Oh Happy Day!!

What a great day we have had!  Each day gets better and better, and today was daddy’s first day to really get to play and spend time with Sarah.  Before today she would cry if he even looked at her, get too close or talk to her!  But he shaved his facial hair this morning and then gave her a piece of pizza today for lunch – not sure what it was, but she was ready to play after that.  She has been so full of herself.  She has been down running around, laughing as the kids chase her.  She even played for a while with dad letting him pick her up and swing her around.  I know his heart has just melted today with each smile she gave him. 

We visited the zoo today and let while it was great and the animals were cool – it was HOT!  I think the “real feel” temp was over 100 (expected to be 107 today).  It’s the humidity that makes it so bad.  Sarah did not care too much for the animals, but Mitchell and Allie enjoyed it.  Allie is already thinking of how she can use the pictures in her Animal Notebook next year!  After the zoo we did some grocery shopping (diapers, cereal, drinks, crayons and coloring book for Sarah!).  Pizza Hut for lunch, Jerry said it was the best he had ever had – do you think it’s the week in China or that they really can make pizza better than the US??  LOL!!  Here are some pictures from the zoo, the kids took all of them.  Mitchell is turning into a little photographer here!

Sarah continues to try new things, and usually LOVES it.  She is rejecting the bottle and just wants a cup, we have learned that she can drink out of a straw.  After the zoo and lunch we came back to the hotel and Sarah took a short nap.  She has been so much fun today.  We spent about an hour on the playground and just ran and laughed.  She is really opening up.  Mitchell has got her to say a few words (No, Yes, baba, and maybe a couple others).  Still no mama L   The only issue we continue to have is that Sarah hates to go to sleep.  She cries (and I mean screams) for about 45 minutes to an hour.  It is so hard,  I walk the floor, bounce, rock, sitting up, laying down – nothing seems to work.  She does it at both nap time and bed time.  We are continuing to try things, but pray that we can figure it out prior to the 17 hrs. on a plane next week.

When she runs for a while we have to keep an eye on her because she will play hard.  We noticed today with all the activity that she was breathing a little heavy.  It’s funny how now she always wants down – a true toddler on the go!  So much fun.  We just hung out at the hotel and had dinner here (the buffet was around $150 for our family).  We won’t be doing that again!  

Tomorrow we have a free day so we are going to do some shopping and maybe walk to the park nearby.  I think they have amusement type rides so that should be fun!  It will be our first day completely on our own navigating taxi’s and vendors will be interesting.

We thank God for the blessings he has given us!  Mitchell & Allie have been so good on the trip, Sarah just loves them and I really feel that are part of the reason she has opened up as much as she has.  They have times they are bored and they don’t like it when we make them spend time on school work – but they have stepped up each and every time.  We have such a good set of kidos!!

Sarah trying to blow bubbles.

Clean Hands & a Pure Heart

Today was a much better day…the title comes from my little one who cannot stand to have her hands dirty.  I bet I have wiped her hands 50 times today.  The funniest thing about it is she likes to get them in her food and then show them to me to clean.  This morning at breakfast she was loving her yogurt and getting her hands in it, but we went through about a half a pack of wipes to keep them clean.

We had the morning free and then had to do her medical exam (she received her TB test – we did not take the camera on this trip.  She did very well, they checked her out and gave her TB test (which she DID NOT like).  She only cried for a few minutes and then was back to playing.  Mitchell has been so good with her – she just laughs and laughs with him.  It has been so good to see her opening up today with much less times of crying (except at nap / bed time).  She never wants to go to sleep.  She is a great eater, give her a fry, chip or cookie and she is happy!  When she does go to sleep she is great – both mornings she has slept to almost 8 am.

 Her first trip to McDonalds

First trip in a stroller

First experience with ice cream (she did not really like the coldness of it) – just wanted to play with the spoon.

I have a video of her playing with the kids, but it is taking me too long to figure out how to load and I am tried.  Going to bed, hope to get it up tomorrow.

I have had several people ask about her health.  We have been amazed at how well she looks and is doing.  I have not seen any labored breathing, she did a good bit of walking this evening and did not wear out (she actually got mad that we stopped).  Her fingers and toes are blue so I am sure she is not getting all the oxygen she needs, but I know that God has cared for her up to this point and it is amazing to watch her play and easy to forgot she has anything wrong with her!  Thank you Lord!!

We so love reading the comments, thanks to everyone again for all the prayers (and continued prayers) as Sarah continues to adjust to her new family.

Cry me a River…

This is the title Jerry gave me for today’s blog.  Poor Sarah has had a tough day!  Through the hours of tears today there have been really good moments and she is starting to gradually show her personality.  She slept great last night, did not wake up until around 7:30 this morning.  That is when the tears started!  Jerry got her up and she just cried like she did not know where she was, it was very sad.  After a little while she settled down (dad showed he how to play some drums and she likes the noise).

We learned today that she is a good eater, she will try anything.  At breakfast she ate the rice congee they have been feeding her, but also had some banana, potato cakes, watermelon & was reaching for bacon (which we did not give her).  All day, anytime someone had food, she wanted some (and of course she usually gets what she wants)!!

After breakfast we had several appointments where we finalized the adoption.  She officially became ours today!  All the paperwork and interviews were done.  We still have a couple more items this week, but today is the day she was officially adopted into our family.  Thank you Lord for such a wonderful blessing!!  Sarah cried most of the morning at the civil affairs office.  It was hard because there were so many people and interviews of how we would care for her.  It was at this point I think she made the decision that she only wanted mom.  While very sweet for me and the first time she reached for me was awesome, but I know dad is struggling with this (as every time he looks or talks to her she cries).  I know it will get better with time, but he just wants to cuddle up and snuggle with her and she just can’t do it yet.

