Adam's First Week of Firsts...Living in America PHOTOS

I swore to myself that when we returned home I would continue with the blogging. Well, life had other plans for me those first few days. We arrived home from Orlando around ten o'clock. I guess it was a blessing that we didn't have a welcoming committee waiting for us at the airport. We probably wouldn't have gotten home until midnight! Although...we wouldn't have needed to drive either! The driving portion proved to be our FIRST issue back in the States.

Those in the adoption circle know the importance of crisp, clean $100 bills when you travel to China. We came back with one of those crisp, clean made in America bills in case we needed it to get home. We also came home with a handful of yuan. Now... for those who have traveled from Orlando International Airport, you will know that all roads leading from the airport are toll roads. Toll roads and $100 bills do not mix!!! So...learn from our mistakes... bring some dollars or quarters with you just in case. Oh...and Budget rental cars have Plate Pass...just drive through the SunPass lane! (We didn't learn this until AFTER we went through the unattended "change and receipt" lane without 50 cents!!! Oh, the bells and whistles we set off that night!)

Here are some of our highlights of Adam's FIRSTS during his first week at home...

FIRST time in a carseat

FIRST moments at home

FIRST time in his OWN room

FIRST sunrise in Florida

FIRST trip to the beach

Already leaving a mark on the world...

FIRST breakfast as an American... at Cracker Barrel!

FIRST lunch at Dales (Oh, how we've missed you!)

FIRST day at church
(Thank you to our amazing bible study group for showering us with you thoughtfulness, prayers, REAL orange juice and REAL chicken! We love you guys!!!)

FIRST appointment with his surgeon (FIRST surgery is scheduled for 10/27)

FIRST appointment with his pediatrician (Adam weighed 19 pounds 9 ounces before his next FIRST...)

FIRST labwork drawn (Adam did much better than mommy!)

On a more serious note...

Adam continues to amaze us. I was asked the question..."Do you love him the same way you love your girls?" As I looked down at the little boy sleeping with his head against my shoulder and his hand holding my finger, all I could say was..."How could I love him any differently?" Tuesday night, we were asked to speak at the Senior Adult dinner. First of all, Troy and I had an absolute blast sharing our adventures with such a wonderful group of individuals. And, Adam did very well in the spotlight. Guess he takes after his parents!!! :-)

Looking back upon the months leading up to that very moment, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that God has been with us every step of the way. As I shared my favorite quote, "There are no such things as coincidences. They are all winks from God." I could see how I was reassured month after month that this was the right path. It's amazing how our lives are weaved together. It's just a shame that we are often too busy to even see it unfold.

Since losing Katy nearly two years ago, we have lived our lives under a magnifying glass. It's as if everyone is watching us to see how we handle the path that He has chosen for us. I think we surprise ourselves as much as we surprise others. The answer is truly easy... we handle it with prayer.... on sunny days, rainy days, good days and bad, we praise Him for being there. So, for us, it's been natural to share our adoption journey (quite publicly) with others. After all, it is God who placed this on my heart so long ago and God who has brought us so far. And, it is the love and prayers of our friends and family that have helped us stave off those moments of discouragement. We promise to keep you up-to-date on the great things God continues to do in our lives. I'm sure that there will be some things that we'll feel the need to keep between us, our son, and our Father. Please don't give up on us! :-)

As we near the portion of the journey that begins weaving Adam's story, we ask for your continued prayers. This next month is going to be an emotional one. We will be meeting with many doctors to ensure that all of his medical concerns are met. His first surgery will be on October 27th at DiMaggio Children's Hospital to repair his lip.

Wo ai ni y'all!!! It's good to be home!!!

--the abundantly blessed mom of two beautiful girls, an amazing little angel Bug, and an adorable son who now knows it without a doubt

Can anyone make this plane move faster??? PHOTOS

Not for the faint of heart:


What do two very tired parents of three children look like at their 5:30 AM airport shuttle?

