Thanksgiving

We stayed home for Thanksgiving and invited a single friend over for our feast, watched a movie and just hung out at home yesterday. Big Sister had the very cool idea that we should dress up as Pilgrims and Indians, so we donned the appropriate head gear (you might wonder about this in the picture, as we look a little silly!). Poor little Gong Gong was sick and barely ate. He just wasn't a happy camper yesterday--not a good first Thanksgiving for him. We're taking him to the doctor this morning.

I'm thankful for our precious children and for the blessing of good health that G*d has bestowed on this aging Mommy and praying that our little boy will enjoy some good health, too!

Baptised Sunday!

This was taken after the worship service when Pierce was baptised.

Miscellaneous Update

Meeting Papa for the first time!

In Gong Gong's Room




Brother and Sister

Big Sis loses her first TWO teeth at one time!

We got a surprise visit from Papa on Saturday--Irma has been sick and this was his first time meeting little Pierce! Unfortunately for Elizabeth, she had all of about 10 minutes with him before she rushed off to her second birthday party of the day (have I ever mentioned she has a busy social schedule?). Good for Pierce, though--he seemed delighted to have a grandpa (and the attention all for himself)! I believe we're a little better settled this week. Pierce is learning his boundaries and we're having some sweet times together. I don't think he's pinching and scratching his sister quite as much and I'm hopeful he's finally catching on to the fact that this is unacceptable! He is quite the active little boy and is all over the place, but he doesn't like having me out of sight for more than a couple minutes. As you can imagine, my moments to myself are few and far between once he's up! He's got the cutest little habit of grabbing me around the legs and standing on my feet to "dance" and coming up from behind and flinging his arms around me!

We met with the pediatric urologist again this week and scheduled the first of his surgeries for December 26--the day after Christmas! At least he will be feeling normal on Christmas day. The recovery period is about two weeks with NO activity. Yeah, right, doc--have you seen this kid? We're in for a challenge.

Attachment Parenting: The Laundry Will Have to Wait

These first pics were taken at a children's museum.

Driving a fire truck!

Big Sis at a Princess Party

Attachment is not something you can take for granted when adopting a toddler who has been abandoned. It means being there 24/7 to meet your child's needs, and being very intentional about everything you do as a parent. It means throwing out a lot of the conventional "rules" of parenting (i.e. you can never, ever allow your child to cry himself to sleep). The relationship you have with your child is not something that just happens. He has to learn that you are Mom and Dad and that you can be trusted. Much of this means that in our parenting of Gong Gong, we must treat him like a baby and establish what may not have been established. Things like holding him to make eye contact and feeding him from a baby bottle. However, he is NOT a baby; he is a very mobile 2 year old who is into EVERYTHING! Becoming a family is definitely a process, not something that magically happened when we stepped off the plane three weeks ago. And we certainly don't have any nice formula for how this works. I am exhausted and my housework is not done. As Jean McLeod wrote in her article “Baby Shock”, “…parenting a post-institutionalized 12 month old is NOT the same as parenting a sleepy newborn. The real rewards of parenting an internationally adopted child are huge, and the real challenges can be draining, confusing, and…depressing.” We're having some fun moments, though, as well as some trying ones. Here are some pics of some of the fun ones (you really don't want to see one of his raging temper tantrums do you?). It is good to know that we WILL get through this. I am so thankful that I can have leave from work and can't imagine doing this any other way. With all that said, I know that I am BLESSED!

Two Weeks Home

We've actually been home 2 weeks now--what an adjustment!!! Little did I realize that this would be my biggest challenge. Gong Gong is all over the place! At least we're over the jet lag! Bit by bit, we are getting the house in order and safe (I'm slowly learning how to manage the home and chase after a two year old at the same time). Big Sister is learning a thing or two about some of the less pleasant things that two year olds do (she's been pinched and scratched a few times) and is learning to be a gracious sibling (bless her heart!). I'm quite sure this is not what she bargained for! Just when we feel a little frustrated, he'll flash that winning smile or throw himself around our legs and melt our hearts once again! He has been so good in all his doctor's appointments. So brave. I know he didn't like the blood draws or x-rays, but was amazingly good for a guy his age.

We went to the zoo after picking Big Sister up at school yesterday and he seemed to really enjoy it. He lets me know when he wants in the stroller and when he needs me to pick him up for a better look. He definitely communicates and is attempting to sign with me, but still does not attempt words. We get a lot of pointing and whining. Today was a beautiful fall day and we went to the park for the morning (see the pics!).

Getting Settled In

Can't believe its been a week since I posted. I was breathing a big sigh of relief just getting home, not realizing the "fun" was just about to begin! I've gotten through jet lag many a time in my life, but I forgot how challenging it could be with a little one. Long story short, I've just started sleeping at night, as Gong Gong finally "gets it". There's no explaining to a two year old how night can be day and day be night. On top of that, we don't have a crib assembled, so we had a lot of screaming and banging on the door, with Mama returning to lay on his floor, hoping sleep might come. I've drifted through the days in a sleep-deprived fog and only now am starting to feel like a human with some capacity for productivity.

