Gracie, Garrett, and the Grown-Ups

Pickin' Peaches in Northern VA

2010-08-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

Went on another adventure on Sunday afternoon with our house guests. This time, we went to Stribling Orchard and picked peaches. 2 bags full. I believe we will be eating lots of peaches in a short period of time. I love going to these orchards because they are nestled in the valley of the Shenandoah mountains. They are surrounded by so much natural beauty and history. The farmhouse was built in the early 1700s. The guy that runs it lived in the house growing up, and his family (dating back to great great grandfather and family) has been there since the home and farm were built. Now, that is a LONG history in a historic home. What a legacy! You drive up the dirt/gravel road and see log cabins. One of the family members working there told me that some of the buildings were slave quarters, one was a smokehouse, another a kitchen, and so forth. I LOVED it! We had been to Hartland orchards before, but had not been to Stribling Orchards. We had a fantastic day filled with lots of laughter and fun. The bags were so full of peaches that the straps broke on both of them. They had a HUGE, and I mean HUGE, bull that I was told was no longer a bull because he was castrated named Sparky. Poor Sparky. They had two donkeys named Hannah and Susannah. And they had some sheep. Gracie and Garrett loved every minute of it. Van kept picking up the kids to pick peaches from the highest branches, and he even lifted up Edward and Mary when they requested it. My back hurts me to just look at the pictures. It was a blast and we plan to go back to pick raspberries and apples soon.

Afterwards, we took the girls to Wegman's grocery store, and they were AMAZED at the size of the store and the amount of food in it. They were taking pictures of all of the different foods to show their families. So cute! Edward had said she wanted to try potato salad. So, we bought some and had it for dinner along with grilled steak, yellow squash, and portobello mushrooms. YUM.

It was a great day!

The National Harbor

2010-08-01T06:06:00.000-07:00

We took the girls on trip to The National Harbor in Maryland. Van and I had never been to the harbor before so it was an adventure for us as well. It is really beautiful, and we plan to go back as soon as we can. We went on the water taxi over to Old Town Alexandria, enjoyed some live music, and an ice cream from Ben and Jerry's. It felt like a mini vacation. Enjoy the pictures.

The Boys Leave Us, and The Girls Arrive!

2010-07-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

Huang, Bob, Dora, Mary, and Edward

Edward and Mary

This has truly been such a positive experience for our family in so many ways. It is hard to put it into words. I hope that all of my friends are able to do this someday. It has been hard physically on me...my back is killing me as I write this...the extra cooking, cleaning, laundry, driving around, entertaining, BUT it has been sooooooooooo worth it.

First off, Garrett's 4th birthay was yesterday. We celebrated with a "Wiggles" party. LOTS of people, LOTS of kids...LOTS of fun. And the weather was great too. Thank you, God! Garrett had a total blast with everyone, and once again, he sat up so proudly when it was time for singing the "Happy Birthday" song. He sang right along with everyone. Wish all of you could have seen the excitement on his face. He loves being the center of attention, and he knew that yesterday was ALL about him. SOOOOOO cute! I will post pics so you can catch a glimpse. Another thing I love about Garrett is that when he opens presents, he really understands how to thank people for them. My friend, Lauren, says that he is very gracious, and he just is. It is heartfelt and you can tell. Not many children are like that. He just "gets it". Van says this goes back all the way to China when he bought him his first pair of new shoes. Van had told me that you would have thought that Garrett had won the lottery because he loved his shoes so much. Anyway, it is really sweet to watch him look at the person and thank them. He does it better than anyone I know. I am proud of my boy. I didn't teach him that either other than the "say thank you" reminders that most parents give. Like I said, he just loves people, and he is grateful for his friends, and it shows. It is something that I hope will rub off on me a little bit. He is way better than I am at not taking anything or anyone for granted. He knows how to love.

Bob and Huang left us early this morning. Such nice boys! It hit Garrett harder than anyone. I have never seen Garrett react like that, and I truly did not expect it. He kept saying, "Mama, plane. Mama China. I go. Boys! Where? I miss boys." and when I tried to explain it...it is hard to say good-bye to our friends and they were just here visiting and had to go back home to their mama and daddy and we will keep in touch with them...he had a very sad, tearful cry. I didn't like having to say good-bye either. They stood at the door and thanked me for my care and concern for them. They told me to come to China and I would be welcomed. It was very sweet. Bob really looked kind of heartbroken to leave. It was kind of sad. We had a great time with them! Anyhoo...enough said. We will miss them a lot.

Now, our girls arrived night before last. My family will get a total kick out of this. Their American names are Mary (my first name) and.....drum roll please..........................................................................................
EDWARD!!!! How is that for a little divine intervention? No joke! She named herself EDWARD! My daddy's name was Edward, and he passed away in 2003. She really likes the "Edward" character in the Twilight movies. That was why she gave herself that name. I still think somebody upstairs is pulling the strings. HA! They are very sweet girls, both 13, though they seem very much older than that, very mature for their age, and they both speak a fair amount of English. Not as much as Bob, but we are able to communicate. And unlike the boys, the girls are very neat and tidy which is FABULOUS! The boys that just left...NOT so much. BUT that is ok because I knew they wouldn't be because they're boys. Anyway, we are getting to know them, and are having a great second round of company. They are teaching Gracie and Garrett some basic Chinese, playing games with them, singing, watching movies etc. It has been awesome. They were here for the birthday party, we took them to school, and then after school, we went to Costco to shop, and then Panda Express for dinner. Great times. And I didn't have to cook. Even better!

More later...Enjoy the pictures.

