Annie Comes Home

Just about exactly one year ago I opened my e-mail and saw her picture. The picture of a little girl that would become our daughter, Annie Kate.
I remember gasping, unable to breath. I remember thinking, oh my God can we do this? I waited two days to show her picture to Tim. This was real. The picture we were shown was of XinTian at age 2, but she was now 3. The photo was over a year old. What do we do? We had 48 hours to "accept" or not.
I'd love to say that I knew in my heart that everything would be just fine but the truth is, I was terrified. As my mother might have said: "Was I biting off more than I could chew?"
Tim and I would go back and forth several times. We couldn't sleep or think.  Every time we thought we were being realistic, one or the other would say, "But... then again... maybe we could...may be we should." We prayed. We looked for a "sign." We asked each other, was that a sign. We asked stupid questions like, what room would we put her in? Then we would look at each other and say," Ok that's not really a serious concern."
One phrase repeated in my mind,"If not us then who?"
Tim called our oldest son Timmy in Fl who had already simply said: "Go get her, bring her home."
It was a role reversal, father asking son for advise.
Timmy said, "Tell me,what are your concerns?"
 Tim replied, "I just don't know if mom and I can do this at our age."
 Our son said, "And what makes you think you will be doing this alone? You have all of us, our family and the Hillis. We are all in this together."
 That was it. The doubt was lifted and this little angel was ours and we knew it.
One year later we cannot imagine our life without her. What a gift, what a blessing, what joy she has brought to our lives and family. What a difference a year can make.
What a difference 7 months can make in the life of a child. Annie Kate has changed so much from that scared, confused little girl who was lead into a large conference room and handed over to a strange man and even stranger woman. The only one who look normal to her was Molly... thank God a sane person she must have thought!
Yesterday was a routine visit to Dr. Nirgudkar, our pediatrician for the past 30+ years. Annie Kate has repeated the assessment she heard him say: "Dacor say, I doing great."

Annie Kate has gained 1 1/2 lbs, grown 3/4 of an inch and is the 25th percentile. More importantly her adjustment, emotional development and attachment has progressed at warp speed. She is so happy, comfortable, smart, entertaining and has such a passion for life. She has embraced each of us as her family and knows she is home. She loves us and I know she comprehends that she is loved by us. She accepts that it is normal to have each of us wrapped around her finger.
Last year at this time even my rose color glasses did not see this beautiful scene we are so blessed to share and experience every day as a possibility!
Life is good!