The Leavitt Family

Update- March 2009

2009-03-06T21:57:00.009-07:00

It's quite clear that, since no one has even asked about updating our blog, that we are likely the only ones who ever look at this thing. Nevertheless, we must provide the world with our goings on.

I'm not even going to try to sum up the last 6 months. Just look at the photos and enjoy.

October: Halloween was fun. Mae hates adults in costume.

October: Mike's an awesome husband and get Sara a cat for her birthday. Her cat of 18 years died in August. We picked up Olaf at the shelter. Mellow Yellow, the dog, tolerates him.

December: Snow Day in St. George. Kids got out of school. Mom went crazy.

Christmas: We were good this year.

February: Disneyland and the beach.

February: Chinese New Year with Mae and all of her native friends (I think they talked about us the whole time).

Home Sweet Home

2008-08-17T19:50:00.002-06:00

There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

My Little Project

2008-08-17T19:40:00.003-06:00

I collected backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and learning worksheets as my little project to take with me. My favorite part was handing out the backpacks. The kids were so excited, but I loved the reaction of the Mothers. They would hug, kiss, and sing to you to thank you. I can only imagine how hard it must be to go without so many things, but it must be painful not being able to provide simple things like pencils for school for your children. As a Mother I related to the other Mothers and that's why it was my favorite part of the trip.

Making New Friends

2008-08-17T19:27:00.003-06:00

I had a fanastic group that I was able to go with. They were all a lot of fun, and they didn't mean to make me feel like an old lady, but since they were all in their early twenties, I called it a night about 2 hours before the rest of them. I was also the only one who complained about sore feet. Mike's secertary Kelsey came with me, and I'll be eternally grateful for having a comrade with me with throughout the whole trip.

The Haitian People I met in the Dominican Republic were the most amazingly loving people. All the women hug and kiss you. All kids want you to pack them around, hold their hands, and give them lots of hugs. My favorite thing was to have the little girls braid my hair, however I never seen a dirtier comb than the one the used on my hair.

The Dump

2008-08-14T20:21:00.002-06:00

I visited the dump where many people live. They collect different recyclable or sell able items, as well as look for food to eat. They build little villages around the dump where most of the children stay during the day. I had the hardest time watching all the little kids walk around with all the broken glass and garbage on the ground because none of them wore shoes. They were some tough little kids in this village, and it felt a little like the a scene from The Lord of the Flies. It's kind of a survival of the fittest there and they played rough. We had to stop some of the kids from hitting each other with big rocks and sticks.

The Usual Suspects

2008-08-14T20:11:00.003-06:00

It's the traditional first day of school line up. Ethan is especially excited to start the second grade. You can't see my face, but it has a big smile on it.

Another stamp in my passport

2008-08-02T21:10:00.004-06:00

Lo siento mucho, soy gringo. Translation: I am very sorry, I am a Gringo.
I'm taking a week long humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic. Mike is taking a week long humanitarian mission of caring for 4 kids, and that includes taking all of them to back to school night. I found a local women who puts together volunteer groups to go over to the DR to work at orphanages, hospitals, and different villages. It's been a great project for me this summer to put together school supplies to hand out while I'm there. I'm so excited and will let you know how it goes. The website for the foundation I'm going though is http://www.children-in-need.us/ if you'd like to check it out. They do some pretty cool things.

Road Runners

2008-08-02T20:58:00.002-06:00

We went to a few games of the local semi-pro baseball team the Road Runners. We of course couldn't miss the game when they had Star Wars Celebrities there like Obi Wan, Storm Troopers, and of course the big DV. Ben was very brave and started a light saber battle with Reggie the Road Runner, but quickly retreated after he realized that Reggie was really swinging the saber hard, and has limited visibility.

The Brave of Heart

2008-08-02T20:52:00.002-06:00

Congrats to the Braves and Mr. Ethan Leavitt for being the Cal Ripken league Champions. I also need to apologize to Ethan for making him wear ankle socks with his baseball uniform, I didn't understand the unspoken dress code of baseball.

Swim Team

2008-08-02T20:35:00.003-06:00

We enjoyed watching Andrew and Ethan swim at a few meets this summer. Andrew voluntarily signed up for the swim team, although he claims he was manipulated into it. Apparently he thinks we give missed messages when we tell him "I really think you should do it, and there is no real excuse for not doing it" and then turn around and tell him "but it's your choice." I believe these parenting skills have been around since just after the Garden of Eden and they're workin' real good. Being able to go to the meets with the Rich cousins (Aidan, Addie, & Andy) made it worth it, and the ribbons and medals weren't bad either.