Backtracking just a little (okay...a lot), our flights home were fairly uneventful. Adam did very well and slept for a better portion of the flights, much to the surprise of the passengers sitting next to us. The first flight from Guangzhou was a little touchy...literally! My seat was separated from the rest of the family by several rows. And, let's just say that the gentleman I sat next to would've liked a row of his own. Despite me trying to sit in the aisle to give each of us our space, we grew very close throughout the five hour flight to Tokyo...VERY close! When our meals were served, I unsuccessfully attempted to juggle Adam, Adam's bottle, and my tray all at the same time. Needless to say, I spilled quite a bit of my rice all over my neighbor. "No worries," he told me. "Between your rice and my chicken, there should be a complete meal when I stand up!" Everyone turned in for a snooze after breakfast and I sat there praying... Dear God, please give us a strong tail wind!

Leg 1 of our journey home-- Guangzhou to Tokyo

We landed in Tokyo with about thirty minutes to clear the security checkpoint and sprint across the airport to our plane. THAT was a sight! The staff at Narita took very good care of all of the adoptive families and ushered us through the line quickly and stationed themselves along the way with signs pointing toward our gate. Nothing like a little aerobic exercise with 30 pounds of baby and diaper bag!

Maddie did manage to snap this photo during our Narita sprint.

The flight from Tokyo to Detroit was definitely a long one...thirteen hours to be exact. Everyone was a little on edge...everyone fed off of each others' anxiety. Several of the flight attendants were arguing with each other, the passengers were arguing with flight attendants, and we just sat there surrounded by it all! By the time food was served, I was getting a little anxious myself. You can imagine my anguish when I asked for beef tips with mashed potatoes and got curried chicken with rice! I literally burst into tears. I had lived off of chicken, rice, and spicy noodles for 17 days and did not want to see, smell or taste them again for a very, VERY long time!

It was fascinating to watch the sunset on September 11th at 40,000 feet...only to be followed by the sunrise on September 11th four hours later, somewhere over the beautiful state of Alaska. (I was still somewhere in the state of exhaustion.) Adam and I stood in the back of the plane watching the snow-capped mountains and crystal blue lakes pass below us. Oh, how I wished we were on the ground experiencing it for ourselves!

Sunrise on the second September 11th.

Breakfast was served shortly after we returned to our seats. You guessed it...our choice of spicy noodles or scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. Well, the flight attendant made it to my seat and before he could ask, I told him what I would be having for breakfast. NO spicy noodles! When he attempted to hand me the noodles, I again told him... NO noodles. Without tears this time, I told him that I would be eating scrambled eggs. Thank heavens we had bonded earlier over our love of China and he produced my eggs and hashbrowns!

I don't think I have ever been happier to be on American soil. In fact, I was so happy that if I'd had time to leave the confines of the airport terminal in Detroit, I would've eaten some of that good ol' American dirt! The airport in Detroit truly surprised us. We'd heard horror stories about customs and immigration lines. In reality, it was a very pleasant experience! We had passed through in no time at all, re-checked our luggage and on our way across concourse A in the tram. As the tram approached, my first thought was Shanghai subway. When the doors opened, however, there were wide open spaces! And, boy.... did we each find our own space!

With over 80 gates, the Northwest Tram was a welcomed sight!

As much as I like the airport, I had one place on my mind... HOME! We were in the final leg of our journey. At this point, I think I could've summoned the strength of Superman and flown our plane home myself.

The skies over Florida never looked more beautiful.

One final turn on this amazing adventure.

Thank you God, for bringing us home safely!
Even the afternoon storms of Florida are a welcomed sight.

Mama...I'm coming home!

Well... this portion of our "journey to forever" is coming to a close. We leave for the airport in 90 minutes! We will be traveling with two families that we have come to adore over this trip...and both from the South! Abby, Alex, and Adam will all take their first steps on US soil together. Though we are all stepping forward into our lives of expanded families, each has left a footprint on my heart. It is truly amazing how God weaves us all together! And, what a blessing it is!!!

