Parents and Grown Children Find Joy in Young Additions to Meiser Family
By Deb Amend
I have my arms full again," says Terrie Meiser of her two young daughters, Grace and Mattie. Terrie and her husband, Dan, took the plunge back into parenthood four years ago with the adoption of their daughter Grace. Their older children, Joe, Doug, Dan, Nicole and Elizabeth, had all grown up. So, with more room in their hearts for more children they decided to look into adoption.
Dan, an engineer for 3M Precision Optics,was still recovering from raising the first five, when the "empty table syndrome" hit Terrie, a stay-at-home mom. Their quiet life in Grant's Lick, Kentucky,was just that — too quiet. Although many people thought they were finished with their family, they knew, after some prayerful thought, that they were not. Soon they were looking into Chinese adoption.
Using A Helping Hand Adoption Agency, they completed their paperwork and about 16 months later received a referral for a baby girl living in the city of Xian. In March 2002, that baby girl became Grace Zhang Lan Meiser. The joy of having such a beautiful baby girl led them back to China in June 2004 where they were united with another little girl, who would become Mattea Qinzcai Meiser. Though their table is now far from empty, they are headed back to China again, as they have just begun the process of their third adoption.
Grace arrived home at the age of 14 months. She was a beautiful baby, growing, healthy and strong. Although never mentioned in her medicals, Grace had a clef lip that had been surgically corrected in China. It was a fact that never swayed the Meisers in their commitment to Grace, but pointed out to them that they were not always being given all the known information. Now 4 years old, Grace is an intelligent, intense, yet shy little girl. She loves horseback riding, gymnastics, dancing and music.
Mattie, too, arrived home at the age of 14 months. She, though, had more obstacles to overcome. Upon her arrival, she weighed a mere 14 pounds, and was suffering from a serious case of pneumonia. She has gained 10 pounds in the past year, but still has issues with eating. They knew when they received her referral that she carried a blood disorder called thaalassemia (which is similar to sickle cell anemia). Further testing, though, has shown that she is simply a carrier, and it does not present any complications in her daily life. The Meisers are thankful for what they believe to be a miraculous healing in her. Mattie is an outgoing, content 2 year old who loves to draw, dance and listen to music.
Looking back on their experiences in China, the Meisers have many warm memories. Both Dan and Terrie traveled for both trips, and each time they took one of their older children with them, making the time even more memorable. Though they enjoyed the beauty and culture of China,Terrie was overwhelmed by the conditions of the orphanages. The high ratio of children to caregivers and lack of running water and toys were sights that saddened them. And Terrie states, "The hardest part was knowing that there were so many children that were unaccounted for."
And, though there are many unaccounted for, these two girls are no longer among them. In fact,Terrie says that she became their mommy the moment she saw their pictures.
With the joy of having the girls, there have also been adjustments. Both girls were scared of their parents when they first met. Food (especially Cherrios and Fruit Loops) was a key factor in helping them bond.The repaired cleft lip and the pneumonia, both issues that were easily dealt with in the U.S., along with food issues and night terrors raised additional concerns with adjustment. However, they were all obstacles the girls have overcome with a family to support them.
And, as every parent knows, the joy of having children far outweighs the sacrifices and struggles involved in raising them. Everyone in their family was simply overjoyed by their homecomings, and the older kids now have additional reasons to visit home — their new sisters. They love to take them out, play with them, and learn about caring for them.
As anyone could guess, the Meiser house is no longer a quiet one. And, as Terrie says,"It is a lot of work, and I am tired a lot, but it is fun — really, really fun."