HUGS, Madeline

Huang and Bob

2010-07-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Our exchange students have arrived. We are having the BEST time with Bob and Huang. They are from Chongqing, China in the Szechian region. Both are 16 years old, and I have really developed a huge fondness for them in just one week. I really don't want to see them leave to go back to China. I feel like I have two more children. BIG children, but children nonetheless. I really like them. They're pretty funny. We laugh a lot. And they can cook! Man, they REALLY cook! They totally put me to shame. IRON CHEF! Chongqing hotpot and super side dishes. No joke. It was GREAT! And they prepared the whole meal just for us. It took them close to two hours to just prepare it for cooking. Our friends, Dolores and Grace, also came over with their exchange student, Dora. She is from the same area in China as the boys. Very sweet girl. Beautiful too. She helped them.
We have had some great times so far.
Touring DC at night. The Washington Monument. The Jefferson Memorial. Walking the city. Sweating. Taking them to school and home again. Hanging out at home. Restaurants. Watching Bob and Huang try to eat the "Blazin" hot wings at Buffalo Wild Wings. Laughing. Movies. Wii. Walks. Sweating. Touring DC on Saturday all day. The White House. The Capitol. The WW2 Memorial. The Women of the Military Memorial. The Korean War Memorial. The WW1 Memorial Wall. The Museum of Natural History. Shopping at Fair Oaks. Shopping everywhere. Talking about everything China. Learning. Absorbing. French Fries. Burgers. Pizza. Computer time. Learning Chinese. Learning about their culture. I have loved every second of it! And Gracie is just a sponge. She really likes the boys. They are so kind to the children. Huang will pick Gracie up and put her on his shoulders. He will hold her hand. He is very sweet. Bob is too. They are very cheerful, good boys. Bob communicates very well. Huang is learning the language. They have been very good here together. They balance each other out.
Some of my favorite moments so far…
1. Finding out the boys are going to cook a meal for us. YEA!!! Then, Bob tells me in the car one morning that we do not have all of the ingredients. Ox stomach. Chicken hearts. No can do. Had to talk to the boys about that. Just cannot eat the internal organs of animals. I totally respect them. I do not want to insult them at all. BUT…I cannot do it. They were very understanding and used just plain chicken, and beef in the meal. It was awesome! Probably one of the very best Chinese meals we have ever eaten. Bob told me that his mom told him later in life that his favorite thing to eat as a child was pig brains. Hmmmmmm.
2. The boys went on a bike ride and got caught in the rain on their way home from MANASSAS. We thought they were riding around our neighborhood. NO. They were all the way in Manassas!!! Had to have another talk with them.
3. The boys are used to eating VERY hot and spicy foods in China. We enjoyed watching them try to eat the Blazin Hot wings at Buffalo Wild Wings…If you can eat 12 wings in 6 minutes with no drinks and no napkins and no ranch or blue cheese dressing, you get your picture on a wall and a t-shirt for your efforts. They ate some of them….five of them…Sweating, lots of water, and lots of laughter later…They passed on eating all 12 wings. Even the staff leader/waiter said he wouldn’t do it. It is just painful. You don’t even taste the chicken etc. But they ate five of them. Brave boys!
4. Seeing Gracie and Garrett light up around them. Hearing the kids try to speak Chinese. Listening to Gracie’s questions. Asking lots of questions ourselves. And listening to their answers.

Our New Friends, Huang and Bob

2010-07-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

Chongqing hotpot and side dishes with LOTS of chili peppers
Awesome meal, boys!!! It was so good!!!

Huang, the Iron Chef!

B-O-B handling the veggies called BaiTai or something like that.

Can you believe the chili peppers in this pot? This was before all of the meat and veggies were added to the pot.

Bob, Dora, and Huang learned how to cook from their grandparents. In China, their parents work and their grandparents help raise them and care for them in the same home. Historically, the reason that they eat such hot and spicey food is because it would be so cold during the winters that they would cook foods that would warm their insides. It must have been REALLY cold.

Gracie really likes Huang. He is very sweet to her. So is Bob. They are great boys and are very friendly.

D.C. at night. Beautiful!

Is that a UFO or a giant orb in the picture? Do you know that two days after Huang and Bob left Chongqing, China to come here that a UFO was seen by many many people hovering over a park in their city in China? It made the front page of AOL news stories several days ago.

The guys had a great time in DC.

My children...all four of them!

The guys are relaxing on the sofa together.

Siblings who snuggle together...

2010-07-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

These two kids totally love each other, and it makes my heart so happy!

Awwwww.....so sweet!!!

Garrett snuggles with Gracie on the sofa.

He will very often just go plop on top of her when she least expects it.

She doesn't seem to mind.

My babies! I love them both!!!

More Bribery Pictures...Poor Garrett!

2010-07-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

" I am just role playing. This is not a problem. I am an actor. It is just dress up. I promise, Daddy!"

Little Miss Gracie...Darling. Love her.

AUBURN!!! War Eagle!!!!

2010-07-20T21:11:00.001-07:00

She is a natural! You should hear the cheers!

We're number one!!! Go Auburn!!!

I know I am in a dress.

It's to prove a point....

I am MUCH cuter than that kid on tv.

YOU HAVE TO SHOP HERE!!!! WILD OLIVE TEES...Get Your Verse On

2010-07-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

These are the most beautifully designed tee shirts created by a travel buddy friend named Stefanie and her crew at Wild Olive Tees. Stefanie brought home Isabelle, her daughter, from China during the same time we brought home Gracie. We were in the same DTC yahoo group online together. AND she was also on the trip with Van when he went to China to get our Garrett. She was traveling at that time with her sister to China to share in the joy of bringing her nephew home. GREAT girl!!! Now, get your verse on, girls! LOVE THESE!!! Purchase for a friend or neighbor and while you're at it, help some babies in China! See the button on the right sidebar to shop, shop, shop!!! I am telling you that you will LOVE these shirts!!! GO NOW!!! GO! GO!! GO!!! JUST GO!!!!

www.wildOlivetees.com

Happy 4th of July!!! Back to Blogging!

2010-07-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am again. Blogging. Haven't been blogging lately. Just haven't had the time or energy. But I am back. And hopefully, someone will read this because I am taking the time to actually pursue it again.

