Two Month Anniversary

I can't believe that we have reached our two month mark! And so much has happened during that time! I won't bore you with all of the details; but, I know many of you have been anxiously and impatiently awaiting the new photos of our little monkey. (I've been feeling your vibes!) So... I won't prolong your waiting!!!

Sunday afternoon picnic at the lake. 10/19

The first day we got to wear our jackets!
(I think Mom is a lot more excited than the little man.)

On the way home from our post-op visit on 10/28.
I've missed this smile!

Yep...he knows he's cute!
My little pumpkin hoarding all of his pumpkins on 10/26

Our first hayride at the church's Fall Festival on 10/29

Our second hayride (10/31)
Getting ready to go trick-or-treating...
My little pumpking wouldn't leave his costume on, so I had to improvise!

Here's some of what we've been living this month...

* Adam had his first surgery on 10/6
* Mom went back to work on 10/10... regrettably.
* Dad took the rest of the month off from work... excitedly!
* We met with the craniofacial team in Hollywood... twelve specialists in two hours.
* We met with another specialist from Shands with AWESOME results!!! We had discovered that our little man had been exposed to HCV in China. The first specialist told us to expect our son to need a transplant by the time he was 25 years old. Praise God... not even one month after receiving that news... Adam's labs came back clear! Our God can certainly move mountains when we can't even move mole hills.
* We scheduled our next surgery... December 8th
* The word of the month is... MaMa!!! I just love hearing him say it!
* Adam spent his first Sunday in the nursery on 10/22...he clung onto us and didn't want us to leave!

I'll type more later, but know I should get this posted! Our fans are waiting!!!

Our Hospital Home away from Home

Our first surgery was on October 6th at Dimaggio Children's Hospital. The surgery went very smoothly and took a little over 90 minutes. I am so thankful we have an amazing surgeon! I just can't find enough positive words to say about Dr. Stelnicki. God has truly blessed him with an awesome talent. I was so relieved that they actually gave him "sleepy juice" before the pass off to his OR nurses. He went to them with no tears and no fuss. And, that certainly kept his antsy mommy from having any tears!

We were so thankful that two of our dearest friends, Mark and Holly, braved Miami morning traffic to be with us. It was so nice to have their shoulders to lean on during those first few hours of recovery.

We ended up spending four days in PICU. We could've been home a day earlier if our little guy weren't so picky about the way he likes his formula! He was not too keen on the clear liquids at all. Then, he didn't want the formula that was pre-mixed. He had to watch me make it in front of him...and don't let it be room temperature either!

Needless to say... we'll be working on his finicky eating habits before our next surgery... December 8th!!!

Our last few minutes before getting his sleepy juice...
and the last few minutes to chew on his fingers for a LONG time!

Settling into our room (after the recovery room)

Our little Frankenstein...
ready to go home

And, for the Touched By An Angel story line...continue reading.

Neither of us were looking forward to being in the hospital setting again. Being there for four days, we met a lot of families and their children...all having their own stories. The most heartbreaking was watching a family lose their daughter just two rooms down from us. We watched the nurses lovingly create the memory box for them. We watched the family tearfully leave after saying their final goodbyes...hesitating at the door, not wanting to leave their little girl. Our family has walked both sides of that road. I remember sitting in that room, watching other families walk the halls with their children and seeing them smile or laugh, and thinking... "Do you even know what is going on around you?" Remembering that, I felt almost guilty walking past their room with our son, knowing that we would be going home with him in our arms.

What happened after the family left brought me comfort and answered some questions I'd had for two years. I'm sure her parents would find some comfort in it as well. I watched these nurses continue to care for this little girl... making sure that the lighting in the room was just right, playing her favorite music, and talking to her whenever they were in her room. That night, this little girl saved the lives of many people. While many may think..."what a waste," I have to say, "what a gift."

One Month Anniversary...

I can't believe that our little monkey has been with us for one month! It feels as if he's been with us forever. I wish that I was better able to describe the emotions that are still so heightened. I'm afraid that I'm not eloquent enough to do it justice.

Since beginning our adoption (or at least sharing it with others), I have searched for the right words to explain "why China?" I cannot even begin to total the number of times I was asked, "There are so many children right here, why do you have to go all the way to China?" Yesterday, when I was feeling a little low, I happened upon an old episode of "Touched by an Angel" on the Hallmark Channel. The episode is titled "For all the tea in China." When Monica reveals herself to the very apprehensive grandmother, she spoke the words that I had been searching for...

God does not will all that happens in this world. God does will something good out of everything that happens. But, for that we have to trust Him to take us places that we are afraid to go. We may not know what God's purpose is in all of this; but, we do know that from the moment one particular little boy was born a half a world away, God already had a plan for him and us. And, of all the countries He could have chosen for our child to be born, He chose China.

Our little monkey faces his first surgery on Monday, October 6th. We look ahead with anticipation and anxiety. Yet, we know that God is with us...every second of every minute of every day. He has great things planned for this little boy...our son. (My very spoiled son!) And, I have not ceased from breathing in the miracle of every moment I have with him. This first month has been incredible! We had prepared ourselves for the worst... sleepless nights and fear of these strange people who had taken him from the only home he ever knew. We have been blessed with a little boy who delights in the simplest of pleasures...a hug, having his head rubbed, playing peek-a-boo with his sisters, rolling from one wall to the other, kisses, his "woobie," a full tummy and curling up in blankets.

Dad and "monkey" listening to JieJie read

"What's behind this basket?"
He discovered how to empty his little box of toys!!! (10/1)

Who??? Me???
Mommy's little monkey discovered how to open the diaper wipes!

That mischievous little grin that melts away all the cares in the world.

The men in my life... already planning future kayaking trips!

Have I mentioned... I am SO IN LOVE and am SO THANKFUL for one very selfless mother who made the most difficult decision of her life to give her son the opportunity of a better life. I wish there was someway that I could thank her and let her know... she is forever a part of our family too!

Mommy's little cuddle bug... just like his big sister, Katy.

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!!!