At some point I actually realized it was a holiday week (we don't really celebrate "Halloween" in our family, but went to a couple fun church costume parties). I managed to get Gong Gong a cute little pumpkin costume.

We've begun a series of doctor's appointments, complete with the dreaded blood draws. The first had me in tears when the first stick didn't work and they had to try again. Poor little Gong Gong has done well, considering.

Coming Home

Detroit before the last leg

Seasoned Traveler

In our Airport--Almost Home!

27 hours, Gong Gong sleeping less than 6 hours (and Momma less than that), and 7 hours in the Detroit airport, but we made it home to Daddy and Big Sister! Gong Gong went straight into Daddy's arms and adores him already. Now to get our days and nights straight.....

I thank you all for your pr*yers for us as I traveled to China to adopt our precious little boy. I clearly felt covered throughout this journey and am so grateful for what G*d has done for our family and our little boy. I was the only "single" traveler of all the families in our agency's group of people adopting from various provinces and many marveled that I could do it alone--but I wasn't. I see now that He wanted to be my companion!

Thank you, Mary Kay, for your kindness and the pics!

Last Steps in Guangzhou

Red Sofa Pics at the White Swan
Joy, Pierce, Megan





White Swan




Joy and Daddy (Mark)

Nanning Group

These guys had some fun together!

Wow, I can’t believe this is our last day in China. This afternoon we went to the American Consulate to get visas for our children. Now I'm saying some good-byes to friends made here on Shamian Island in Guangzhou. It’s been fun wandering around here. This place has a very British colonial feel to it (mostly architecture), with a very healthy dose of Chinese culture. It hasn’t really changed too much since Bob and I were here with our dear daughter (except the prices have gone up!). We are right on the Pearl River and I have enjoyed the view from the restaurant every morning. The White Swan is a very, very nice hotel—much nicer than I need, personally, but I have to admit I have enjoyed their extravagant breakfast buffets and lovely décor. I was able to connect with a friend of my friend, Gina, and had some sweet times of sharing with some young people working in the shops around here.

Gong Gong is doing so well. He seems to be a very happy little boy and is already learning and growing. He has a very healthy appetite and seems to be losing interest in his bottle (he was taking formula three times a day). I guess I would, too, if I were getting an interesting variety of nutritious foods. I’ve had a little trouble with everyone trying to give him little crackers and cakes everywhere I go, innocently enough, but not what I want him eating! He’s starting to pick up a bit on the sign language I am teaching him. He has had a lot of fun playing with the George kids and loves stroller racing! I took him to a park here on Shamian Island yesterday and he really enjoyed going down the slide. He is going to have a blast with his jie jie (sister)!

We leave for the airport very early on Thursday morning (dinner time Wednesday, for those of you on the east coast). The next time you hear from me I will be HOME!!!!! We should, if all goes according to schedule, arrive home at 11:30 PM eastern time! Woo hoo!! We go to Tokyo, change planes, Detroit, go through customs, change planes, then home. I would appreciate your prayer for this trip—its “unbearably” long (more than 24 hours) and I’m hoping Gong Gong does as well as he did on the one hour flight from Nanning (multiply that by 24—that’s not too much to ask, is it?). I thank my G*d for how he has taken care of us thus far—He is able! And, thank you, dear prying friends!

Guangzhou

After a bath
Medical Check Up

The Airplane Ride

All Packed Up for Our Flight

We're here in Guangzhou at last and another step closer to home. Gong Gong had his medical check today--no surprises. Wednesday we go to the American Consulate for the visa and Thursday we come home. Here's the cool part--I gain 12 hours going east (I may not feel that excited about it on the plane, however). I want to thank everybody for their prayers. This has been one incredible journey for me and I don't think I could have done it on my own. I am so thankful my Heavenly Father has taken care of my every need. He is faithful!

With each passing day, Gong Gong's little personality is emerging more and more. He is one fun-loving little fellow! He seems to be greiving less and less and loving life more and more! I have found out that the name Gong means "gentle" and a little gentleman he is. When they weighed him during his medical check he was up to 20 pounds! I am absolutely amazed! He weighed 18 pounds the day I got him. I was talking to some others, wondering if it could be some kind of mistake and I am assured this is really possible--2 pounds gained in one week!

We are staying at the White Swan Hotel--a very upscale hotel and a bit too pricey for my tastes, but this is where GWCA insists we stay as a group. Its about $7.00 an hour for internet access, so I am doing without and sitting in Starbucks and drinking a latte (gotta have priorities, right?) as I use their free wireless to post. I don't know if I will be able to post again before I go home. In Nanning, I could do it from my hotel room while Gong Gong slept. That system no longer works, and since I am IT, guess who has to sit and watch me--not the most exciting activity for him, though he is entertaining himself quite well at the moment!

Guangzhou is something of a shoppers delight for adoptive families and there are many who are willing to relieve us of our $$. Actually, there are some good deals (but not as good as they used to be), so I get do do a little Christmas shopping!

Two more days!!!!!