Supper

As I sit here in the dark listening to Sophie snore, I wanted to show you what we had for supper tonight.



























Those who know me, know it's not what I would normally feed my children.
But, hey!  I did throw in some mixed nuts and yogurt for the protein and dairy!
At this point, I'm just trying to survive.  The less I leave my hotel room, the easier it is to keep my children in sight.
I'm just sayin'......
(And remember....I've mentally checked out.)

Tomorrow is Thursday.
That means one more day until Hong Kong and two more days (or 3 if you count Saturday twice) till home.
But I'm not even going to think about it until tomorrow night when I'm packing my suitcases.
People in our group started leaving yesterday.  They will all be gone by tomorrow.
I'm gonna miss them.  Most of them asked me everyday how I was doing or if I needed anything.
A couple of the dads even helped with Hudson.

It's amazing how adoption can bring people together to form a special bond.

Another Day

Yes it was.
Another day.
One more day to check off the calendar.
One more day closer to home.

I'm numb at this point.
I don't feel like home is close enough to get excited.
On Friday when I start packing for Hong Kong is when my heart will soar!
Until then, it's just another day in China.

Today we went to Shamian Island and shopped at Jordan's.
He is a sweet Chinese Christian man who owns a shop here where most adoptive parents come to buy STUFF.  And he has a lot of stuff!
He walked us out the door with our STUFF and then he held each one of our hands at the same time and prayed for us right there on the sidewalk.  What a sweet precious man.

Then the kids and I walked over to Lucy's and shared a BLT and Peanut Butter sandwich.  After that we barely had enough money for a cab ride back to the hotel!

Tomorrow is our Consulate Appointment.  Then on Thursday I will get the kid's visas.  Friday we leave for Hong Kong and Saturday we fly home.

Yes.  This blog is officially boring.
I feel like I have nothing to write about.
Probably because I've mentally checked out.

I'll try to have something more exciting tomorrow.
No promises though.

I'll leave you with a few pics of our day.

Our White Couch photo at the China Hotel.   : )

My little man.

Jordan from Shamian Island

Stopping to see the Koi fish at the White Swan Hotel

They Came

They came yesterday at the pool.
Again, last night more came.
Actually, it was a LOT!

The tears.
Hudson has finally let it out.


He had to sit with me at the pool yesterday because he did something I told him not to.
He knew he was in trouble and his eyes welled up with big tears and when they fell he wrapped his arms around my waist and needed a hug.  I didn't see this coming.
While in the pool he wanted to splash or hang on Sophie.  I won't let him near her because he'll drown them both (remember neither one can swim!).  Again, for just a sec- he teared up.  He never cried though.

Since I've had him I've noticed he really likes to watch TV.  Especially at night.  When I shut the TV off he immediately wanted to get in bed with Sophie.  I told him no and he didn't like that.  Every time he asked and I said no he would thrash his little stout body (it's a very weak thrash I might add) for about 2 seconds.

It started out with just tears in his eyes.
Then the tears fell, no noise though.  Lot's of sniffing.  I could tell he was holding back.
Every minute or so he would ask to go to Sophie and every time I said no.  After awhile he started crying and then it turned into wailing.  It probably lasted an hour.

This morning he took the remote from Isabella and when I told him to give it back (gently) he started crying again and wanted me to hold him.  I think a breakthrough has been made!  He didn't ask for his JieJie!!  He has the sweetest heart.  I understand now why he wants TV at night.  It takes his mind off of being homesick.
The shock of being with new people has worn off and now the new fun has worn off.  Reality has hit and this just might be the hardest part for him.
Please pray for his sweet heart.  He is a sad little boy right now and even though I keep telling him it'll be ok he just doesn't know it.  And it breaks my heart to see him cry (although I know this is a good thing).

The Countdown Has Begun!!

It's Saturday night here. 

The countdown has begun!

7 more days!!

We flew into Guangzhou last night and I'm glad to be here.

Kim left us yesterday morning (VERY early) and I miss her terribly!

She flew to Hong Kong to spend one night and then on to the States this morning.

So far we've done pretty good.

We had our physical examinations this morning.  Both of them did great.

No tears or meltdowns.

Sophie had to have 2 shots and she didn't even flinch!  Very brave.

We will go back on Monday to have their TB tests read.

Our hotel is very nice here.

5 minutes after walking in the room Hudson had broken the shade to the bathroom window.

This kid is very hard on things! 

We went swimming this afternoon.

Neither one of them had ever been and they both swallowed a LOT of water.

It was fun to watch them get use to the water and see how different they are from each other.

Sophie took it nice and slow.  Walked around without making much of a splash.

Hudson started out slow and by the time we left (and I had to make him get out!) he was bouncing around and going all the way under.  One of the dad's in our group would toss him to me and I'd bring him up quickly.  He loved it.  It won't take him long to learn to swim at all.  He's a bit of a daredevil.  I wish I could take pictures of them swimming, but I don't dare leave him unattended in the water yet.  Maybe by Thursday!