After home from the appointments (and a car ride where she screamed the entire time) she was glad to get back to the room and settle down.  The kids wanted to so swimming before lunch so we decided to put Sarah’s swimsuit on and see how she did with the water.  To our surprise, she LOVED it!

She seems to do very well in the room.  We gave her some noodles for lunch, which she loved of course! 

The hotel has a playground on the 4^th floor, so we decided to venture down and see if she would like it – it took some time to get used to, but it was the most I had seen her walk around.  That was a great experience.

Then more playing in the room, crying, food, bath and skype with Grandma.  Here are some more really cute pictures from today!

Gottcha Day!!

WOW – what a day!!  The day we have waited for is finally here.  We have our sweet baby girl.  We started the day very early (ready by 5:30 for an 8:00 flight).  Arrived in Guangzhou around lunch (and Allie finally got to eat at a McDonalds in China).  We left the hotel around 2:00 to go meet her.  The Civil Affairs office was crazy, there were 40 families meeting their children today.  While we were sitting and waiting for her to arrive I just could not control myself – tears were flowing for the other families and children, anticipation of meeting Sarah, what she had gone through and God has worked in such a way to bring us to this point.  It is overwhelming.   I was about to explode when I looked up by the elevator and I saw her!  They told me if I recognized I could not go to her – WHAT??  Are you kidding me!  I knew it was her and she was screaming (as you will see from the pictures).  She is just the most precious gift I can imagine.  It was hard, she cried but she has also gone through so much today.  She has done extremely well.   There were moments where she connected, smiled and laughed and other times screamed if I was not walking her around (just bending down like I was going to sit sent her into screams).  She cried for the orphanage staff when they left and while walking around would look into the rooms like she was looking for them.  So heart breaking, but at the same time I am glad she was attached to them – I would rather know that she can attach to someone that cares for her than just go with anyone.

After we left we went to the shopping center to pick up some formula, rice cereal and noodles.  She is so observant – she just looks and watches everything.  She has experienced so much today (first ride in a car, first shopping trip, leaving everyone and everything she has ever known).  While in the shopping center it was just me and her walking behind and she was looking at everything.  She started saying some baby jibber and it was so sweet to hear her voice.

Once back at the hotel she sat on the bed and played with stacking blocks and showed us just how smart she is!  She did really good and was very interested in them.  She LOVES the kids – if there are anywhere around she is watching them.  They have gotten her to laugh and smile – I know they are so excited to finally have her!  Sarah and her new baba cuddled up for a nap once home.  Safe in her father’s arms, nothing sweeter! 

She slept for about an hr. and 30 minutes then woke up as happy as can be.  Played some more with the kids and drank a bottle.  We called out for pizza for dinner and Sarah even took a little bit of it – she does not seem like she will be picky about trying new things.  You get it close to her moth and it opens!

I am just so excited to have her and can’t wait to see more of her personality come out over the next couple of days.

Finally, the pictures…

Beijing Sightseeing (Day 2)

We had a great day today, but another very busy one! But I just can’t wait to get out little girl tomorrow – so excited!! Only have 5 hrs. until I need to get up, but just can’t sleep!

We were able to attend an international church service this morning which was very good. It was great to be able to sing and freely worship our Savior half way around the world. After church we visited a Jade factory (as the gem is very precious here in China). We made a small purchase (nothing like my shopping spree yesterday)!! After that to lunch and then the Great Wall of China. It was absolutely amazing!! You see the pictures on TV, but it is incredible to be here to see and experience it in person! Jerry and Allie and the hero’s that made it to the top (and it was a CLIMB). In the picture below they made it to the 2^ndtower.

Mitchell and I made it about half way, but I will say that it was only because I did not want to be sore when meeting my new baby tomorrow.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!! LOL!!  The stairs are very steep and uneven.  The kids were again stalked by the paparazzi.  It is so funny to have strangers come up and want to take pictures with the kids, but I think they enjoyed it.  More pictures of the Great Wall:

After the climbing we rode around the city, more time in Olympic Park and then to dinner.  As for the food we have eaten all the Chinese I think I can stand, it is good and we have enjoyed most meals.  Every time we pass a McDonalds or KFC Allie says “there’s another one” – she so wants to stop and have some.  I am pretty sure there is one within walking distance of our hotel in Guangzhou so she will be very happy to finally get some!

After dinner we attended an acrobat show, it was pretty good but the highlight was when Mitchell was pulled up on stage (again, I think they just saw American kids and had to have some more).  It was so funny – they had him holding a rope and making him do different things and then they held it and tried to make his limbo (to a very low distance), he just slid underneath – it was so funny.  Then when they tried a again he stepped over it.   They also made him jump rope and then blindfolded him to see how well he did.  It was a blast.  We did not have the camera, but I was able to video it from my phone.  I hope it turns out good.

Again, the kids were exhausted and came straight in and went to bed.  I am happy to say they got about 11 or 12 hrs. last night, but we have to get up at 5:00 am tomorrow so I am glad to went to sleep so quickly.

Please pray for us and Sarah tomorrow that she will be assured and have a peace that everything is going to be ok.  I know she is going to be so scared.  Our flight is out at 8am, we should arrive Guangzhou around 11 and then get to hotel around 12:00 or 12:30.  I think we will go to Civil Affairs office around 2:00 to get her.