Saturday, March 9, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Saturday in Guangzhou
Sorry for the lack of communication. We are doing great but having a terrible time finding an Internet connection. I guess it works better if you are not relying on wifi. I will keep trying when time allows.
We flew into Guangzhou late Friday night and had more adoption appointments this morning. Emma had to have a medical exam, which is more of a formality than a real check up. We are all set and prepared with the last of our paperwork to apply for her visa Monday morning. This after we ventured out to a nearby park and tomorrow we are sightseeing some more. This city is a breathe of fresh air compared to Xian. It has actual foliage! Real trees and flowers! It us so refreshing! It is a city of 10 million!
Love to all and sorry again for the lack of pictures, but I just can't get them to load. Keep checking back!
Sent from my iPhone
We flew into Guangzhou late Friday night and had more adoption appointments this morning. Emma had to have a medical exam, which is more of a formality than a real check up. We are all set and prepared with the last of our paperwork to apply for her visa Monday morning. This after we ventured out to a nearby park and tomorrow we are sightseeing some more. This city is a breathe of fresh air compared to Xian. It has actual foliage! Real trees and flowers! It us so refreshing! It is a city of 10 million!
Love to all and sorry again for the lack of pictures, but I just can't get them to load. Keep checking back!
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Grieving
Until today Emma has really been very easy going, not too phased by the lifestyle she was thrust into on Sunday. This morning though we see our sweet girl grieving. She woke up with some anxiety and lots of tears today. I am so sad for her breaking heart and yet thankful that she is able to grieve her lost 'normal'. Children thrive on routine, in my experience, but we have changed everything a child needs to feel secure...caregivers, diet, sleeping quarters, no more playmates, smells, touch, clothing, language, surroundings, sounds, etc etc, the list goes on to include almost everything in her whole life that has been familiar. As a mommy I just don't want her to cry because it means something is wrong...but I realized as I held her stiff body this morning that she needs to cry, needs to grieve, needs to let go of that which was familiar before she can fully accept us. Up until yesterday, she really would go to Justin and I equally, but I slowly see her preferring me and almost getting upset when I leave her vision..hard on both Justin and I but still good that she is making a distinction between people. Today she is crying and pushing away from me, but when I put her down she screams even harder...she doesn't know what she wants. She relaxes for a few seconds and then throws her head back as if to get as far away from me as possible, only to melt back into me.
We are still trying to figure out her diet also. Right now she is only drinking formula. If anyone out there knows or can figure out how many ounces of formula an 18 month should be drinking to get the right amount of calories...please tell! We are winging it. I did sneak some rice cereal and applesauce into her bottle today...which she took a little bit of. She doesn't actually suck the bottle, more like chews it, so we have cut the tops of her bottles so it comes more easily for her. Such a learning process, trying to figure out what it is she needs from us.
I have been reading and re-reading James, chapter 1, clinging to the fact that God promises wisdom when we ask. We need wisdom as healing takes place in Emma's little heart and to help her adjust to everything that is her new 'normal', and wisdom to know what to do in God's timing. Thanks for the continued prayers on her behalf.
We just have a down day today, which is nice since I don't think Emma was up for any social events or sightseeing. We ventured back down the street to the supermarket. It is a two story business almost like a Walmart back home, the floors are separated by moving ramps, like an escalator but flat, to get your cart up. Kids, you would love it! We went upstairs and found the baby isle, hoping to get some formula. I picked out what I had bought the other day and started walking away when three ladies (who worked there) all descended upon me and one of them grabbed the formula out of my hands. Turns out, you can't just take the item to the front counter to check out, you have to write down the item and the price on a little piece of paper (in Chinese of course) and then just hand the cashier the paper. I guess this is good because then no one handles your food...but you have to pay for upstairs things upstairs and then pay for things downstairs, downstairs. All in all, it is good these women only have one child because I can't imagine taking all of our kids to the store and then have to write down every item before I check out. That would take FOREVER!
