curious what his name is?  Not to mention another darling picture of him that you have NOT seen yet!  Just $10. per puzzle piece(s), and we will write your name(s) on the back of your pieces so we can share with our son all the people that helped work towards bringing him HOME.

Oh listen to this GODwink that just happened last night!  So I get a call from a friend (also named Denise) that I have had the privilege of getting to know and love personally, from another adoptive Mom.  She was calling me to tell me that she has a friend that is hosting a Noonday Party Wed. the 5th (that was in 2 days, lol), and that she had shared our adoption story with her and she wanted to help.  So the hostess (Nanette Maletich) has chosen to donate 15% of the total sales from her trunk show towards our adoption!  Now why is this so surprising or different from me partnering with another independent sales company/consultant............because Nanette did not know me or of our family before last night.  The Lord placed Denise Lowe and Nanette strategically and perfectly timed to help bless our family and also be a part of this beautiful community we are forming.  Her party has been planned for over a week, and she just reached out to me last night and asked if she could bless our adoption with some of her party's sales.  Isn't that neat!  I certainly think so!  I of course will share the link below and on our page, but by no means want anyone to be pressured into feeling like they have to buy merchandise.  That is one of the hardest things about this fundraising- is trying to find a balance between getting information and different opportunities out there for all our different friends' interests, WITHOUT annoying you and making you feel as though you have to buy something every turn of the corner.  You have NO idea how hard and humbling it is to week after week, day after day put myself and my family out there as we climb this mountain of adoption expenses/fees.  But I can tell you with certainty that, we have climbed this mountain before, crossed oceans, all the way across to the other side of the world..........and there sleeps a little boy that is our son.  He is waiting on us and depending on us for his medical care and to have a family that he can call his own.  So I hope that you all can grant us the grace to putting up with all our means of funding this adoption.  Better yet, I hope each of you will in some even small way be moved and touched by our story and the love that we have found in adoption and our FAMILY!

http://bit.ly/waldmancraigheadadoption

Please share our posts and even feel free to invite friends to join our FB group that you think would have a heart for adoption and want to be a part of our journey.

Jace's Puzzle Tutatorial

Puzzle NAME Reveal Fundraiser

OK everyone, we are ready to reveal our son's name......but let's have some fun with this! We have had a photo puzzle made from a current picture from his update and have had his name printed on the puzzle. This completed puzzle, will be hung in a clear frame front and back, to display all the wonderful friends and family that helped contribute towards bringing our son HOME.

SO HOW DO YOU PLAY: Sponsor a puzzle piece for $10. or multiple pieces, to get your name written on the back of that puzzle piece(s). You can PayPal me your sponsor amount/#puzzle pieces, and in the comments of your paypal transaction write your message you would like written on the back of your pieces. (Otherwise we can just sign your name on the back of the puzzle piece😊)
PayPal acct: WaldmanAdoption@hotmail.com
(or feel free to use the AdoptTogether link to the side of the pg.)

Join in the fun, and let's put this 300 piece puzzle together!
I will post pics often so you can all see the puzzle coming together and his precious picture and name being revealed before your virtual eyes.
Feel free to share this fundraiser/post on your timeline's or in email for increased opportunities to complete our puzzle and share our story.

Thanks,
The Waldman Craighead Family

Update On Our Son

Sorry it has taken me awhile to write something, but as you have all probably noticed, we have been keeping quite busy.  I'm excited to share with you all an update we received on our son!  Once we have been given permission from China to pursue adopting our son, and that he was in fact matched with us, then you are allowed to request an update from the orphanage asking any developmental or medical questions you may have.  It's important that you think these questions through and make the most of the questions because it could be the only update you receive the entire wait and adoption process.  So these are some of the following questions we asked and answers we received:
1) We asked for a copy of his labs, or most recent.  But they did not provide any, and only commented that the hospitals are having a blood shortage now. He was to be going for blood the next week, and they would try to get a blood test done.  (haven't received anything  :( and likely will not  )
2) They report he is being transfused every 1-1.5 months. (which is actually impressive for China, if true?)
3) He has not been started on any chelation medications.  (Not surprising given his age, and in China.  However once home, he will be started on chelation medications in order to decrease his iron overload in his organs from the frequent transfusions.)
4) He is generally not sick, except for an occasional cold.
5) When he was found, was there a note left with him or a personal belonging?
They responded that a note was left with him, and that they would send a picture of it, but I have not received that?  I'm dying to know what was written on the note......my guess is, it would be his birthdate?  We will see?
6) Food likes and dislikes?
He likes round crackers.  Likes most food and has a good appetite.  (I hope that means he is going to be a good eater like Lanzi is......YES! 👏 )
7) What does he like to do or play with (favorite toy)?
Sometimes he is not energetic, so will just play on rocking horse.  When he is feeling energetic, then he likes to go outside and play on the slide.
8) How is his emotional development?  Who is he closest to in the orphanage?
Normal.  He is close to the "grandmother" who takes care of him.  (the grandmother in an orphanage is what they may call an older woman that cares for the children)
9) What gives him comfort when he is upset?
Give him some snacks.
10) What is his personality like in detail?
He is very easy going and well behaved.
11) How are his social skills?  Does he get along well with other children and adults?
Very happy.
12) How is his mental ability compared to his peers?
Normal
13) What words can he say, or does he speak in 2-3 word sentences?
Good for orphanage kids, can say 3-word sentence like "Hi, Ayi."
14) Not potty trained yet.
15) Is not in any schooling yet.
16) What does he eat?  Can he feed himself?  Does he feed himself with a spoon or a bottle?
He eats with a spoon and drinks with a bottle.
17) Does he speak Madarin or Cantonese?
Both  (Tingzi and Lanzi both were from provinces that spoke Mandarin)
18) What is his gross motor development like?
He cannot walk by himself yet.  The Ayi holds his hand to walk.
19) What is his fine motor development like?
Normal
20) Updated measurements and weight:
height 80cm (2ft 7),  weight 10kg (22 lbs),  head 46cm,  chest 46cm,  foot 13cm (size 6-7?),  20 teeth
21)  Is there anything else you think the family should know about this child?
He needs blood transfusion.  (lol OK, thanks!  It's true, quite a bit can and is lost through translation. lol)

So we were very pleased with this update to say the least.  There were no surprises, and we felt he was holding his own medically as well.  It would have been really nice to have received his current hemoglobin level. But if he is being transfused every 1.5-2 months, then we just need to continue to pray for his health and wellness to maintain while he waits for us to get there to him.

Our family has really been tossing around different ideas for our son's name.  But now that we had received the update, it really helped us finally decide on his name.  I know a lot of you have been asking if he had a name yet?  Well we plan to disclose his name in a fun way!  We are going to reveal his name in our next puzzle fundraiser.