Bloggy Friends!!! Please notice that the sidebar with links to websites is getting smaller. For some odd reason, I cannot access your websites anymore. If your website does not appear here, please email me to let me know how to get back to your blogs...Stephanie, Epin, Kelly Dyer...etc etc. Email me!

Happy 4th of July everyone! I miss being with my family in Birmingham on the 4th. The OLS 4th of July festival. The BBQ. Daddy's chicken. Mama's potato salad. Mama's cole slaw. ( Ok, who has those recipes? I need them. Email me.) The cake walk. Seeing old friends. The fireworks seen from the house at the top of the driveway on Ridge Rd. Mama's homemade ice cream. Times sure have changed. Someone else lives in that house now, and it doesn't even remotely resemble the one I lived in so long ago. If I had the money, I would buy that house. Just because. I would renovate it, and it would look just like it did back when we lived in it. Ok, maybe there would be a few changes, but the front of the house would look the same. It would be our 4th of July house.

The kids are growing. No news there. It is funny to me that parents say to other people, "The kids are growing up." Isn't that what they are supposed to do? They grow. Everyday. All day long. So I won't bore you with too much of it.
Gracie starts kindergarten this fall. Cannot even believe it. She is so ready for it. I, on the other hand, wish I could have more time to get used to the idea. The whole thing gives me the hives just thinking about it. September will be here before we know it, and the thought of putting her on that bus the first day makes me cry. She will have all of her neighborhood friends to help her get through it, and I will have all of my neighborhood friends for the long cry afterwards at the bus stop. They are going to have to hold me back from following the bus to school and sitting all day in the parking lot. SO HARD! ALREADY! She went to the school's kindergarten screening, and the teacher who tested her said she is sooooooo ready, and that her writing already looks fabulous. I know she will do well. I don't know that I will do well. What happened to half day kindergarten? I would be FINE if it was just a half day. No problem. BUT she will be there all day!!! Monday through Friday. ALL DAY! Gracie has a beautiful voice and dances so well. She loves to make up songs and gives us concerts. She really is talented. We need to put her in voice and dance lessons. She is so funny. Loves knock knock jokes. Reading. Writing. Playing school. Playing dolls. And she is as active as any little boy on the block. Baseball lover. Can hit a ball really well! We went to two National's baseball games in DC recently. LOVED those. Hoola Hoops like crazy...two and three hoola hoops at one time. Bossy! Must be the age. Stubborn. Perfectionist. Loving. Always wants to be on our laps. So sweet and cuddly. Loves to tell stories. Plays I-Spy. Wants her "me" time away from Garrett. Puts signs on her door saying she wants to be alone. No one allowed. LOL. Loves her friends. Wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. So smart. I think she will be a doctor someday. Gracie has lost her two bottom front teeth (new ones have already grown back in), and another one is gone now too. Her two front teeth are loose, and the doc says she will lose those soon. She wants to go back to China NOW. Sadly, she is going through some things concerning her adoption. It is hard for her. You know, I think about how much we all take for granted knowing all of the answers to our puzzle about our family. I have even done a lot of genealogy work and know more than most people would about my own. Well, Gracie has many pieces to that puzzle that are missing. Can you take a moment and think about what that would be like? Not knowing. Wanting to know. Asking. Wanting answers. Not getting answers. And being thousands of miles away from anyone really able to answer anything. And she feels it (and she feels it more so than she understands it)! She is very much aware of it. So intuitive. So wise for her years. So perceptive. So sensitive. Separation is hard for her. She clings to me. She just doesn't comprehend that we cannot get into the car or on a plane now to go get those answers. I wish I had a million bucks. One of the first things I would do would be to take Gracie to China now so that she could see her orphanage and see her nannies and ask those questions. Sadly, we cannot do that right now. Pray for her. Pray for us so that we will know how to help her get her through it. She cries about it very often. She is happy 99.9% of the time though. It is hardest for her at night because she tells me that is when she thinks about it all...which to me, perfectly explains her sleep issues...fighting sleep, needing to be near us/sleep with us, waking up, fighting in her sleep. It is very complicated. And honestly, I knew she would have some of these issues as an adopted child, but I never dreamed that she would be grieving so hard at the age of five. Too much. Too soon. But we are dealing with it. And we are doing what we know is best for her. Just LOVE our girl! She is such a blessing to us. How could I love any little girl any more than I do Gracie? Cannot even fathom it. She is a constant bright light. What a beautiful light she shines!!!

Garrett starts preschool too. Three days a week. He needs it. That does not seem so difficult for me to deal with. He goes for three hours on those days. Then he will be home with me. And we have two years of preschool to look forward to. Developmentally, he really is more like a three year old right now. He's a babe! BUT Garrett is HUGE. He is as big as Gracie (one inch shorter, about 6 or 7 pounds heavier). When I took him with me to the school to register Gracie for kindergarten, the school nurse thought I was registering him. HA! She says there are first graders that are much smaller than he is. Imagine what he will look like in two years when he does start kindergarten! He is talking a lot. Singing a lot. And Garrett is just the cutest kid ever! I know. Every parent thinks so. But he's my boy!!! So loving. So affectionate. Gives the best hugs in the world just like his big sis. So funny. So active. Falls a lot. Lots of skinned knees and elbows. RUNS everywhere. Loud. Dumps things. Bothers Gracie. LOVES Gracie. Potty training. Still. Not there yet, but trying. Sleeping better. Cutest smile ever. BIG. Did I say BIG and HEAVY? Loves the Wiggles. He will be four on July 26th. But he is just a baby still! We are having a Wiggles party for him, and we will be going to the Wiggles "Wiggly Circus" concert in August to see them live in Richmond!!! We still hear from Garrett's foster parents in China. They love him and miss him. His foster brother writes us via email for his parents. I cannot get over the feelings/thoughts I have that this family might be somehow biologically related to Garrett. Just a gut feeling. I may be wrong. BUT...not so sure I am wrong. Their feelings are just so strong for Garrett. They truly, genuinely love him. But then again...Who wouldn't? He is the sweetest kid in the world. He and Gracie. Funny how God works, huh? We have the two most perfect children on the planet... IMHO, that is.