We had needed a few other things but we a little scared out, trying to figure it all out..so we will have to go back and try again for some more applesauce. :) We also spotted some really cute towels/rags that would be great for her 'lovey' but not sure how to purchase those...without a translator..we'll see how brave we are feeling! I wish I was brave enough to take pictures there...but we are already a total spectacle, so I just can't bring myself to cause more attention to come my way. Maybe I will this afternoon, since we won't ever be going back there! :)
Thanks everyone, again, for the prayers and support, we are waiting until 3 pm tomorrow to check out of our hotel, receive Emma's passport, and then head to the airport for the (almost) last leg of the trip. We have more adoption appointments in the coming days in Guangzhou and then we spend one night in Hong Kong, before we fly to Japan, Seattle, and then Spokane. We rejoiced this morning when we realized that one week from right then, we would be home! What a blessed homecoming that will be...seeing the other kids and the rest of the family! Can't wait!
Much love to all!
Sent from my iPad
We are still trying to figure out her diet also. Right now she is only drinking formula. If anyone out there knows or can figure out how many ounces of formula an 18 month should be drinking to get the right amount of calories...please tell! We are winging it. I did sneak some rice cereal and applesauce into her bottle today...which she took a little bit of. She doesn't actually suck the bottle, more like chews it, so we have cut the tops of her bottles so it comes more easily for her. Such a learning process, trying to figure out what it is she needs from us.
I have been reading and re-reading James, chapter 1, clinging to the fact that God promises wisdom when we ask. We need wisdom as healing takes place in Emma's little heart and to help her adjust to everything that is her new 'normal', and wisdom to know what to do in God's timing. Thanks for the continued prayers on her behalf.
We just have a down day today, which is nice since I don't think Emma was up for any social events or sightseeing. We ventured back down the street to the supermarket. It is a two story business almost like a Walmart back home, the floors are separated by moving ramps, like an escalator but flat, to get your cart up. Kids, you would love it! We went upstairs and found the baby isle, hoping to get some formula. I picked out what I had bought the other day and started walking away when three ladies (who worked there) all descended upon me and one of them grabbed the formula out of my hands. Turns out, you can't just take the item to the front counter to check out, you have to write down the item and the price on a little piece of paper (in Chinese of course) and then just hand the cashier the paper. I guess this is good because then no one handles your food...but you have to pay for upstairs things upstairs and then pay for things downstairs, downstairs. All in all, it is good these women only have one child because I can't imagine taking all of our kids to the store and then have to write down every item before I check out. That would take FOREVER!
We had needed a few other things but we a little scared out, trying to figure it all out..so we will have to go back and try again for some more applesauce. :) We also spotted some really cute towels/rags that would be great for her 'lovey' but not sure how to purchase those...without a translator..we'll see how brave we are feeling! I wish I was brave enough to take pictures there...but we are already a total spectacle, so I just can't bring myself to cause more attention to come my way. Maybe I will this afternoon, since we won't ever be going back there! :)
Thanks everyone, again, for the prayers and support, we are waiting until 3 pm tomorrow to check out of our hotel, receive Emma's passport, and then head to the airport for the (almost) last leg of the trip. We have more adoption appointments in the coming days in Guangzhou and then we spend one night in Hong Kong, before we fly to Japan, Seattle, and then Spokane. We rejoiced this morning when we realized that one week from right then, we would be home! What a blessed homecoming that will be...seeing the other kids and the rest of the family! Can't wait!
Much love to all!
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Random Thoughts for Tuesday and Wednesday!
China is treating us well, we are slowly learning the ropes here in our hotel and have found a couple of places to eat. KFC and the hotel lobby restaurant buffet. Tuesday we just spent in our hotel room, studying Emma and trying to learn her needs and wants. She is so easy and yet it is so hard to know how to do things for her. Specifically, she will have nothing to do with a spoon..not sure how they fed her at the SWI, because they told us she ate noodles, soft bread, soup, congee, but we have not been successful getting anything into her mouth. She won't open and when we have coaxed some congee into her she thrashes her head like it is the worst thing she's ever had. She also will not bring anything to her mouth, like a cookie, she just holds it. So we are thankful that she loves her bottle and even seeing the sight of it makes her crazy until we plug it into her mouth. She isn't suffering as we are offering her lots of bottles. Might have to go back and get that formula from Switzerland after all! :) Although she has taken three different types already and hasn't balked at any of them.