I simply cannot put it all into words. A tug on my heart that began 17 years ago is now a reality. Throughout the chasing of papers and waiting for approvals, my patience and trust has been tested. Yet, with each day that passed I got closer to the son that He had chosen for me and closer to Him. Adoption is truly a work of heart because God works in your heart throughout this entire process.

So, farewell China. I leave you a little bit wiser, a lot more patient, and blessed beyond measure. I'm sure we will be back again!

I will be certain to post when we get home. Adam's first appointment with the surgeon is Friday. Keep us in your prayers that jet lag will be kind to us! Thank you to everyone who took the time to leave us comments. It helped us more than you will ever know!

And, for my mom and grandmother... though I know you probably won't see this...

We're coming home!!! Bring on the BEEF!!!!

September 9th: QingPing Market and CA appt. PHOTOS

I have heard so many things from other families about this marketplace. I couldn't wait to experience it for myself. All I can say is... well... uhm... nothing can really describe it! By the way, the individuals selling these items don't really care to have their photos taken. Several of our families were actually ushered out. Thank heavens we were able to get a few photos without upsetting anyone.

The tour began innocently enough through some stalls of herbs and fungus. It had a very distinct odor to it...one that I can't quite put my finger (or my nose) on. There were probably thousands of dried seahorses, snakes, starfish, and countless other creatures during the first several hundred feet. When we turned the corner, however, the marketplace came to life...literally!

QingPing Marketplace

Stan Jr. sizing up the starfish

So was this young man...

My animal loving children wanted to bring home everything with four legs...not the scorpions (they have eight, as Lyvie reminded me.) They felt so sorry for them. It was SO hot that the people were giving baths to the cats. At least that's what we THINK they were doing! Even Kelly got a little concerned for one of the kittens that appeared to be suffering from heat exhaustion. It didn't flinch until a bicyclist nearly pedaled over him.

I'm going to share these photos with my cat when I get home.
Maybe he'll be more appreciative!

A quick jaunt through this section (and no eye contact with the men selling tiger claws and oryx horns) took us into another area of outdoor shopping. A few of "us gals" decided to join Kelly at a local dim sum restaurant. I hadn't felt so out of place for a few days. The patrons of this restaurant definitely made up for it! The food was, again, delicious. We were a little concerned when three completely intact chickens (deep fried) showed up at our table. It was definitely a mistake, but gave me an appreciation for boneless and skinless chicken tenderloins!

Oh, no... we don't stand out at all!

We came back "home" to our hotel and prepared for our famed Red Couch photos. I've been waiting YEARS to sit on this very couch and can't believe we are actually here! It's amazing the little things that really stir up the emotions. Most people would just say...it's a couch. But, to me...it's THE couch!

Our little group of families from coast to coast

This was about as good as it was going to get with out little ones.

Our little Jiangsu boys... Adam, Brandin, and Eli

Our little family...with Kelly, the guide who made it all go so smoothly!

Is there any doubt that these two love each other???

Adam's first dip in the pool with Daddy...

Keeping his fingers crossed that the Consulate Appointment goes off without a hitch.

Well...I think I'm caught up for the time being. We are headed to the American Consulate to take our oath! Will post one more time before we fly out in the morning!!!

September 8th: Pearls and Physicals PHOTOS

Okay, I know that these aren't my usual witty blogs. I've been very bad about updating them as we've been very busy and haven't really had an adequate amount of time to post. Not to mention, we figured we'd save a little money and just use the White Swan's internet access once. I hope you will all forgive me!

Daily physical activity...
Florida teachers...this one is for you!

The statues on Shamian Island are amazing!
This statue is in Friendship Garden...right near the school.
Lyvie couldn't resist joining in this line. See!!! She CAN do it...if she wants to do it!

