So ready to be home. We left our hotel room in China 30 hours ago. Waiting now at LAX for our last flight. We will land in Nashville at 5 am Saturday. He's worth it though! Jason and I didn't sleep on the plane ride, but all 3 kids slept most of the big flight. Our plans are to stay up all day Saturday to get back on TN sleep schedule.
Lila is not feeling well...hopefully that will blow over soon!
Friday, August 16, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Almost time to go!
Right now it's 2:00 pm on Thurs. We leave tomorrow morning to come home! Jason is the most ready!
Our time in Guangzhou has been nice. Luke has adapted really well to our family. We've gone to some neat places, and seen neat things. But now I am excited to get Luke home and start normal life.
Our time in Guangzhou has been nice. Luke has adapted really well to our family. We've gone to some neat places, and seen neat things. But now I am excited to get Luke home and start normal life.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Gotcha + 7
Luke had to go today for his physical in order to get his Visa. He only weighs 22 lbs! The report the orphanage sent had 33 lbs. Everything checked out fine. He and I went while the others stayed at hotel.
Lila, Luke, and I went swimming. He loves the water,and likes to jump in off the side. Unfortunately he's not afraid of it at all, so we will need to teach him how to swim soon.
We went on a river cruise tonight. Dinner was interesting, but we had eaten a late lunch so we didn't eat much on the boat. All I know is I saw shrimp with the eyes still in, and I heard something about chicken heads.... I had a roll. The view was beautiful. The country has very interesting and beautiful architecture.
Tomorrow we go to the zoo and see pandas! We will have our official appointment with the US Consulate on Wed,and will get Luke's Visa on Thurs. then home!!!
Lila, Luke, and I went swimming. He loves the water,and likes to jump in off the side. Unfortunately he's not afraid of it at all, so we will need to teach him how to swim soon.
We went on a river cruise tonight. Dinner was interesting, but we had eaten a late lunch so we didn't eat much on the boat. All I know is I saw shrimp with the eyes still in, and I heard something about chicken heads.... I had a roll. The view was beautiful. The country has very interesting and beautiful architecture.
Tomorrow we go to the zoo and see pandas! We will have our official appointment with the US Consulate on Wed,and will get Luke's Visa on Thurs. then home!!!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Gotcha Day + 6
Good day today. We went on a sightseeing tour this morning with part of our group. Came back and went swimming. Jason taught Luke to jump in off the side, so he loves doing that! Then Jason worked on Visa papers, then to a Mexican restaurant with most of our group.
Jason is feeling better. Thanks for the prayers.
Jason is feeling better. Thanks for the prayers.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Gotcha Day + 5
Yea! We made it to Guangzhou! Good day today. All the kids did great on the flight. Luke has had a great day. He has been laughing and playing all day. He also calls each of us by our names ( Mama, Dada, Drake, Lila). He imitates everything Drake and Lila does (good and bad :)). Went to a restaurant called Lucy's tonight and had sweet tea, cheeseburger, Drake had fried chicken and fries. Happy family.
Drake really misses home. He is hanging in, but counting down the days.
Drake really misses home. He is hanging in, but counting down the days.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Gotcha + 4
Now that Internet is working, I may over post!
Jason is sick...stomach from the food and sinus. Pray he feels better soon.
We leave tomorrow for Guangzhou. So happy! I hear they have a restaurant that serves sweet tea, a Starbucks, and no scooters on the sidewalks! Where we are now, scooters drive on the sidewalks, and they do not slow down for people! Makes it hard to get out with 3 kids. We did go to Pizza Hut last night with most of our group, and that was wonderful! We ate pizza!!
We went to WalMart Sunday night. I will post pics of that. It was not what I expected! It's 3 levels, so you push your cart on to a ramp-escalator. And it sticks!
Luke is happy in the room, but doesn't like to go out. Not sure if its over-stimulation, nerves,..? I guess if he has spent most of his life in a room with 4 walls, crowded streets could make one very nervous.
We will pass the time today, then fly out in the morning.
Jason is sick...stomach from the food and sinus. Pray he feels better soon.
We leave tomorrow for Guangzhou. So happy! I hear they have a restaurant that serves sweet tea, a Starbucks, and no scooters on the sidewalks! Where we are now, scooters drive on the sidewalks, and they do not slow down for people! Makes it hard to get out with 3 kids. We did go to Pizza Hut last night with most of our group, and that was wonderful! We ate pizza!!