We recently had Gracie and Garrett's hearing tested. Garrett seems to have normal hearing which is what we expected. What we were not expecting was to hear that Gracie has a slight hearing loss. I almost passed on even having Gracie's hearing checked. They are retesting her in six months, but are pretty sure that she will test the same. They think the loss is due to an infection her birthmother might have had while pregnant with her. The plan for this is to make sure she sits up front at school, and to let her teachers know. The lady that tested her said that we will need to have her hearing checked yearly to make sure that the hearing loss doesn't get any worse. And it could. Pray that it doesn't.

We are enjoying the summer even though it has been extremely hot here. The kids love going to the pool, and we are finally seeing Gracie's fear of the water leave her. Garrett has absolutely no fear whatsoever. He is already putting his face in the water. This has made Gracie more willing to try the water because she is highly competitive. We are going to the library a lot, reading a lot, playing outside in the mornings and evenings, crafting, playing school (Gracie's favorite activity), putting on special performances with singing and dancing, watching The Wiggles...We LOVE the Wiggles!!!...cooking together, running through the sprinklers, eating LOTS of popsicles and freeze pops, playing games, and having lots of playdates with friends.

***** Below change: We will now have four Chinese exchange students between July 13th and August 7th! We will have two boys for session A and two girls for session B!!!! Even more excited now!

Our biggest news lately is that we are going to have two Chinese foreign exchange students coming to stay with us in July and August. The first one is a 16 year old boy from Chongqing, China. He supposedly speaks a fair amount of English. We are so excited about his arrival soon. He will be with us for two weeks. Immediately afterwards, we will be having a girl from China stay with is, but we do not know anything about her yet. She will also stay for two weeks. Both students will be going to an English Language camp during the weekdays for most of the day, but they will have evenings and weekends free. It is going to be quite a great cultural learning experience for all of us. I am hoping that Garrett and Gracie can learn to speak some conversational Chinese, and learn to write some Chinese as well. And I am hoping that one of the students will teach me how to cook some steamed meat dumplings. The boy is from an area in China where they eat very spicy foods in hot pots. Let's just hope he likes chicken nuggets and burgers and fries. LOL. Just kidding. I am no gourmet cook. Really. I will have rice and noodles on hand in case they cannot stomach what I prepare. This will be their first time in the United States too. And they are so lucky that they get ME to be the one who will be cooking for them. NOT. Three meals a day! SO SAD! I need Paula Dean. Right now. Can she come live with us too? I bet she could cook up some really good southern type Chinese food for all of us with a lot of butter. Mmmmmmmm. Another idea...I need Scotty Bourgeois (my nephew chef)! Where are you Scotty? Come visit us and bring Katie and Beth. Then, you can cook! You're good at it!!! You do this for a living! I need you. At least research some really easy Chinese recipes for me. Think Szechuan!!! Hot pot!

So be alert! I will be blogging about our experience with Hu HanBo. My kids go around saying, "Who? HanBo!" (Get it...Hu HanBo). That is his name. So be sure to start reading this blog each day starting on the 13th. Hopefully, we will all learn a lot from Hu HanBo.

Today for the 4th, we have eaten from "Red Hot and Blue" which is the closest thing we have here to good old southern BBQ. The feast so far has been on cowboy caviar and chips, ribs, brisket, potato salad, Connie's cold bean salad (yum), my cold corn pasta salad (yum), and banana pudding. I made brownies and a cake, and we have that for dessert later. Tonight, we will go to see the incredible fireworks display. Happy 4th of July, everyone! God Bless America! Miss all of you!

Love,

Madeline

Christmas 2009

2009-12-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

Just some snapshots from the month of December to enjoy...The kids are very excited about Christmas, and have had fun seeing what our elves have been up to each morning. Their elves are named Jingles and Sparkles. Every morning when the children wake up, they come downstairs to see what the elves have done. They get notes from them in the advent calendar, and little gifts. It has become a wonderful little holiday tradition in our family. They also realize that the true meaning of Christmas is that it is a time to celebrate and reflect on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Christmas Blizzard of 2009

2009-12-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

Now, we have had snow storms many times, but we have never had THIS much snow while I have lived here in Virginia. It has truly become an epic event, and yes, we will have a very Merry White Christmas. This snow isn't going anywhere for quite a while I think. We have maybe 30 inches of snow. Here are the pictures so far of the December blizzard of 2009. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Halloween Night

2009-11-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

Halloween around here can be pretty crazy. It's really getting out of hand, if you want to know the truth. I am soooooooooooooo over Halloween by the time it actually gets here. Just plain tired of it. But I make the best of it for the kiddos. And I usually dress up. So i did. I got in the mood, went into my closet for the craziest thing I could find...which wasn't much...and I surprised the kids with it. Let's just say that it didn't go over well with either of them. You can tell by the look on their faces in the photo. I scared them. The wig was what did it. I went out that night as "Freaky Mom", and they got used to it/me. The kids went out dressed like 50's kids in leather jackets we found last year at a 7 Eleven type place/gas station. They looked pretty cute! Here are the pics/evidence of our trick or treat night.

The Face of Swine Flu and Cabin Fever

2009-11-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the latest pics of the kids and a short update.

Gracie has somehow lost two teeth. How does this happen at almost five? (She is five now, but lost them before the big day.) And they are the two front bottom teeth. Gracie's tooth fairy came, and her name is Celia. Garrett also had lost a tooth (It was pulled.) so the tooth fairy came to both of them that night for the first time. Garrett's tooth fairy's name is Lucky. They are still the cutest little babes even without those front teeth. The dentist has told us that Gracie's roots for her teeth are somewhat shorter than most kids so she will loose her teeth a little earlier than most. This is due, they say, to the birth mother's nutrition and possibly from having an illness during her pregnancy with my sweet baby girl.

Gracie turned five on October 14th. I still cannot believe it. Four years have come and gone, and the time just continues to fly by.