Kelly says many brides come to Shamian Island for their photos because of its beauty. Today was a busy day for wedding photos! We lost count at seven couples. I just loved this one!!!

Today was the day I'd been anticipating... PEARLS! I love pearls. I guess it's something that my mother instilled in me when I was younger. Of course, pearls are also my birthstone. Needless to say, I was very excited to go pearl shopping today. :-) It was a great stress reliever after the physical examinations. Adam passed with flying colors...though I think it would take a lot to fail these exams. He didn't care for them poking and prodding his ears, nose and throat though. I think he got at least a half dozen good scratches in! Mom was there to give him lots of love afterward. (Dad got to hold him during most of the exams. Yep...I chickened out!)

My twenty pounds of absolute cuteness...thanks for the phrase, Trena!

NOT happy one bit!

After a stressful day... we shop! Yes, those are all pearls.
Yes, we all came home with some!

September 7th: Guangzhou shopping!!! PHOTOS

We started our day with the most fabulous breakfast buffet we've had on this trip yet. Although, the buffet at the Parkview was rated highly by our family too! I think it is the atmosphere that adds to this buffet. There's just something about the sound of the waterfall, the koi begging for any dropped morsel, and watching the boats glide down the Pearl River.

After our FABULOUS breakfast at the White Swan...

Our very spoiled group of three families nearly quadrupled as we met up with the remaining eight Great Wall families. Poor Kelly...she was definitely getting a workout now! The first stop on our tour was to the Chen Family Temple, which really isn't a temple at all. It's a typical ancestral hall built on the donations from the Chen lineage and showcases Guangdong's decorative arts and folk architecture. While we were here, we were able to buy a musical instrument made from a gourd. (Forgive me for forgetting it's real name! It will come to me later, I am sure.) The sounds produced from these wind instruments are just gorgeous. Several families bought these for their children, so we think we may have a concert before we all leave for the States!

Resting at the Chen Family Temple (or Chen Ancestral Hall)
I want a set of this patio furniture!

Two adorable little girls that were playing in the park and wanted their pictures taken.

This is our ever-expanding group of families at C.A.H.

The next stop took us to the Jade Market. We didn't take too many photos in the marketplace, but it certainly was filled with lots of exquisite items to purchase. The gentleman in the photo below was creating paintings with just his hands. If you look very closely, you can see his fingerprints! Their work is SO intricate...I am just not patient enough; but will certainly take the time to enjoy watching someone so talented at their craft!

Amazing!

Another day of being completely worn out by his family...especially his JieJies!

Yet another milestone!!! Adam loves being pushed around by his sister.
(I'm sure that will change as he gets older!)

Tonight we went to dinner at the Cow and Bridge Thai Restaurant. Oh my goodness! It was absolutely delicious! We feasted on Sweet and Sour Chicken and Cashews, fried green beans (nothing like the ones in Nanjing, though) and Thai style fried rice. It was a nice leisurely walk in the rain, as well. NOTHING like the deluge we had last night! And, of course...you feel like a movie star when all of the shop owners are shouting and waving you in as you pass by their stores. Jordon certainly gets around this island, doesn't he?

Across the waterway (and a little bit to the left) from Cow and Bridge...
I just find the name intriguing!

Tomorrow... the Pearl Market and our Medical Exams! We're getting close to heading home!

September 6th: Nanjing to Guangzhou PHOTOS

We made it safely to the White Swan Hotel this evening. What a delightful flight we had! It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that we were given first class seats for Adam's first flight. :-) By the way, he did beautifully! This little guy is quite the traveler; he fell asleep within fifteen minutes of takeoff and slept through our landing in Guangzhou. (I don't know how he could; it was a pretty rough landing!) The minute we stepped out of the airport, it literally took our breath away. It certainly made us appreciate the beautiful (and often cool...for a Floridian, that is) weather we had in Nanjing. I guess it will help us re-acclimate to Florida's stifling summers.
Before take-off for Guangzhou...