We went to WalMart Sunday night. I will post pics of that. It was not what I expected! It's 3 levels, so you push your cart on to a ramp-escalator. And it sticks!
Luke is happy in the room, but doesn't like to go out. Not sure if its over-stimulation, nerves,..? I guess if he has spent most of his life in a room with 4 walls, crowded streets could make one very nervous.
We will pass the time today, then fly out in the morning.
Gotcha Day +4
I think some of you have gotten worried about us since I haven't posted in a few days. The days have been kind of exhausting, and Internet has been splotchy.
Things are good. Luke is happy with us and laughs a lot. He also cries a lot... It seems he is used to getting his way.
We got to visit his orphanage and Maria's Big House of Hope. Maria's is the orphan care center that was founded by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman. It is a fabulous place for the kids, and Luke spent the first year of his life there. The nanny that had him was so excited to see him! She carried him all over the building reminding everyone who he was. She showed us the room he was in and where he slept. It was really touching to see how much he was loved there. That is her holding him in the bottom pic on the last post. The guy who gave us the tour was a college student from Nashville. Nice to see Americans again...
The orphanage was much different than Maria's, and I am so thankful to God that he was able to spend the time at Maria's that he did. It was nap time at the orphanage, so we didn't get to see may kids. All together there are 600 kids there, but we were only shown his room. There were about 40-50 cribs in the room, and most of the kids share a crib. If you have ever considered adoption, pray hard for guidance. These kids really need us.
I've mentioned the 5 other families in our group. Here is a little about them:
Sherri and Craig live in north GA and have 2 sons at home, ages 6 and 4. They adopted a little girl who is 17 mo.
Kelly and Andy live outside of Denver. They have a 4-yr-old boy at home and adopted a 2 1/2 yr old boy.
Tasha has traveled alone to adopt a 3 1/2 yr old boy. Her husband is home with their 5 other kids.
Becka and Jason are here with their sons ages 6 and 3, 15 mo old daughter, and have adopted a boy who is 2. They are from TX.
Kitty and Keith are from SD, and are traveling with their 2 girls who are both from China. They are 8 and 3, and they have adopted a 20 mo old girl.
Things are good. Luke is happy with us and laughs a lot. He also cries a lot... It seems he is used to getting his way.
We got to visit his orphanage and Maria's Big House of Hope. Maria's is the orphan care center that was founded by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman. It is a fabulous place for the kids, and Luke spent the first year of his life there. The nanny that had him was so excited to see him! She carried him all over the building reminding everyone who he was. She showed us the room he was in and where he slept. It was really touching to see how much he was loved there. That is her holding him in the bottom pic on the last post. The guy who gave us the tour was a college student from Nashville. Nice to see Americans again...
The orphanage was much different than Maria's, and I am so thankful to God that he was able to spend the time at Maria's that he did. It was nap time at the orphanage, so we didn't get to see may kids. All together there are 600 kids there, but we were only shown his room. There were about 40-50 cribs in the room, and most of the kids share a crib. If you have ever considered adoption, pray hard for guidance. These kids really need us.
I've mentioned the 5 other families in our group. Here is a little about them:
Sherri and Craig live in north GA and have 2 sons at home, ages 6 and 4. They adopted a little girl who is 17 mo.
Kelly and Andy live outside of Denver. They have a 4-yr-old boy at home and adopted a 2 1/2 yr old boy.
Tasha has traveled alone to adopt a 3 1/2 yr old boy. Her husband is home with their 5 other kids.
Becka and Jason are here with their sons ages 6 and 3, 15 mo old daughter, and have adopted a boy who is 2. They are from TX.
Kitty and Keith are from SD, and are traveling with their 2 girls who are both from China. They are 8 and 3, and they have adopted a 20 mo old girl.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Gotcha Day
Sorry no pics yet. We are busy parents of 3 now!
We had a great afternoon and evening. We finally heard Luke talk a little, and got him laughing quite a bit. Had dinner at the hotel next door, and Drake and Lila took turns helping him eat. After dinner we went swimming. Luke really liked the water and the 3 had a great time playing and splashing together!