Then, we had the adult Halloween party the next weekend, and it rained like CRAZY for three days. I have never seen so much rain! But we had about 40 people here in the house regardless of the downpour, and everyone was dressed up in their best Halloween costumes. Van and I went as Titanic survivors. We were going to be victims up until about an hour before the party, but decided not to do all of the death makeup. We wore very Victorian costumes with life jackets on top. It was a great party!

The swine flu hit us about two weeks ago. Garrett got it first. He really had a mild case, and is better now. He had two days of fever, body aches, and a cold. Gracie got it about a week after he did, and her flu resulted in much higher temps, not feeling well at all, and more respiratory issues. She still has a pretty bad cough. We are told that this is pretty normal for this flu. I am so glad they are getting better. I was pretty freaked out about it at first. They both are just such healthy kids. This has been an experience for Van and me seeing them both so sick.

We did let them go trick or treating around the neighborhood regardless of the illness, but they kept their distance from everyone. They had a great time, and so did we. Lots of candy, lots of costumes, lots of fun to be had!

October was just NUTSO. We had Gracie's birthday party on the 10th, the adult Halloween party the next weekend on the 17th, and then the swine flu hit. I am hoping November is MUCH more relaxing for us. I have Cabin Fever right now...so tired of being in the house with sick kids. That's not relaxing, believe me. Ready for health to return, and still praying we (the adults here) do not get the flu too.

Here are some pics of our October events.

Enjoy!

More Cute Beach Pics 2009

2009-09-16T17:28:00.001-07:00

I forgot we had another camera, and we had more pictures. I had to post these because they are some of my favorites. Here they are! Enjoy!!! I love my babies!!!

Pickin' Apples and Rasberries At a Local Orchard

2009-09-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

The pictures tell the story... It was a great family day outing for us last weekend. Both Gracie and Garrett loved it, and we came home with four BIG bags of red and green delicious apples and three pints of rasberries. Garrett enjoyed eating the rasberries more than saving them for home. They were delicious!!! And Gracie picked the biggest and the best red apple. She won the prize for that one. Now, it's time to make some pies, apple bread (Connie, I need that recipe.), and apple everything. We even froze some rasberries for the winter time. How I love this family!!!!

Preschool Orientation 2009 and First Day

2009-09-16T08:39:00.001-07:00

Gracie has been very unsure about starting school. She went from being VERY excited to not being able to sleep she was so nervous....endless talking and tears at night before bed. But we moved through all of those emotions, and she has done beautifully. She loves school and her teachers. She has made one new friend named Elsie, and they hugged on the way out of the building that first day. There are only three girls in her group and nine boys. I am so happy that Gracie has conquered her fears!!! I am very relieved...so much so that I was fine that first day. I spent so much time being calm and reassuring (for her) that I didn't even think really about thefact that my baby girl is starting school now. Many people had warned me that I might cry in the parking lot and want to stay there. That didn't happen. LOL. I am fine. She needs preschool. This is so great for her!

Here are some pictures of her preschool orientation day (She is in the ladybug dress...thanks, Aunt Tina!!! Love it!!!)

Then, there are pics of her before her first day began, and you can tell by the look on her face that she is not all that happy about being there. She actually told me that she wasn't getting out of the car when we pulled up to the school. There were no tears though, Thank the Lord! She brought flowers to her teachers and red apples.

Then, you will see pics of her after the school day was over. Happy face!!!

We are so proud of her!!!!

Labor Day Virginia Beach Vacation 2009

2009-09-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

We all went to Virginia Beach (Sandbridge) over the Labor Day weekend with Van's mom, Aline, step-dad Bill, Rebecca, her boyfriend Todd, Bill's daughter's Kathleen, her husband Demmy, their daughter Alexis and husband James, and their three year old son Oscar, also Kathleen and Demmy's son Jordan, and Bill's daughter Colleen, her husband Clint, and Bill's son Trey and his fiance Robin. We stayed in a beautiful home directly on the beach, and all of us had a great time. It was wonderful to spend time with everyone.

Here are some cute beach pics...

Four Years Ago Today, Xu Nian Hong...

2009-09-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

Four years ago today, we were blessed by receiving the greatest gift of our lives, our beautiful baby girl, Gracie. Through an email and a telephone call from CCAI, we were matched with our sweet girl in China, and we received her name, pictures, and all of the information they had for her at the time. And our lives have never been the same since. Adoption has been the most perfect way of growing our family. We could not love a little girl more than we do our Gracie. To raise her, to love her, to nurture her...WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES! I still wonder about her true beginnings in China and how she came into this world. Those details I will probably never know. But I am so sure that God had a plan for her life LONG before she was born, and we were the family He chose to place her with. Thank you, God, for being so loving and merciful, and for choosing us to parent Gracie! I cannot imagine our lives without her. People sometimes say, "Oh, you couldn't have children of your own?" Well, our response to that is that she IS our daughter, and she always has been OUR daughter through the grace of God. She belongs with us. We are so proud of her and of how far she has come. She is loving, and has a heart of gold. She is just a beautiful girl inside and out. We love her more than words can ever say. Our hearts are full because of Gracie.

And More Pics of Summer 2009...

2009-08-24T21:40:00.001-07:00

More Summer 2009 Pics

2009-08-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pics for you to enjoy.

Summer of 2009

2009-08-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over, and I have been very lazy about updating the blog. Life is very BUSY.