Yesterday we ventured out of our hotel to the nearby supermarket. That was an experience. No one speaks any English there and everyone just stares and stares at us. They look at Emma and then again at us. I wonder what they are thinking? No one has gotten into our faces and started rapid fire question asking in Chinese...but I am sure it will happen sometime. Our agency gave us a translated paragraph stating we love China and traveled here to finalize our adoption and then our promise to love Emma and take care of her. I carry several in my pocket. Anyway, the store was an experience, we found some water and pop at the store and made a fast exit. We spent the rest of the day in our room, playing with Emma and resting. We have found her favorite comfort item...a rough towel. The second evening I gave her a bath..I laid her on the bed on her towel and she felt that on her face as I dried her off...her lips puckered up like a kiss and she has been kissing on her towel ever since. It is the cutest thing...so much for all the nice soft blankets I brought for her. She uses them for a cover at night...but really just wants a washcloth. So if you see us around home and my child has a washrag in tow...that is why. My friend, Sarah, who also adopted recently from the same place as Emma came from, says her son loves the same. The nannies must have used them frequently. Emma mostly just kisses at her but will also chew it sometimes. Something else we watch Emma do, is play with her three favorite toys...her two hands and her right foot. Her right foot reaches all the way up to her face and I am sure she spent hours on end playing with it while sitting in her crib. When she is awake in the crib she also pushes herself into the corner and sits propped up there...also something she must've been taught to do. Some of these behaviors I will cherish in my heart as what got her through her existence in the SWI...but I pray they are things she will soon move on from because she realizes there are people to love and play with her. What a lonely life she must've lived....I cannot wait to get her home and help her learn how so many people love her and value her.
Today, Wednesday, we set out to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. It was quite the place to see. One of the man made wonders of the world. There were all kinds of nationalities there taking in the history behind it. We actually met the farmer who was digging the well where they found the first part of the massive underground army. This farmer was a poor man, toiling away to make a living and now all he does is sit in the welcome center and pose for pictures with people, because the Chinese believe having your picture with a lucky man will give you luck. A little bit of the story behind the Terra Cotta Warriors....the Emperor, a cold blooded killer, wanted to be protected in the afterlife. He spent most of his life imposing this project on his people...all of whom he later killed. The entire underground army isn't uncovered yet and a lot of it was destroyed by another Emperor. But they have excavated thousands already. Each warrior is unique and was a model of someone real. They are very detailed down to strands of hair on their heads, fingernails and palm prints, and even tread on the bottom of the shoes. They stand in battle formation in their underground dwellings on a brick road, our guide told us every brick that makes up the flooring is signed on the bottom by the artist who made it. Also, each Warrior is signed by its creator as well. There is a massive section of the 'pit' that is being used just to put together warriors that were crushed by an enemy Emperor. It is really a puzzle lovers dream, I guess, but it seemed a little bit overwhelming to me. There was a huge amount of them all in standing at attention, that were completely built from fragments. Justin and I really just marveled at what one man can cause to happen. He built such a structure in his life to enhance his afterlife...if only he had known the truth what could he have done for good instead of evil. It is said he 'took' into death all kinds of people who he thought would benefit his afterlife...most of the scholars of the day, all of his workers, his wives and concubines, and more. I really wondered why such an evil man is so revered..even though he built incredible things in his life at Emperor (which also includes the Great Wall and a magnificent palace, which is destroyed. Crystal, our guide the walking history book, says if the palace was still in existence, it too would be another man made wonder. If you are really enthusiastic about the warriors, you can even have one made in your image. We opted out...but we did see Obama! :) Those are my random thoughts of the day. We are now back at our room with nothing on the schedule until Friday afternoon, when we will receive our notarized papers and Emma's Chinese Passport...then it is a late flight out of here and onto Guangzhou.
Emma is sleeping great and doing well besides eating.. a big thanks for all the prayers. We are truly changed by this experience and are thankful we were led on this journey. Our lives will never be the same and we are so thankful for our new beautiful daughter.