On the way to the pool we forgot something so I ran to the room while they waited at the elevator. Jason was holding the door and drake and Lila got in elevator, but Luke wouldn't get in until I was back. He was afraid they were going to leave me.
On the way to the pool he was running ahead with Drake and Lila. Suddenly he stopped and just laid down on the floor. I walked over and he just wanted me to carry him!
We had a great afternoon and evening. We finally heard Luke talk a little, and got him laughing quite a bit. Had dinner at the hotel next door, and Drake and Lila took turns helping him eat. After dinner we went swimming. Luke really liked the water and the 3 had a great time playing and splashing together!
On the way to the pool we forgot something so I ran to the room while they waited at the elevator. Jason was holding the door and drake and Lila got in elevator, but Luke wouldn't get in until I was back. He was afraid they were going to leave me.
On the way to the pool he was running ahead with Drake and Lila. Suddenly he stopped and just laid down on the floor. I walked over and he just wanted me to carry him!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Gotcha!
Beautiful, beautiful day! We went to the civil affairs building this morning with the 5 other families in our group. Mischell had told me its like being in the delivery room together, and it is! Luke came in and has been very receptive to us. No tears yet... He LOVES Drake and Lila, and they love him! I was so impressed with how loving and nurturing they both have been with him. Jason is very smitten :).
Luke is so, so sweet and is taking everything in. He has not stopped eating yet. He is very small and very quite so far.
It's been a very emotional day, and our hearts are so full!
Luke is so, so sweet and is taking everything in. He has not stopped eating yet. He is very small and very quite so far.
It's been a very emotional day, and our hearts are so full!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Day 2
Waiting on a late dinner right now. Very tired...Drake woke me up at 4:30 this morning (saying, "Mom, get up. It's really 3:30 in the afternoon!") , and we haven't stopped since.
Our group consists of 6 families adopting from the Henan province. Great group to be with!
We are amazed at the driving here,people just go full speed honking their horns. Jason actually got ran over by a bicycle yesterday! We were crossing the road and the guy ran over his foot. Very funny!
Today we visited the Great Wall. Astonishing how massive it is. We walked a small part of it.
Tonight out guide took us to an acrobat show. It was great! Juggling, bicycle tricks, tumbling, plate spinning...!
I won't have much to report tomorrow...flying out in the morning to Zhengzhou.
Our group consists of 6 families adopting from the Henan province. Great group to be with!
We are amazed at the driving here,people just go full speed honking their horns. Jason actually got ran over by a bicycle yesterday! We were crossing the road and the guy ran over his foot. Very funny!
Today we visited the Great Wall. Astonishing how massive it is. We walked a small part of it.
Tonight out guide took us to an acrobat show. It was great! Juggling, bicycle tricks, tumbling, plate spinning...!
I won't have much to report tomorrow...flying out in the morning to Zhengzhou.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Day 1
The Chinese people love Lila! I guess they don't see little American girls very often. All day people were either taking her picture or asking if they could have their picture made with her. She loves the attention!
This morning our guide took us to visit with a lady who lives in Beijing. Very interesting to see how she lives. The people have a community courtyard, and the house was very small and had no air-conditioning. She was very sweet and we stayed about an hour visiting with her.
Next we went to a silk factory which was neat.
Lunch was at an authentic Beijing restaurant, and our guide ordered lunch for the group. Jason REALLY enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, and Drake and Lila ate Cheez-Its from my bag :(
Oh, my favorite part of the day was riding in a bicycle-taxi. Lila and I were in one and Jason and Drake the other. They have a name but I can't remember it. Have seen them on the Amazing Race before.
Then to Timmarian Square and the Forbidden City.
I will attempt to post pics later.
3 days until we meet Luke!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
We're Here!!!
We made it! Such a cool plane ride from LA to Souel. Each seat had it's own screen that had movies, TV shows, games, music... very nice. I watched Safe Haven. It was a very long day! None of us slept much on the flights. But Drake and Lila both did great!
Right now it's Thursday night 10:45 and in TN it's 9:45 am. We are going to go to sleep and reset our body clocks. Scheduled to go sightseeing in Beijing tomorrow.
Right now it's Thursday night 10:45 and in TN it's 9:45 am. We are going to go to sleep and reset our body clocks. Scheduled to go sightseeing in Beijing tomorrow.
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