Garrett is doing very well. He talks a lot...in his own way...sometimes jibberish, sometimes words he knows. It is a good thing that I can understand his language. He is a great communicator regardless. Maybe I am just a good translator. Anyway, he is adjusting very well, and seems happy most of the time. The only time he really cries is when he wakes up during the night. Of course, he cries when he and Gracie aren't getting along too. We have A LOT of that going on in our house these days. Sibling rivalry has set in for Gracie. Poor baby! Makes me feel so guilty, and she really milks it. Garrett is just so big. 38 pounds now or more...I really think that Gracie forgets that he is just three years old. She loves him, but she doesn't, ya know? It's a love/total dislike relationship right now between them. Garrett is still very loving and affectionate towards all of us, but he hits. And he throws things when he gets upset. He pulled Gracie's hair the other day. He is just a normal baby boy who is learning the ropes. Time outs, and lots of "no, we don't do that(s)" for Garrett. Gracie is getting them too. They are learning to live in the same house under the same roof as brother and sister. LOL. And I am going to buy some earplugs. It is loud in our house. We have a lot of fun though. They are the most precious, funny, adorable children in the entire world, and we love them both dearly. It is amazing to me that they are both here, and that I am the mother of these two little people. It wasn't so long ago that it was just Van and me. Life is good, and God has truly blessed our family in so many ways.

Garrett is three years old now. We celebrated his birthday on July 26th. He's a big boy, literally, but there is still so much baby left in him. He was so excited to be the center of attention that day, and really had a great time with family and some neighborhood friends. We had an "Elmo" themed party because he loves "Melmo". He is all boy, and loves playing with matchbox cars, trucks, trains, balls, and playing outside. He wants to do whatever Gracie is doing, and his most used words right now are "mine" and "me"...very typical for a three year old. He is so cute! And he keeps us all laughing. What a little treasure he is!

Gracie is all girl, and wants now to play beauty salon, loves playing dolls, and games, and she loves to be outside with her friends. She is very artistic too, and still loves crafts and coloring. Her favorite doll is "Rosey". Gracie still sleeps with her winkies, dog, and bear. AND the biggest news yet is that she is completely and totally potty trained. She has been trained to peepee on the potty forever, but it was #2 that was the issue. We FINALLY found a solution to her chronic constipation issues, thanks to a little pill called a "Pearl" that has acidophillus probiotics in it. THANK YOU, GOD! And thank you to our good friend, Linda, for finding that for us. It is the only thing that has worked after all of this time. I cannot tell you how joyful and thankful we are about that! I know many of you are unaware that we have been going through this with Gracie, but it has been a constant issue with her since she came home. Our doctor has been involved all along, but we really had major problems in this area, and nothing was working. And believe me, we have tried EVERYTHING. Her little body just wasn't poopin' right. Now, it is. And she has no problems anymore in that area. We are so proud of her!

Gracie starts preschool in September. It is a great little preschool. We are so excited for her. She will go three days a week for half a day. There are six children in her class, and six children in the other class. She is ready, and already writes the alphabet, recognizes all of her letters, counts, adds, and is starting to read too. I have a feeling that she will do very well in school. She has a great memory. She loves to read!

We are starting to plan her big Halloween themed birthday party for October. She will be five. I cannot for the life of me tell you where the time has gone. She has grown so much. They both have.

Enjoy the pictures that capture our fun this summer!

(not finished with uploading pics...check back later!)

I Want To Live On A Beach Somewhere...

2009-06-15T16:26:00.001-07:00

Really, I do!!! And Garrett LOVED his first time at the beach! We had a great time with our friends, Niels and Sherry, too. They are so kind to let us all stay with them for long weekends. It gives us a chance to relax and enjoy ourselves. Fishing, crabbing, eating, and relaxing at their beautiful home in North Carolina. The beach is just awesome!

Daddy Plays Dress Up

2009-05-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

Beginning the game...

What a ham! (and a GREAT FATHER!)

Daddy LOSES to Gracie! He is NOT a princess anymore.

Doing the "Fancy Pants Dance" and basking in her glory!

Look at the JOY!

Gracie and her Daddy played the princess game, and Van lost, of course. Gracie's joy could not be contained. And as you can see from the pictures, she is quite competitive. She was absolutely basking in her victory. I could not resist taking pictures of them together.

Just A Cute Picture

2009-05-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

We love our next door neighbor and babysitter, Nick!!! I just like this picture of all of them together.

Garrett's Big Boy Haircut

2009-05-21T13:03:00.001-07:00

Here he is getting all of that beautiful hair of his trimmed short for his new look. What a cutie he is!

Mother's Day Tea Party

2009-05-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

Gracie and I wanted to something special for our friends, Grace and Delores, so we organized a Mother's Day Tea Party for them the Friday before Mother's Day. The children dressed up in their fanciest dress up clothes. We also wanted to honor Grace's, and Gracie's and Garrett's birthmothers and foster mother in China at the same time. This was a great occasion for all of us. The children planted flowers in pots to remind them that they started their lives in China with their birthmothers and foster mother. But we are their mothers here on Earth that are here to love them and help them as they grow up. They wore a corsage too. We even said a prayer and lit some candles. It was a wonderful day, and one we will not forget.

New Cars

2009-04-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

I picked these cars up recently at a yard sale, and the kids love driving them around the house and outside. Here they are in their new cars. Christopher and Nick were hanging out with us that day. They are in one of the pictures too.

Gracie's and Daddy's Spring Garden

2009-04-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

Gracie and Daddy planted their spring garden together. Here are some pics. Garrett would have participated too, but he was napping during that time. They planted strawberries too. Gracie is very excited about her plants, and she checks and waters them daily.

Dressing Up, Dancing, and Simple Pleasures

2009-04-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

Cowboy Garrett to Cowgirl Gracie: "Did I eat too many BEANS?"

Yes, that is Gracie's dance outfit that Garrett is wearing! I guess I need to find some clothing for him that is more boyish looking. But the lavender sure looks pretty, huh?

There have been so many times when Gracie has wanted to play dress up lately, and Garrett...well...wants to do just whatever Gracie does and he wants to wear what Gracie wears too! Some of these pics will come in handy for us later in his life when we want to get him back for something...Awwwww, the simple pleasures in life are so sweet! These kids make me laugh so much! They are such cut-ups. And they are getting along great! Gracie is the boss and Garrett just follows. Bless his heart!

