I Dream Of Jeannie: April 2009

"Gotcha Day"

1/30/2007. "Gotcha Day" to Gia Gong Jia Fan. Moments after we met Gia, her orphanage co-director brought out a photo album of Gia's life in Pingnan, Guangxi. She told us that Gia had shared her life with another little girl - Gong Fu Cheng in the orphanage and more recently in a foster home. Many of the photo's were of the two of them - often dressed alike - "like twins!" Gia would tell us later.
Gia looked at her photo's often, and it became clear to us that she grieved for her life in China and of her Gong Fu Cheng. Gia would tell us stories about her "we fighted!" One day I found Gia with tears streaming down her face, looking at her photo's and trying to call Fu Cheng on her toy cell phone.
We were told that Gia and Fu Cheng were in a foster home sponsored by Grace Hope. Through a very good internet friend, we found out that they had named Fu Cheng "Jeannie". My dear mother's name. She had passed away just 4 months after Gia came home. Hmm.... something inside me stirred and it was at that time that I decided that until Jeannie was placed with her "forever mama" that I was it - and I would do everything possible to advocate for her.
Gia was doing her part to convince us that Jeannie was her sister. One night I heard her tell her daddy at bed time " Gong Fu Cheng has the same daddy as me - in America!" Well, daddy was not convinced! Several months later on Mothers Day I received a card from Gia and her daddy that said "mommy, please do everything you can to bring Jeannie home". He said yes! He is the best daddy and husband ever!
After months of hard work, persistence, prayer, help from people I don't even know, we received approval to adopt Jeannie. We will be her forever family! Gia and Jeannie will have a life together with their big brother Ben!

We can't wait to travel to China and to Jeannie!

Gotcha Day 3/23/09

Friday, April 3, 2009

Home Sweet Home

We arrived home on Wednesday night as planned. We had no flight delays or problems along the way. The girls slept most of the way home. We were greeted at the airport by 22 family members with flowers, balloons and stuffed animals for the girls. Nana and Papa decorated our living room with a "Welcome Home" poster and balloons. Thank you everyone!

Jeannie seemed to recognize her big brother Ben right away. She went right up to him and gave him a hug. She was overwhelmed with the crowd though, and hid her face in daddy's shoulder. Everyone understood that she was confused and tired, and tried to keep their distance from her.
We hope to have her meet her family members in the next few weeks.

It has been a rough transition at home for Gia. Everything that Jeannie sees - she wants. Gia is trying to keep her away from her things, and we are trying to explain to her that she needs to share with her sister. Jeannie is very frustrated with the language barrier, however she is reluctant to try to say words in English. We are very lucky that we have a neighbor girl that speaks Chinese, and she has been helping a little with translation. Both girls are still very tired and slept 14 hours last night. They still woke up crabby and emotional.

We know that things will get better, one day at a time. We have only been home for 2 days and the change has been hard on all of us. We look forward to life returning to "normal". Gia will return to school next week and Bob will stay home with Jeannie. We are not sure when we will start her in school. We are going to wait and see how she does, how her language development goes, and if she acts like she wants to go to school. She will go with her dad to take Gia to school and pick her up every day, so we are hoping for a sign from her that she is ready.

Again, thanks to all of you for following our blog and wishing us well. We are so lucky to have the two most beautiful girls in the world!

Theresa and Bob