The good, the bad, and the ugly

The good: Amanda is fitting in surprisingly well. She has decided that she likes me as her caretaker and maybe someday I'll graduate to Mommy status. She is preferring me to Brett and follows me through the house. She's a snuggle bug and a really happy little girl. Her brothers like her. I believe Nathan sees her as "that other kid in the house", but once things settle down a bit, they'll get along fine.

We like her!





The Bad: We are really trying to find anything she likes. She's content to carry a graham cracker around the house and just nibble from it. She's lost a lot of weight and having a child who's decided to be picky is not a good thing. I called our Chinese neighbor (who happens to be from the same province!) and she said many people are lactose intolerate there just because they can't afford dairy products. She also suggested where I could get some better tasting rice in our grocery store because as she puts it "American rice is awful!".

The Ugly: At the doctor on Monday, they found a double ear infection and a burst eardrum and gave me all these viles to fill up to check for digestion creepy crawlies. Then the Tuesday doctor took a lot of blood work to check for all those things they need to check adopted children for. In a few days, we'll find what is going on with her digestive system. So, healthy children are a blessing! I wonder how she'll be when she feels good!

Amanda is home!

First, the house was prepared. We put away all small toys and made a sign. We were very excited. Brett's plane was delayed by 45 minutes.



Our first glimpse of Brett! Yay! They are home!








We got Amanda in her carseat. I had prepared the boys for a lot of crying and possible screaming, but she didn't. She giggled all the way home. She sucked down a bottle of rice milk and proceeded to eat a bunch of mashed sweet potatoes with chicken. There was a little trouble putting her to bed and she needed to make sure Brett was around. Then finally sleep! She woke up ready to play at 1:30 and then went back to sleep around 5:30. She ate breakfast! I'm thinking we're in the honeymoon stage, but so be it. It's been an easy transition.

Last day in China

China is an amazing country and I'm proud to have adopted a daughter from there. I can think of no other country which is so rich in culture and the people are wonderful.

They are beautiful, both inside and out. I haven't had the time and energy to share much detail but here are two particular experiences which I will remember.

My dad and I each bought Chinese scrolls, which are beautiful hand-painted tapestries that hang from the wall. These are unique in that orphans painted them! Kenny sells them and has a shop close to the White Swan hotel. He provides education to the orphans and sells their art to provide support for the orphans. My dad bought a beautiful one that was actually painted by an orphan with one arm! Here is Kenny's Web site: http://www.echoinchina.org/index.html

He's a great example of a man of courage who is fighting injustice and caring for the least of these. He is known by the government and not afraid of that. He was imprisoned for one week, along with others in his Christian group that he meets with.

One of the families in our group adopted a child with a cleft lip and palate, which hasn't been repaired yet. The husband encountered a woman who was so surprised that they wanted a child like that who she actually called ugly. The woman told them that a girl with that condition could get no education b/c of her looks and as a girl she would have trouble helping/supporting her aged parents (a huge responsibility and focus in China especially)

This woman had no idea that this wonderful little girl could be helped and was amazed that anyone would take her into their family. What a blessing to have a free press and free flow of information in the USA! My prayer is that China would do the same and compassion would arise from the information so more Chinese families would take care of these orphans as well.

Pictures on the Riverboat tour in Guangzhou



More red couch photos




It was a moving and amazing experience to have 40 families give the oath today at the U.S. consulate, sealing the adoption of their Chinese daughters and sons. My dad and I celebrated simply, having Papa John's pizza in the hotel room tonight. (We've had many Chinese meals so we needed a break)

I'm looking so forward to introducing Amanda to her mom and brothers! Skype has worked Ok for us a few nights but it sure doesn't compare to being there!
It's been difficult and tiring (since Amanda and I have both been sick - some of the diarrhea is back for her] but also so fulfilling to finally bond with Amanda. She's a sweet and fun girl who pulls you in with her adorable nature. She's quite the people person. One person in our group says she talks almost as much as her dad and grandpa. :)

We leave early Friday morning (Thur night in the States) for Tokyo and then on to LA and then home. I'd love to fast forward the next day. :)

Thank you for all your encouragement and prayers! I'm in awe of what God is doing. I look forward to showing her off to everyone.

The red couch

One of the final stops in a Chinese adoption is the red couch at the White Swan Hotel. For some reason, it has become the Chinese adoption photo.





Brett was feeling well enough to go swimming with Amanda which she LOVED. He also went on a river cruise with the group at night. He told me you'll know when she wants something since she'll start making happy noises and almost singing.
He has not participated in a lot of the group touring opportunities due to him or Amanda being sick, but he will get her home and that is the important part. Only two more sleeps and Brett and Amanda come home.

To be honest, I'm a little nervous and downright scared. She sounds like a live wire and quite stubborn about the things that will keep her healthy (sleep and food). I'm seeing it as a two year old standoff with a little girl who really doesn't know what is going on. She is controlling the things she can control. It seems like she saw the initial days with Brett as a fun party and now she just wants to go "home" to the orphanage - party's over! But she doesn't understand that her whole world is changing...a change for the better, but a change she can't understand. I think once we get into a routine at home, she should improve. You can only be so consistent in a hotel while traveling in a foreign country. Also, at home we have two little boys that I can use as props for what is acceptable behaviour and the rewards of good behaviour. I'm hoping they will also help ease her transition. All I can say is that the prayer level around here will definately be "never ceasing". I'm thankful that I know God who understands this little girl and her needs and sorrows.

In Guangzhou

Amanda has been sick the last few days and is finally over what was giving her a lot of woes. So, Brett hasn't really gone anywhere and stayed in the hotel. Thankfully, she is on the mend, but now Brett is feeling really ill. So, Grandpa is taking over a lot of the Amanda care and Brett is just trying to rest so that he can make that plane ride home. I'm sure Brett's Dad did not realize all that he was signing up for and is REALLY ready to get home. I'm just ready for them to get home so we can get everyone well and move onto making a new family of six. I'll just share this picture...It was pictures from a fellow adoptee's camera at the orphanage.



Both of these children have families now and are just waiting to get home.

Please pray for Brett - he has almost 4 days left and really needs to get better. Thank you!

Leaving Zhengzhou on the way to Guangzhou

Amanda loves to point in her cute way, especially when there's a camera
She's amazingly content and bonding with us so well! Tonight my dad are wearing our t-shirts that say Ba ba (daddy) and Ye ye (grandpa).



Our group in the hotel in Zhengzhou before going to the airport. We are now taking care of US Visa stuff and sightseeing a little in Guangzhou while we stay at the famous White Swan Hotel. There are 49 families (from different adoption agencies) staying here who are adopting. It's great to see them all at breakfast! We are on a small island and there are riverboats, beautiful walkways with a tropical feel and it's in the high 90s all week! Nice to see the sky here. We only saw it for half a day in Zhengzhou due to the overcast weather. We are eating Italian tonight to take a break from Chinese food, which has been excellent.



Her pink hat was a big hit today and she would hide behind it. Thanks to na-na!



At the airport in Zhengzhou with Eli, who was a buddy of hers in the orphanage. Amazingly enough, they are about the same age.



We walked by a wedding in Zhengzhou. Their attire is similar to ours in this case.



Amanda went for her physical today and passed. They are still waiting the results of the TB test she had to take. The way they checked her hearing was tapping a lighter on the floor. Brett felt that probably wasn't the safest thing to do in a hospital. He had them get rid of all the animals in the room because of her fear of them which we really wish we knew where that came from. All in all a good day with Amanda feeling much better.

I just had to share this picture

This picture is from Gotcha Day. I just had to share it. I "stole" it from another blogger in Brett's travel group.