Hope he doesn't get TOO used to this!

Somewhere along the communication line, we got our times mixed up and ended up on our own for dinner. First stop...Lucy's! It was nice to settle in for a little Americanized cuisine, followed by a brisk stroll through the torrential downpour.

Do you think she's happy to see some American food?
She lived on rice and broccoli the entire time we were in Nanjing!

The atmosphere of Shamian Island is much more relaxed than the other cities we've visited on this trip. This is truly like a vacation!!! We can't wait until tomorrow when we can explore some more of the island in daylight.

The Buddhist Holy Land and White House... PHOTOS

This is our last day in Nanjing. Tomorrow we will be flying to Guangzhou to complete the last leg of our Chinese adventure. Kelly outdid herself today with the sights that she took us to visit. We were all completely worn out by the end of our trip. We began with a tour of the Ji Ming Si Buddhist Temple. It was explained to us that this temple (still working today) is much like the Holy Land for Buddhists. It was first constructed in 527 AD and later rebuilt following a fire. It was very peaceful.

Patiently waiting to release the crossing arm for the train

After walking through the lower gardens, the bell tower, and the drum tower, we trekked to the top of the pagoda for some breathtaking views of Xuan Wu Lake. This pagoda was not built for individuals over six foot with BIG feet! Troy had to duck most of the way and walk sideways as the steps are very narrow. I was able to reach the top with Adam comfortably hanging on in his Snuggli. It was much like being pregnant and unable to see my feet!

This is the pagoda from the BOTTOM!

This is the view from the TOP!

We made our way back to the bus via a walk along the ancient city wall. It was hard not to imagine this wall during its early days, with the thousands of people who had walked the same path. The wall's construction began in 1366 and was completed twenty years later. It is one of the sources of pride for the people of Nanjing.

With the new little man in her life atop the Ancient City Wall (viewing XuanWu Lake)

Yet one more flight of stairs down the City Wall...can you say "spaghetti legs?"

Our next stop was the White House...actually the Presidential Palace. One of its well known residents was Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the Father of Modern China. We were able to tour the reception rooms for dignitaries, the gardens, and the air raid shelter. What presidential palace is complete without it?

The entrance to the Presidential Palace

We ended our tour with yet another fine lunch at a local restaurant. The food just keeps getting better and better! I think that the most favorite dish of our group is the fried green beans with peppers. It is always one of the firsts to go!

I can't believe that our time in Nanjing is over. This is truly a beautiful city. Yes, it has thousands of bicycles, scooters, and its share of smog; however, it also has its share of history, beautiful trees, parks and waterways. I look forward to the day that we can come back to visit when Adam is older.

Adam's personality continues to explode. He spent nearly two hours this afternoon playing on the floor with his sisters, smiling and kicking happily the entire time. He is sitting quite well and has even begun to reach out farther than before to get a handful of JieJie's hair or his Rattle Bug. He doesn't really react to noises as much as we expected. We're praying that this is actually normal and not a sign that he has lost some of his hearing as a result of his cleft. We've been watching the other two little boys in our group to see how they react. We have an appointment set up with his surgeon shortly after we return home. That is, if Ike lets us return home. It's definitely a little too close for our comfort! We're praying that our flight into Orlando won't be affected and that she'll stay far away from our house. Maybe if we join together, we can all blow him back into the Atlantic!

We're going to call it an early night...following packing up all of our belongings into these tiny suitcases we have! Next stop... White Swan!


For my COLTS...

Today's Question of the Day involves Xuan Wu Lake

The history of Xuanwu Lake can be traced back to the Pre-Qin period (21century BC-221 BC). The name of the lake has changed several times during the long history. The lake gained the name Xuanwu because a black dragon was said to be in the lake. Geological studies show that the lake was actually formed by the movements of the geological plates when Mount Yanshan was formed. Refer to the activity in Ms. Adams' folder involving plate tectonics. :-)