Tuesday, December 21, 2010

It's done!

At about 1:00 this afternoon, I was really wondering if we would pull it off. Sophi had a fever, the house was a mess, I hadn't showered, and my brain was beginning to turn to fog again. I had three hours 'til the cameras would begin rolling.

Luckily, Allen was here.

He watched the girlies while I cleaned, cleaned my kitchen while I showered, then picked up the remainder of the kiddos from school before heading to the airport-- thank you, Allen! We'll miss you around here!

The kids and Jeremy all came home at the same time and we worked like crazy to make it appear that we have it all together (which, obviously, we don't!) Bedrooms got cleaned, bathrooms got scrubbed, junk got hidden.

After all of that, the cameras only entered the living room/kitchen-- but I'm so glad that I hadn't known that would be the case, because now (besides our room, where we stuffed all the unpacked suitcases and anything else we didn't have time to put away) the house is again clean. We even managed to get a few baths in and give X-man a much needed haircut.

Besides SEVERAL outbursts from Elli, one from Lexi, an unusually subdued Sophi, a very wild Xander, a messy diaper that warranted new clothes, and a mom who doesn't enjoy being on camera, I think it all went relatively ok. :)

After a couple of hours it was time to eat. My friend, Megan, brought dinner in (thanks!), and we ate it on the paper plates that another friend had brought. There were no placemats or tablecloths, fancy dishes or centerpieces and the cameras were rolling. But hey-- they did say they wanted to see what our dinner with our family is really like! Pure chaos. Simpleness. Happiness. And lots and lots of noise.

At one point, they said they needed video of me playing with the kids-- as many kids as possible. My mind went blank until someone suggested "London Bridge." This happens to be our family's favorite opening song for Family Home Evening (LOL) so it sounded good at the time. After the cameras were gone, Taylor said, "Um, Mom. I felt kind of silly doing 'London Bridge' for TV."

Now that you say that, Taylor, I see what you mean. (: A bit cheesy, perhaps.


So... because many of you are asking and because I haven't seen the final product yet (chances are, once I have, I will feel too embarrassed to share) I'll let you in on the details:

Tomorrow, Deseret News newspaper. (We are pretty sure it's tomorrow, but they said you never know until you see it in print.)
Tomorrow evening on 10:00 pm news, KSL channel 5.
Sunday morning at 10:00 am, KSL channel 5, longer version.

Pray that I didn't sound lame during the interview portion. Pray that they didn't ever catch Elli pulling the front of my shirt down. Pray that the 35 minutes I had to shower, find a clean outfit, and get myself ready without being able to find my curling iron (it's still packed away) looked like I had spent a bit longer.

All kidding aside, pray that someone out there will hear our story and open their heart to adoption. That would make the effort and humility to let four strangers into your home to see what your life is about, worth it in EVERY WAY.

--Christianne (:

PS I have been asked how I find time to blog right now. Well, I'll tell you. After the kids get settled into bed, I tend to go back on China time and feel wide awake. The last time I took an Ambien, it proved catastrophic, as Sophi woke up an hour later. So I have to find other ways to wind down. Besides that, I think I mentioned that writing is therapeutic for me. Somehow sharing my feelings (the good and the bad) help me work through them. So thanks, our loyal readers, for being our sounding board at this crazy, wonderful time! (;

15 comments:

  1. i wish we could watch you on TV. you are amazing- your whole family is!!! thanks for being so open and honest and touching our lives!

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  2. I'm with Debbi! I wish we got KSL and the Deseret News. We'll try the .com versions to see if we can find you at all! Sounds like it went well. Just be happy it's done and don't keep wishing you could go back to make changes!!!! I honestly don't think it's the last time for your story to get out there, either!!! (I think you'll get your second and third chances.)

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  3. Morning guys - just in case you don't know it - your family has already opened the hearts of several!!

    I'll have to hunt up KSL on line - but I know that things went great - God takes care of those things and just leaves the small stuff to us!

    And we SO understand the value of blogging! ;)

    love you guys - aus and co.

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  4. Christi-I bet we can find an online story of the news. I am so proud of you for doing that even during the most hectic time of your lives and yes it will and already has touched the lives of many including my own. And for us to get to watch Sophi and Lexi in action as they interact with the rest of your family is priceless. I bet the next step they will be contacting you for a reality show!

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  5. Thank goodness that writing is your therapy because we all get to reap the benefits. Seeing that a new blog is up when I check every morning totally makes my day!

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  6. I'm setting the DVR now! I honestly believe it will be full of the spirit and that nothing else will matter! Can't wait!

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  7. YEA!!!! my favorite song is now back on your site!! i have had to go searching for it on google to hear it! and christi- really, i am not biased and i am not trying to be patronizing here- but you are beautiful- outside and inside!

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  8. I live in Colorado I just read the article in D-News online and googled your blog since the link isn't working yet. Stunning. Amazing. Magical. Inspirational. Thank you so so much for who you are and what you do. Your article is exactly what I needed. Your family is beautiful and speaks volumes of your faith and devotion to each other and God.

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  9. Hi! I came across your blog after reading your story on KSL.com. I also saw the story on the news tonight.
    What a beautiful, awe-inspiring family. I had tears rolling down my cheeks at what GOOD people you are. Your children are beautiful. You have touched my life for good, thank you!

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  10. Thank you for sharing your story! We adopted our 8 year old daughter from Guangzhou this past summer. Suzanne was our social worker too. We never dreamed we'd go to China and adopt a child. But Heavenly Father led us, we know, and we are so glad He did! Our daughter is more joy than we ever dreamed possible. I also understand the need to write. No matter how tired I was, especially the first months home, writing was my way of processing and expressing all my feelings. Thank you for so much for sharing. And hang in there. You won't be exhausted forever.:)

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  11. The link to the article in Deseret News was sent out by Ali L. I reposted it for those that are not on her list.
    Have also been showing Savannah the pictures. Her reply was "there is my friend Jesi"
    Lois

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  12. I just found your blog through KSL. Your family is amazing and you and your husband inspire me. I have three biological children, pregnant with my fourth, and never really considering adopting (through I have 3 adopted siblings). Yet, your story touched my heart. I do not know if adoption is in our future, but I am now open to the spirit guiding our family into that direction. May you have a beautiful holiday season with your family. Thank you for sharing your story.

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  13. What a great story your family has! We found your blog from the DN arcticle and have been loving reading about your beautiful family. It's really neat to hear the story of someone who has things in common with you. We live in Utah, are LDS, and we also had a child born having already returned to Heavenly Father. 18 mos later we traveled to China to bring home our 16 mo old son. He has been home now for almost a year. Thanks for showing the world how incredible adding to your family by adopting from China is! Congrats on your two latest miracles!
    -Chris and Laura Parker
    www.chrisandlaura.squarespace.com
    login: friendsandfamily
    password: adoption

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  14. Here's a link on KSL with a short video for those of your readers who wished they could get KSL:

    http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=13760282

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  15. Christianne,

    Just had to comment after reading your beautiful story on ksl. My husband and I adopted our sweet Sophie in September 2008 through CCAI's waiting child program. Susanne Stott was also our social worker. I have to say that I remember seeing pictures of your beautiful new daughters on the CCAI website and was so happy when I saw that they had been matched to their forever family :) What a blessing you are to each other! Thanks for sharing your story!

    Have a very Merry Christmas,
    Kim

    ladybug.lucky@hotmail.com

    p.s. We live in Riverton...

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