Easter

2009-04-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some great shots of us as we got ready for church on Easter Sunday. We have made the decision to switch churches and basically religions in the process. I was raised Catholic. Our new church, Gainesville United Methodist, is so wonderful! We are thanking God that we have great neighbors, Patty, Jason, Chris, and Nick who lead us to find the church we have longed to find. We are definitely on the right path now, and the children love it! I am learning a lot. The kids attend "Children's Church" during the service where they learn about the Word of God and how to better live their lives while having a close relationship with Jesus. Our pastor is Pastor John. The youth director we have gotten to know very well through our neighbors is Drew. The kids also got to meet the Easter bunny and do crafts and games at the church which was great fun for them. The motto of the church is it is "a place where children are seen and heard". I love that! This weekend is a fellowship service where we get to meet other members of the church that attend earlier or later services. Everyone brings food to share, and we get to have fellowship with other members. I don't think that we could find a better church family. Our doctor, Dr. Shupe, also attends the church with her children, and she sat behind us last week. She is so loved by our family, and we are so excited to be meeting new people and sharing in the Word of God with them. Here are the photos of our sweet kids. Garrett did not like the Easter bunny and cried when he sat on his lap. Cute nonetheless!

Garrett Meets Nai-Nai and Papa Bill in TN.

2009-04-02T16:35:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed visiting with Aline and Bill at their home, and we went out to eat to a Chinese restaurant with them too. It was great to see them! Here are some pics. They were such great pictures that I had a hard time choosing which ones to put on so I put them all. Garrett was so affectionate towards his Nai-Nai. He absolutely loves her! So does Gracie! Grandparents make life so special.

Family Pictures, Spring of 2009

2009-04-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

There are some other pictures to share at our Shutterfly website of our trip to Birmingham, Alabama (my home town), to visit the Eitzen side of the family. Here is the link to view the pictures:

http://oneal2009.shutterfly.com/

I am posting more pictures of Garrett meeting his grandparent's, Nai-Nai and Papa Bill, for the first time in Chattanooga, TN in a separate post. We had a great time in both places visiting all of the family. Garrett LOVES his Nai-Nai!!!

Cleft Lip and Palate Team Appointment Today

2009-03-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

Van, Garrett, and I had our first visit with the Washington DC/Children's Hospital Cleft Lip and Palate Team today. It was an all day event where we circulated between the ENT docs, audiology, dental clinic, plastic surgery, psychology, genetics, and speech and language departments. We had such an incredible introduction to this efficient team of doctors, and truly felt that we are getting the most excellent care for Garrett. They were all outstanding doctors and very thorough. Van and I were very apprehensive about the visit prior to going because we really had no clue what they would have to say. We know that Garrett is doing very well with us, but we just didn't know what they would say he needed medically. Expecting that his needs might be great, we were in for quite a surprise. We were absolutely floored by what they had to tell us. It was ALL good news!
First, Garrett visited with the ENT doctors. He had a build up of ear wax in both ears that had to be cleaned out. He handled this beautifully only crying once. They put him in a papoose of sorts and he couldn't move...a sure sign he is going to fuss because he does not like to be restricted. You would NOT believe the amount of ear wax they pulled out...amazing! Then, they sent him to audiology for the hearing tests. Because he is young, some of the tests they started had to be stopped because he was not yet ready for those developmentally. But basically, we came out of that meeting learning that they believe he has normal hearing and he was only borderline on some of the very soft sounds. But they want him to retest in four months when he is older. No big deal.
Then, we went back to the ENT doctor, Dr. Pena, and she told us that she did not believe that Garrett was a child that would need ear tubes even though that is pretty standard with children with his special need. She said we would wait and watch and see what happens after his hearing is rechecked in four months. He has only had one ear infection since he came home, and our primary care physician wasn't really even positive he had that one because he had so much ear wax in his ears and it was difficult for her to tell. But for Garrett to have this particular special need, one would expect that he would have dealt with untreated ear infections, fluid, etc while living in China for several years, and that he would have some hearing loss because of that, and need the ear tubes...That is not the case. This is truly wonderful news!
Then, we were sent to the dental clinic. The dentist looked in his mouth and told us that he has all of his baby teeth and that one molar is growing in now (that explains his drooling and hands in his mouth all of the time)...Another thing that often is a problem with children with a cleft lip and palate is that their baby teeth are often missing. He has no missing teeth. He does have some mild cavities that need to be watched or filled, and has trouble with soft enamel so we will have to be extra careful with his dental hygiene. The one tooth we were most concerned about is way up in the cleft area of his gumline on his left side. We had been told by another dentist in VA prior to this visit that his root was exposed in this tooth and that the tooth would probably be pulled. The dentist with the cleft team said though that this tooth does have a large cavity, but the tooth is present and that we were not looking at the root of the tooth. So, the first dentist we saw in VA may have been wrong about that. We are going to get a second opinion on that one. She wants us to try to save that tooth just by having it filled. She also wants him to have sealants to protect him from future cavities. She said that he would need eventual surgery between the ages of 7-9 for a bone graft in his gumline, he would need expanders later (he has an underbite), and then braces. No big deal....we knew that would happen eventually. She said he looks great! So, we have a few cavities to fill and some sealants to put on and lots of teeth brushing to do. We can see a pediatric dentist of our choice for that.
Then, we were sent to plastic surgery to Dr. Boyajian. He was so great, and he really liked Garrett a lot. We liked Dr. Boyajian too. He kept saying, "I really like this kid!" He gave us great news too. He says that Garrett's palate is completely closed and that his palate has great mobility which helps him form his sounds when he speaks. He does not recommend any surgery for Garrett until he has his bone graft at around age 7, 8, or 9. He does think at that time, that he should work on opening Garrett's nose a bit more/making it more attractive/ at the same time we do the bone graft. He says that his lip looks "pretty good", and that it would really be up to us if we wanted to have that worked on later as well..though he said he didn't think it could be much better...maybe to make the sides of his top lip more symmetrical...one side is a little lower than the other side. But he warned us that the scar probably would not look any better than it does now there. He even said he was a beautiful child regardless. No surgery!!! We are thrilled and soooo thankful that Garrett does not have to experience any more pain and trauma anytime soon. We were also so happy to hear that there is a great chance that Garrett may not even need speech therapy...Because his palate is completely closed and because his soft palate has great mobility, this doctor thinks he will be able to form his words like he should normally...though there is still a chance that he may need speech like any other kid would. We are in a wait and see mode for that. He listened to Garrett talk, and he thinks he sounds great too when he talks.
Afterwards, we spoke to the genetics doc. She said Garrett does not have any syndromes that could go along with a cleft...Garrett has a unilateral cleft, but it is the bilateral clefts that usually have syndromes associated with them. She said there was no need to order any genetics tests. He looks great in that department.
Then, we saw the psychologist to check on his development and sleeping and patterns and home life. No big issues there other than he does not sleep through the night. She thinks he looks great and can be a resource for us if we need her input on anything.
Lastly, the speech and language team came in, and said we are doing everything we need to do at this point....just exposing Garrett to the language through books, music, games, modeling etc. He says we really should wait to have a speech eval done until next year when he has actually had time to learn some words and is a little older. At this point, he said we really do not have much to evaluate.
We are so happy that we have no current huge surgical worries right now with Garrett. It is a huge blessing! The doctors in China did a fantastic job on his lip and his palate. We know there will be things that come up down the road, but for now, we are all in great shape!
This team of doctors will track Garrett from now until I don't know??? forever...once a year after his next audiology test in four months. We feel so confident that this was the BEST team of doctors to choose for Garrett's care. Van and I were so relieved when we left the hospital today. They were awesome!!!
Just wanted everyone to know the great news!!!! I am walking on a cloud and just feel so incredibly blessed!!! God is sooooooo good to us!!!!