2008-05-18T18:50:00.000-06:00

Ah, the concrete

2008-05-03T00:21:00.002-06:00

Sara and I have been debating about moving. We love our house, love our neighbors, love the yard, but feel the need for the a bit more room. At the height of the debate, we got the opportunity to have some concrete poured for cheap. We've always wanted a back patio, and couldn't pass it up, so we had it poured. But then we couldn't stop. We the tore out our apple tree and poured a 79 x 24 foot slab. One with an RV might call it a vastly enormous RV pad, but we call it a basketball court. Ben is begging to have the Jazz logo put in the middle.

I guess we made our decision about moving.

Reunions

2008-03-28T22:22:00.002-06:00

There are few more emotionally gratifying moments than a reunion with someone you care about. There's the anticipation of seeing someone you haven't seen for a long time, and then when you do see them, you've grown in such parallel ways that it's like you'd never been apart.

I felt that this last weekend when Mike and Kristina Christopherson stayed with us for a few days. I've known them both since the 7th Grade at Bonneville Junior High in Salt Lake. Everytime I see them, they have such a great way of making you feel good about yourself. We had a great time. I had hoped it wouldn't end, but then of course, the reunion wouldn't be as special.

I noticed it again Monday night when Andrew's friend Sam stopped by. Sam and Andrew became close friends last year, but Sam's family moved to Salt Lake last summer. When Andrew found out Sam was moving, I think it was the first time in his life he had ever felt real, honest sorrow. He stopped by Monday night for just a few minutes. As Andrew waited for him to come over, I could sense his anticipation. When Sam's mom dropped him off, the excitement that both of them felt, while trying to maintain their cool, was obvious.

Both experiences reminded me of the fact that, no matter what friends you have in your life, those that you develop in your youth just seem to stick with you forever.

What have the Leavitts been doing the last four months?

2008-03-28T13:10:00.002-06:00

In March over spring break we spent four days in East Zion roughing it in our own comfy little cabin. We enjoyed hiking, horse back riding, and hanging out with the Richs. Mike also came home with a spider bite on his hand that ended up sending him to the ER three different times. All is well now and I'm ready to tie dye my kids clothes, buy the whole family some Birkenstock and move to Zion. It was a great trip.

2008-03-28T12:59:00.002-06:00

February Ethan turned seven years old, but has the attitude and style sense of a fourteen year old. Ethan also competed in his first swim meet. Go Ethan.

2008-03-27T20:58:00.001-06:00

In January Mae had her "brain" on her shoulder removed. She was a champ through out the whole thing.

Now It's really Offical

2008-03-27T20:55:00.001-06:00

In January we had Mae sealed to us, and now she's got us for eternity. Do you see the fear in her eyes.

2008-03-27T20:37:00.002-06:00

Christmas time at the Leavitt home. Santa must look different in Taiwan, because he really freaked Mae out. The boys humored their mom by agreeing to wear matching shirts, although Andrew thinks he's getting a little old for it.

2008-03-27T20:34:00.001-06:00

December 21st Andrew turns the big 10, and is convinced that his voice is now deeper.

It's Offical

2008-03-27T20:29:00.003-06:00

December 18th we have Mae's adoption finalize here in the U.S.

The boys got to skip school to come

to the court house with us. We thought it would be a special experience, and it was. The boys were absolutely thrilled to see real prisoners with jumpsuits and all!

Mae's B-day

2008-03-27T20:25:00.003-06:00

November 28th Mae's feeling a little overwhelmed by her first birthday.

Visual assistance

2008-03-27T19:49:00.005-06:00

November 3rd - 10th We travel to Taiwan to meet our Mae face to face. I'm not sure she was too impressed, but we were.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

2008-03-25T22:43:00.002-06:00

So we haven't spoken for awhile, you and I. Obviously, the last post we had was on our last day since leaving Taiwan with Mae over four months ago. A lot has happened since then. Thanksgiving, Mae's birthday (1) , finalizing Mae's adoption in the U.S., Andrew's birthday (11), Christmas, New Year's Day, getting sealed to Mae, Martin Luther King Day, Groundhog's Day, Ethan's birthday (7), Valentine's Day, President's Day, a three day vacation to Zion National Park (aren't we adventurous), Ben's birthday (5) and Sara and my nervous breakdowns.

Mae has adapted well and is a full-fledged Leavitt. Apparently, no one told us that Mae wasn't all smiles, all of the time. Her photos from the orphanage were deceiving. Or perhaps she was just happier there. Either way, we have quickly been reminded of what it is like to have a one year old.

Seriously though, she's wonderful and Andrew, Ethan and Ben are proving what steller older brothers they can be.

I promise to be better about posting. More later.

Goodnight, Taiwan

2007-11-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Sara and I are getting ready leave. We have really enjoyed our stay, but are ready to get home to see the boys and get back to life and see how well we can incorporate this kid into our daily routine.