Sophie is doing a better job of listening to me, yet she still wanders to all the mom's in the group to hang on.  I was told they do this to all the nannies in the orphanage so it is normal for her.  Not to mention this girl needs a LOT of attention, affection and affirmation.  The language and culture barrier make it hard for me to tell her that it's not always appropriate.  With Isabella, I could control that behavior.  It will be very hard with Sophie.

We are going to skip the tours tomorrow.  We need a break from going here and there (and the squatty potties) on a bus.  So, we will swim and watch movies.

It's been hard not having a normal schedule.  I can't always control the environment or behavior here.  It's hard to keep 3 kids safe and under control in a very crowded, foreign country.

I'm ready to come home.

I had our guide tell Hudson his name yesterday.  He was pretty uninterested and but thought it was fine.  I also had her ask him if he remembered before he came to the orphanage.  He does remember and didn't want to talk about it.  It made him very quiet and sad.  When she left she told them to help Mama pack for our trip to Guangzhou.  All I can say is that he was like a tornado!!  He packed like a madman!

I couldn't even keep up with him.  It was stressing me out because I like to pack MY way- and not anyone else's. Right, Trent?   :  )

I'm leaving with a few pictures from our last full day in Zhengzhou.  We visited the Shaolin Temple.  This is where they study KungFu.  We saw a KungFu performance and it was amazing. 

Best part of the day.

Also pictures of Hudson's first plane ride.  He loved it!

And our medical exams from today.

It was K-State day today!!

Our group for the tour.  These people are wonderful!

The KungFu show was amazing.

This place is also like a boarding school for young boys who want to learn the art of KungFu.

Hudson hung with our guide at the Temple.  Does this mean he's tired of us girls?

Monk at the Shaolin Temple.  I loved his suitcase and pink bag.

On our way to Guangzhou.

He LOVED his first airplane ride.

This is what Isabella was doing while we were waiting for our turn at the exams today.
That look on her face is SO Isabella.  Everyone here gets a kick out of her.  She makes us all laugh.

Sorry it's not a good one of Sophie.  But it's the only one I had of our first day of swimming.
It was fun!  I just wish we were at home doing this!  This boy needs a dad!!

Another day in Zhengzhou

It's Wednesday afternoon here in Zhengzhou.
Just another day.
One day closer to home.
12 more to go.

I feel like we are boring now.
No more Gotcha Day's.
We are getting use to each other.
So what else is there to say?
Hmmmm.

We went to a park down the street this morning with a couple of other families.
It got us out of the room.  The rest of the group went to Luoyang to see their kid's orphanage.
They also get to tour Maria's Big House of Hope.  I SO BADLY wanted to go!!  But it is an 1 1/2 hour drive there and back and Sophie gets car sick and I don't think Bao Yun Fei could sit still long enough.
He's so much boy!

So, at the park we walked around and then let the kids run in a grassy spot and pick flowers.
All Bao Yun Fei wanted to do was climb trees and torment his sisters.  It's so fun to watch him come out of his shell.

Sophie is maturing already.  I see it in the way she interacts with with Isabella and Bao Yun Fei.
But she still needs a lot of attention, affection, affirmation and love.  She craves it.
Bao Yun Fei doesn't need it constantly, but every now and then he will slip me a hug.  He is so very sweet.

Kim went with the group to Luoyang.  She wanted to see where Wesley had been when he went with Show Hope a couple of years ago.  Even though she has no idea who Steven Curtis Chapman is she was excited.  I'm so glad she's getting to see it.

Art class at the park!

This poor boy needs a little more testosterone in the room!!

Happy Adoption Day

It's done!
It's official!
He's mine!!

Hudson and I traveled back to the registration office today to pick up our adoption certificate.
Not until we left the same building where we were the day before that was so traumatic to him did he start smiling.  It's bedtime now and he is very comfortable with us.

He always holds my hand when we walk somewhere.
A couple of times today he has come over and put his arm around me.
Not for very long- but it counts.
This morning when we woke up he looked at me with a big grin and put his hand on my cheek.  Twice.
He is sweet.  He is ornery.  He is ALL BOY!!

He only talks in chinese.  Knows no english.
Sophie on the other hand is picking up english great!
She is also acting like the older sister at times.  When Isabella doesn't listen right away Sophie tells her what I just did.  It's very sweet.  She still roams to other's in the group that she doesn't know.  Knows no boundaries yet, but will come in time.

We are tired and are off to bed.  It's 9:30pm and we were up at 5:30 this morning (thanks to Sophie).
I'm SO ready to come home and there's still 12 days left.
Ugh!

Other exciting news flash:
Isabella lost her first tooth!!!
She let Joel, a dad in our travel group pull it (but she wouldn't let me!).  And when it was all over and the pictures had been taken she gave him a big hug and told him thank you.  That's just like her.
I LOVE that girl!

Do you see the picture below?
He smiles most of the time now.

I tried to post the pictures last night, but the internet is so bad here it wouldn't let me.
More later today.