Prayers to all back at home...until later!
Sent from my iPad
Yesterday we ventured out of our hotel to the nearby supermarket. That was an experience. No one speaks any English there and everyone just stares and stares at us. They look at Emma and then again at us. I wonder what they are thinking? No one has gotten into our faces and started rapid fire question asking in Chinese...but I am sure it will happen sometime. Our agency gave us a translated paragraph stating we love China and traveled here to finalize our adoption and then our promise to love Emma and take care of her. I carry several in my pocket. Anyway, the store was an experience, we found some water and pop at the store and made a fast exit. We spent the rest of the day in our room, playing with Emma and resting. We have found her favorite comfort item...a rough towel. The second evening I gave her a bath..I laid her on the bed on her towel and she felt that on her face as I dried her off...her lips puckered up like a kiss and she has been kissing on her towel ever since. It is the cutest thing...so much for all the nice soft blankets I brought for her. She uses them for a cover at night...but really just wants a washcloth. So if you see us around home and my child has a washrag in tow...that is why. My friend, Sarah, who also adopted recently from the same place as Emma came from, says her son loves the same. The nannies must have used them frequently. Emma mostly just kisses at her but will also chew it sometimes. Something else we watch Emma do, is play with her three favorite toys...her two hands and her right foot. Her right foot reaches all the way up to her face and I am sure she spent hours on end playing with it while sitting in her crib. When she is awake in the crib she also pushes herself into the corner and sits propped up there...also something she must've been taught to do. Some of these behaviors I will cherish in my heart as what got her through her existence in the SWI...but I pray they are things she will soon move on from because she realizes there are people to love and play with her. What a lonely life she must've lived....I cannot wait to get her home and help her learn how so many people love her and value her.
Today, Wednesday, we set out to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. It was quite the place to see. One of the man made wonders of the world. There were all kinds of nationalities there taking in the history behind it. We actually met the farmer who was digging the well where they found the first part of the massive underground army. This farmer was a poor man, toiling away to make a living and now all he does is sit in the welcome center and pose for pictures with people, because the Chinese believe having your picture with a lucky man will give you luck. A little bit of the story behind the Terra Cotta Warriors....the Emperor, a cold blooded killer, wanted to be protected in the afterlife. He spent most of his life imposing this project on his people...all of whom he later killed. The entire underground army isn't uncovered yet and a lot of it was destroyed by another Emperor. But they have excavated thousands already. Each warrior is unique and was a model of someone real. They are very detailed down to strands of hair on their heads, fingernails and palm prints, and even tread on the bottom of the shoes. They stand in battle formation in their underground dwellings on a brick road, our guide told us every brick that makes up the flooring is signed on the bottom by the artist who made it. Also, each Warrior is signed by its creator as well. There is a massive section of the 'pit' that is being used just to put together warriors that were crushed by an enemy Emperor. It is really a puzzle lovers dream, I guess, but it seemed a little bit overwhelming to me. There was a huge amount of them all in standing at attention, that were completely built from fragments. Justin and I really just marveled at what one man can cause to happen. He built such a structure in his life to enhance his afterlife...if only he had known the truth what could he have done for good instead of evil. It is said he 'took' into death all kinds of people who he thought would benefit his afterlife...most of the scholars of the day, all of his workers, his wives and concubines, and more. I really wondered why such an evil man is so revered..even though he built incredible things in his life at Emperor (which also includes the Great Wall and a magnificent palace, which is destroyed. Crystal, our guide the walking history book, says if the palace was still in existence, it too would be another man made wonder. If you are really enthusiastic about the warriors, you can even have one made in your image. We opted out...but we did see Obama! :) Those are my random thoughts of the day. We are now back at our room with nothing on the schedule until Friday afternoon, when we will receive our notarized papers and Emma's Chinese Passport...then it is a late flight out of here and onto Guangzhou.
Emma is sleeping great and doing well besides eating.. a big thanks for all the prayers. We are truly changed by this experience and are thankful we were led on this journey. Our lives will never be the same and we are so thankful for our new beautiful daughter.
Prayers to all back at home...until later!
Sent from my iPad
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