Mae continues to remind us that, just a few days ago, she was an orphan. For example, if Sara walks by without picking her up, she'll say, non-verbally, "Hey, I used to be an orphan, so pick me up." Or if I am holding the remote control, she'll say, again non-verbally, "I used to be an orphan, so give me that." Or she'll pipe up with, "Hey, the sisters at the orphange said you people would take care off me, so why am I not being held?"

It's good to have a baby around again.

I invite all to come and visit Taiwan. You will receive answers to the following questions.

1. What ever happened to Hello Kitty?
2. What does Macdonalds do with all of the leg and thigh chicken meat now that they have gone to all white chicken?
3. How do we find a cure for all of the road rage in America? Do we promote more courteous, more defensive driving?
4. Does it make sense to wear a jacket in 75 degree weather with 80% humidity?

I'm sure there are other questions to be answered. In reality, our trip was incredible and unforgettable (mostly because of the major souvenier we are taking home) and I think Sara andI have both grown as a couple and as people by being here. I've certainly grown to love her even more.

More later.

Is the honeymoon over?

2007-11-09T00:25:00.000-07:00

After three days of exchanging pleasantries, Mae has finally decided to let us meet the real her. Sort of like a third date. To put a postive spin on it, she's a real go getter who doesn't take no for an answer.

In reality, it's nice to see that she's a normal girl and that somethings are more "nature" than "nurture".

We went on a nice sightseeing tour today. My favorite stop was the Martyrs' Shrine, which is a monument to all those who gave their life for both Taiwan and China. We also saw the Chiang Kai Shek memorial, the National Palace Museum, and a Taoist temple.

The Chiang Kai Shek memorial is huge. It made me think of how complex humans are. Chiang Kai Shek was instrumental in uniting China, and then after he was ousted by the Communists on the mainland, turned Taiwan from almost strictly agrarian to a substantial player in the world industrial economy. And yet, he was a ruthless leader who crushed anyone who opposed him. He died in 1975 and construction on the memorial began the next year, ostensibly championed by his son who assumed leadership of Taiwan after he died. It reminded me that who we become in life is largely based, not on what we think of ourselves, but how specific people perceive us. Our judgment about people is so important because it can lead to them being vilified after death, or memorialized with a giant memorial.

It reminds me of the value in sitting down and picking 4 people who you know, and imaging (1) what you think they might say about you at your funeral and (2) what you want them to say about you. If they aren't the same, there are changes you might want to make. (I think I got that from Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)

I am hoping we can get over to Taipei 101 in the morning tomorrow before we leave. It is currently the world's tallest building, but will be unseated from that post next year when that huge building in Dubai is finished.

More later.

First Full Day

2007-11-07T15:56:00.001-07:00

We had our first full day with Mae. She clearly likes her mother better than me. Sara tries to reassure me that it's just because her dark hair makes her look more like the Taiwanese caregivers at the orphanage. It was the first opportunity we've had to walk around Taipei and just get a feel for it. Mae weighs more than we thought she would, so we decided to spend the dough to buy a stroller, even if we have to leave it here. That made a huge difference. She loves it.

It has been a little rainy, but we've really enjoyed it. The temperature has been a pleasant 790 to 75 degrees with the humidity quite bareable.

We went to the American Institute of Taiwan to get her visa application completed. We met some other adoptive families who are going through a different agency. It was nice to meet them and share war stories. We also went to a couple of big stores, and otherwise, just relaxed and enjoyed the day. Last night we went to dinner with two other adoptive families and Sally, the local coordinator who accompanied us to the orphanage and coordinated our travel to and from Tainan. A truly great person who has made this trip very enjoyable.

The restaurant was exceptional. Very good food. I decided to slighly branch out of my comfort zone and ate frog legs. They were good. Probably better than a chicken leg or wing. More tender. The restaurant spiced them up a bit. I was pleased. We've otherwise stuck to noodles and rice with chicken or the American favorites (Subway, MacDonalds). Our problem is that, to get the real local food, you need to be able to read Chinese. The little "hole in the wall" places to eat can't tell you in English what they are serving, and it isn't something you can figure out by site. I'm not afraid to eat something new or strange, I just want to enter that deal with full disclosure.

More later.

The Perfect Pickup

2007-11-06T01:42:00.000-07:00

Well, it happened. We picked Mae up and are now back in Taipei. What an incredible experience. It was such a surreal moment when the caregivers walked through the door with Mae in their arms. Another one of those "I never imagined in a million years that I would ever be doing this" moments. I'm still an emotional wreck.

She is very bright and responsive. She learned to walk over the last couple of weeks, but is still shaky. She has a great temperment. She only cried when we had to clean up her hemangioma. It's huge and has a couple of spots where it's bleeding. But otherwise, she smiles and laughes. She doesn't seem as freaked out right now as I thought she would. We'll see how things go. (We're working on pictures).

