SEPTEMBER 2006

We have received recent photos of Yuan Niu. She has a great smile, it lights up her whole face. What a beautiful child! We've also made decisions and efforts to prepare for her homecoming.

We have decided to give her an American name but keep her Chinese name and use it as her middle name. So once we are home and finalizing the adoption we will rename her Katy Yuan Niu Kochte. What a mouthful, that poor child! We don't want to forget her Chinese heritage and we want her to know the name that was chosen for her by the people who loved her and cared for her until we could bring her home. At this time I will also change my legal name from Hendrickson-Kochte to Kochte. We're a family now so we should all have the same last name.

Katy's room has been painted and decorated. Mom and I bought her a pink bed set with ballerinas on it. We're finally allowing ourselves to be excited. We've bought clothes and shoes and have made plans. I'm still scared to death and Todd is still calm. I have Katy's picture in my office and I can't help but smile every time I look at her. I'm counting the days...Dad looks at her picture every day and tells her we are hurrying and that we'll be there soon to bring her home. Mom prays for her every day. I pray for her every night and for her foster parents. Todd is still calm, he's not worried or at least he won't tell me if he is.

So we are still waiting...