Spicy Dragons & Dinosaurs: More from the beach

27 February 2008

The girls

Madison, WI -- May, 2012

Love & Imagination!

I write to understand what it takes for a girl from China to become part of an American family. Julia was adopted in August of 2006 when she was 5.5 years old. Although she survived life in an orphanage, her maturity was that of a toddler when we met. Her American learning curve has been steep, from obeying her adults, to learning to make art, to identifying & controlling her fear & anger. This last year Julia learned to read. Julia began four grade in September of 2011, although academically she is more than a 2 years behind her peers. Despite her many challenges (which have names like PDD-NOS, ADHD, & attachment disorder), Julia came to our family ready to love and to imagine. Love & imagination have seen us through five years together.

Family Internet Stops

LEND 2
House -- my home renovation blog
Flower -- pictures & musings on my Madison garden
Waiting for Hari -- our adoption blog from 2006
Families Through International Adoption -- our adoption agency

Heart Transplant

In March of 2010, my husband, David, received a new heart and it was all that I could write about. I had no idea when I would return to regular Julia reports. It took a month.

On July 5, 2010, David died. The week before he was re-hospitalized with a gall bladder infection. The docs fought valiantly but the infection was too strong and David's body could not bear the assault.

I am still writing about all of it and what happened to us afterwards.

A Picture's Worth . . .

A picture a month to see how Julia is growing and changing. She is a wonder!

September 2012

Strong Sitting

August 2012

At home on Sunday

July 2012

After a summer swim

June 2012

Mommy, take my picture.

May 2012

My healing team

April 2012

saturday morning smile

March 2012

Julia's first spring concert

February 2012

Saturday princess

January 2012

year of the dragon begins

December 2011

Christmas Day

November 2011

Very goofy in Maryland

October 2011

looking out from inside the tunnel

September 2011

Watching warring giraffes

August 2011

Chautauqua Institution, Week 6

July 2011

Farm livin' is the life for me.

June 2011

Father's Day

May 2011

Julia hits a ball!

April 2011

Epcot

March 2011

Visions of springtime dance in her head

February 2011

W/camera & dinosaur mittens

January 2011

Short hair that Julia can take care of herself!

December 2010

Thinking of Daddy

November 2010

Walkin' in the Maryland woods

October 2010

Picking apples & pumpkins

September 2010

Julia & Going Home Barbie

August 2010

Osborn House, Isle of Wight, UK

July 2010

Happy 4th of July (Julia had her Daddy for the last day, from August 28, 2006, to July 4, 2010)

June 2010

Another picture?

May 2010

Julia meet Noah

April 2010

The new Spring hair cut

March 2010

At the close of Mommy's most intense month ever

February 2010

painting

January 2010

Her Daddy's girl! Researching comic book covers.

December 2009

Julia with China hair

November 2009

Stella Luna Julia

October 2009

Pumpkin picking

September 2009

Chasing geese

August 2009

Taken by Becky at our 3rd China reunion

July 2009

Coming into her own

June 2009

Does it get any better than this?

May 2009

At the Farmers' Market

April 2009

Spring at Branchbrook Park

March 2009

My Little Mermaid

February 2009

At the Circus

January 2009

Picture by Matthew

December 2008

The best present under the tree

November 2008

Braids

October 2008

Serious face in a new hat

September 2008

So much to say

August 2008

Abby & Julia

July 2008

Julia meets Annie Oakley

June 2008

Julia and Amy

May 2008

The spicy dragon wears a blue dragon

April 2008

Spring is coming!

March 2008

Messy hair is fun.

February 2008

Happy Year of the Rat

January 2008

A very goofy, pooffy girl

December 2007

Clear Eyed Holiday Girl

November 2007

Discovery of the chocolate donut

October 2007

Saturday Morning Fairy

September 2007

Sisters at college

August 2007

Julia visits Babja

July 2007

In the Garden once again

June 2007

Moving

May 2007

Dear Friends

April 2007

A warm spring day

March 2007

A favorite chair

February 2007

In Daddy's hat

January 2007

My girls together

December 2006

Does Santa really come here?

November 2006

A first Thanksgiving

October 2006

Julia in the garden

September 2006

The last ice pop of summer

August 2006

Our second day together

"I choose to thrive, with the help of the Cosmos." ~Lisa Ward, Pondering on the Path

Resolutions for 2012: live simply; give more, expect less; disengage from people and situations that feed weakness; complete fallow year projects; take up extravagant, ambitious projects; take care of my body; dip deeper into the well of mindfulness; do the work at hand without regard for economics or ego; love foolishly and without regard for the outcome; and invite society and adventure into my life. There is nothing to fear.

Previously

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27 February 2008

More from the beach

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