As we flew back to Taipei, my thoughts turned to the twin concepts of loyalty and commitment. I often wonder where I'd be without both the loyalty and commitment that I've had from my great family, in-laws, and good friends. Mae is no different. Her birth mother and grandmother came to the orphanage yesterday to say good-bye. She left us a note. It has gotten somewhat easy to forget that she has a young birth mom who loves her and wanted what was best for her. Inspite of giving her up for adoption, her mother showed extreme loyalty and commitment. Her mother's committment to her, and that of her family, evidenced itself by making the decision to send her to the orphanage, knowing they simply could not provide the life for her that she deserved. I was impressed that she came back to say goodbye. She has asked that we send pictures every year. She knows we're in the States, but doesn't have a clue where Utah is.

I contrasted that idea with the incredible loyalty and commitment of the caregivers at St. Lucy's. They really loved her. A couple of them had a really hard time saying goodbye. One girl is a college student who came to the orphanage today just to say good bye. I was so grateful to them for the committment they made to care for her over the last year. They gave her all they had for the short time she was there, but knew that she couldn't stay there either. Again, committment evidencing itself by giving all you've got to a person for the time you've got with them, however long or short.

I've been inspired today. Inspired to give more of myself to those I love and to commit myself to helping them achieve joy in life.

More tomorrow. Unless Sara wants to add something.

Tainan

2007-11-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it's 2 AM in Tainan and Sara and I are wide awake. We spent the day yesterday just walking around and soaking in the sights and sounds of the city. Tainan is in southern Taiwan and has about 700,000 people in it. We walked up and down the main streets and took a risk at eating at a McDonalds (I know, we're brave). There are far fewer here who speak English than in Taipei, but we have found them to be very kind and polite people. We're the only Americans we've seen in this city, so people gawk a little. We walked through a park that was, literally, full of crazy people. But it was beautiful.

We're going to try to get some shut eye. Only 7 hours until "Pick Up."

We've Arrived in Taipei!

2007-11-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

After hours of watching High School Musical 2 in multiple languages, choking down some goofy porridge with seaweed and chicken for breakfast, and realizing we don't speak a lick of mandarin, we finally arrived. We will have pictures, but realized that we didn't have the right cord for the laptop, so we'll update it with pictures tomorrow, hopefully. If not, I hope my glowing narrative is enough for you to picture what is going on.

Though it feels like morning, it's after 11:00 P.M. We're bushed, but need to figure out a way to get to sleep and wake up tomorrow morning early.

More Later.

2007-10-07T21:30:00.000-06:00

Nipple bleeding, cramping, involuntary pants wetting, vomiting, 4:45am wake up calls, chaffing, applying diaper rash ointment, sore knees, diarrhea, dehydration, blisters, and losing your toe nails. It was all worth it to finish the St. George Marathon this Saturday. For the second year in a row Mike ran the 26.2 miles to prove that he's the MAN!!!

Mike & Jake at the finish line

Mike with his proud parents

2007-10-06T15:41:00.000-06:00

Here are the lastest pictures of Mae. We also have some wonderful news, we are going to Taiwan on Nov. 3rd to pick her up! We were able to make it through the court system over there at lighting speed. She'll be home in time to celebrate her 1st birthday on Nov.28th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We are so blessed.

2007-09-11T08:52:00.000-06:00

Sweet and Smiling

2007-09-11T08:40:00.000-06:00

Mae is hanging out with her bud Zane. He is our friend's, the McQuiveys, little boy that is at the same orphanage. We're glad she has a buddy.

No news on when we'll be traveling to go pick up Mae. We're still hoping that we can have her home in time for Christmas. Keep praying for us that we'll get a speedy judge over there in Taiwan.

Summer vacation

2007-09-10T21:03:00.000-06:00

We took our vacationing to new heights this summer as Sara and the boys spent a few fun filled days in our state capitol in May. The highlight of the trip was an outing to Hogle Zoo where Ethan and Ben noted their strong resemblance to monkeys. Please keep it a secret just a little longer while they better assimilate to our culture. While they enjoyed themselves, I finally came to the realization that, yes, I do talk to myself when I'm all alone. I even answer my own question, but do so evasively so as to keep myself constantly on my own toes.

We also enjoyed the Leavitt Family Reunion in Green River. Forty stinky Leavitts, spouses and half-Leavitts all under one roof for three days. The mosquitos made certain we stayed inside and all got to know each other real well. I now know that my brother-in-law Dan recites the Canterbury Tales in his sleep, the Pardoner's Tale being his favorite.

Maybe next year, we'll go crazy and go as far as Ogden.

2007-09-10T16:29:00.000-06:00

The very handsome Leavitt brothers on their first day of school.

Andrew impressed all of the 4th graders with his Harry Potter knowledge. Ethan wowed the other 1st grader with him impeccable sense of style. Ben got to enjoy only child status for the day.

2007-09-10T16:20:00.000-06:00

This is the Leavitt's Family newest member.

Our little Mae.