Holding our son

We didn't sleep much last night and this morning I was a nervous wreck.  Ralph and Makena were my calm.  We left the hotel at 9am for a short drive to an office located in an old hotel.  We went up to the 6th floor where another family had just met their daughter and were signing paperwork.  As we watched them, their daughter, about 12 years old with what looked like some burn scarring on her head and part of her face, began sobbing and wiping away her tears.  The new father said to their escort that he wasn't sure whether his daughter was scared or happy.  The escort said that she likely had so many different emotions and that this is a very unforgettable day for her.  I lost it.  It was at that very moment that I realized the importance of children in orphanages, especially older children, to feel wanted, to feel part of a real family, to feel that someone loves them.  We thanked God for bringing that family and that young, sweet girl together.

And we thank God for bringing us Joshua, Jia Bai as we are calling him for a few days until he gets used to us and his surroundings.  When the orphanage director walked in, we were just sitting in chairs at the back of the small room, unprepared with cameras or video.  We knew the second they came in that it was Joshua, so we scrambled to get our camera out and record the moment. She brought him over and I tried to take him.  He was very unsure, though not crying.  The director put him down to stand and Makena immediately hugged and kissed him.  She is the best big sister.  She has been so, so sweet with him.  The director brought the photo album that we had sent and had prayed that he had received, so we were so happy.  That means he had a chance to see us, even if only in photos, before today.

It took some time for him to hold on to us as we were holding him.  At first, his arms just hung to the side.  Feeling that little hand grasp onto you is the greatest moment.  Watching daddy (or baba in chinese) with his little boy is pretty spectacular, too.  Daddy has already been able to make Joshua smile and giggle a little.  We brought several toys for him, but his favorite quickly became the little plastic bowl of cheerios.  He LOVES them!  

We went from the 6th floor to the 4th floor to check and recheck the accuracy of the paperwork the office had prepared then went to the 3rd floor to take a family photo.  This photo was just us and Joshua, so Makena stood back with the girl taking the photo and she took a photo with one of our cameras as well.  She is quite the little photographer!  Makena made a little friend in that crowded office - a little boy who looked about 2 1/2 who was absolutely fascinated with her.  It seems there are no language barriers with little ones, they got along well without even saying a word.

Then it was back to the 6th floor to take a photo with the orphanage director and to ask questions about Joshua.  After that, we came back to the hotel and have been hanging out here ever since.  John, our escort, came up and had us sign more papers.  Once he left, we ordered room service and Joshua loved the beef and noodles that he and daddy shared.  Makena was exhausted at that point, so we put both of them down for a nap and they fell asleep quickly and easily.  I took a little nap with them while Ralph ventured out for Wal-Mart to pick up some water, juice and a few other essentials.  Tomorrow, 8am, it is back to the same hotel/office we were at today to sign more paperwork.  After that we have free days until we leave for Guangzhou on Friday.  We did find out that we get to visit the orphanage on Wednesday - it is about an hour away and it is rare that families get to visit, so we are so excited.  I'm afraid, though, that I am going to want to bring all of the kids home.

Shenyang City is quite a trip - the real China, I have been saying.  We'll have to post some video of the traffic here.  We still cannot get over how crazy it is and we laugh everytime we are out in it.  Pedestrians do not have the right of way, so cars are going wherever and whenever they want with people walking and on bicycles and mopeds just moving around them.  Cars drive on the sidewalk when they see fit, the traffic circle is more like a free for all - complete chaos to us, perfectly normal for them.  Yet, you see no accidents, no road rage, no finger pointing or yelling. Their honking (which is rampant) is a "hey, I'm right here" rather than a "Get out of my way!"  

Well, we are off to find the kids play room that they have here at the hotel.  Then off to dinner and back for Joshua's first bath.  Love and miss you all!

On to Shenyang

Day 3 - Traveling to Shenyang, Liaoning

Shenyang is a city of 7.2 million people, approximately 500 miles northeast of Beijing.  It was where the soccer matches were played during the Olympics.  There is a pretty remarkable difference between the two cities.  Shenyang is smoggier.  Reminds me of LA during a first stage smog alert. McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks are all over.

Red Folder Day!

Day 2 in China and I think we are officially adjusted to the time.  We tried to stay up until our normal bedtimes last night, but pretty much crashed at 7pm.  Makena was wide awake at 4am, so we ended up watching a little High School Musical 2 to pass the time until breakfast.  She took a morning nap and fell asleep when we were out walking around at 8pm and I think she will wake up at her normal time tomorrow.  She is such a trooper and a great little traveler.

Today was the Holt orientation where they go over everything from a background in adoption from China, to Chinese culture to our schedules over the next two weeks.  We met the 19 other families that are here adopting at the same time through Holt.  It still amazes me the instant bond you feel with other adoptive families - difficult to explain, but it is there.  We are all taking off tomorrow to fly to 5 different provinces to meet our children, then will see each other again in Guangzhou.  We stay in province for about 5 days then Guangzhou is where we have the Visa appointments.  Makena made friends with the daughters, age 6 & 7, of two of the families and she is loving playing with the big girls.  She loves the fact that she doesn't have to sit in a car seat here.  She was able to sit next to "her girls" on the bus and was in heaven! 

The best part of orientation, as we learned with Makena's adoption, is the Red Folder.  It is a beautiful, wonderful update on our child.  Before handing them out, they put each child's updated photo on the presentation screen and then ask, "who does this little one belong to?"  Kind of a fun game to see if parents can recognize them in a more recent photo.  We knew Joshua right away - he hasn't changed much since the initial photo we received.  We could spot those big beautiful brown eyes anywhere.  As soon as his picture popped up on the screen, Makena said, "that's my baby brother!"  She is sooo ready to be big sister.

After the orientation, we had a group lunch and then took a tour of Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven.  Last time that we were here, we were so in awe of everything and it was all so overwhelming.  This time, it seems we can really take it all in and appreciate it a little more. There is really so much beauty in this place, in their traditions and customs, in their people.  

So we arrive in province tomorrow afternoon and we meet Joshua at 9am Monday morning.  I cannot even put into words how excited and ready we are.  Monday can not come fast enough!  

Well, off to bed - could be our last good sleep for while!!!!

Day 1 China

Just a couple of pics from our trip over and our first day in Beijing. The city has really changed. The airport is very impressive and prodigiously clean. More evident, this time, is the amount of security at the airport, toll plazas and shopping areas. We are staying a couple of blocks from Tianemen Square and the Forbidden City. We did manage to cross the street and found a Dairy Queen and Starbucks.

Arrive in Inchon Airport, Seoul

Just a quick note to let everyone know, we are at the Inchon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea. The flight from LAX to Inchon was long but everything went well. Makena slept for a couple of hours. In-flight entertainment -- what a wonderful concept. We have a four hour layover then off to Beijing for about a 2 hour flight. I stuck my media reader in my checked luggage, so I couldn't post any pics.