Snow, Snow, and More Snow

2009-03-02T09:38:00.000-08:00

March came in like a roaring lion! The snow fell all night long, and we have about seven to eight inches on the ground. It is so beautiful! Getting out there was a treat for the kids. They really enjoyed it. The snow is too powdery though for a snowman so we resorted to snowball fights in the yard. The wind is so cold! And it is blowing everywhere so we all came back in the house very soon after getting out there. Our dog, Sugar, loves the snow. She played in it all morning and did not want to come inside which is HIGHLY unusual for her. Here are some pictures from the morning in the snow. Maybe the kids will be out sledding later, and they can do that too. It is snowing again now. Hard to believe that we had this snowstorm in March. I am officially ready for spring now! Warm weather clothes, playing outside, playground trips, picnics, more playdates with friends, gardening, trips to the mountains on the weekends, and hopefully some time at the beach with Niels, Sherry, and all of the fish, crabs, and shrimp I am going to catch! Come on, Spring!!!!

Garrett is talking!

2009-02-20T07:29:00.001-08:00

Garrett is repeating many words, and using more and more words appropriately. It is a great sign that he is learning the language, and understanding more of what we say. His words (that I can remember) are:

me
drop
mama
dada
light
please
dog
woof woof
bye
hi
snow
no no
ouch...or OW
cat / ki-y cat
car
socks
more
right there...when I say "Where are your feet?'

He can point to his nose, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, legs, hair, head. He points to his mouth when he is hungry or thirsty. He loves to brush his teeth (I do it.). He loves to take baths and play in the water.

His favorite shows are Thomas, Hi-5, Caillou, the Wiggles, and Laurie Berkner.

You can ask for a hug and he will hug you.

He copies everything Gracie does.

He is able to stack blocks, ride a tricycle and push with his feet, use a fork and spoon, pull uphis pants, take off his clothes, unzip a zipper and zip it back up, runs, climbs everything he can find to climb, can throw a ball (and can throw other objects at people, unfortunately), and enjoys helping around the house.

Also, he has been getting up in the night to pee on the potty which is a HUGE improvement since he was soaking his diaper a lot in the night several weeks ago. We started putting him on the potty when he would cry at night and he would go. So, that has continued. Now, he does not usually even wet his diaper during the night. We did change from pull ups back to diapers because he was soaking the pull ups at night before. He has even pooped on the potty on occasion. Seems like he will be easy to potty train completely soon...unlike a little girl that we all know and love so much ;) He pees on the potty during the day too.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-18T05:49:00.001-08:00

I love Gracie's hair pulled back like this. She looks so precious!!!

"Take this heart barrette OUT of my hair!!!! PLEASE!!!!"

"And why am I wearing Gracie's red pjs? I look like a GIRL!!!!"

"Somebody save me!!!"

A butterfly tattoo from Aunt Laura, Uncle Brian, and Grant!!! Cool, huh?

Valentine's Day brought lots of surprises and fun. Gracie really enjoys the whole Valentine exchange with her friends and family, so we wrote them out, filled bags with goodies, and delivered them around the neighborhood. She and Garrett loved their heart plates and stickers. Of course, Valentine's Day wouldn't be the same without chocolate. So, they had their fair share of treats. Happy Valentine's Day to all of our friends and family!

"We Are the Dinosaurs" and Laurie Berkner

2009-02-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

The pictures above are out of sequence. Start at the last one and scroll up...instead of starting at the top and scrolling down.

Here are our two little American Idols singing "We Are the Dinosaurs" by the Laurie Berkner Band together. Picture #1...This is the part where they have to roar very loudly and is the only part of the song that Garrett knows the "words" to. Hilarious!!! Picture #6...This is what having a little brother does to a big sister. She hasn't taken naps since she was three, and she literally passed out that afternoon on the recliner. That is her snack in her hands. My precious angel sleeps. Garrett, on the other hand, runs wild that afternoon. He is juiced up (apple juice) and ready for more when his sister wakes up.

Garrett loves to dance to this Laurie Berkner dvd as well.

Gracie's singing is just plain fun. She really lets loose and sings her little heart out. I need to take more videos. She does this thing with her voice now where she uses vibrato, and it just is so darn funny! Van and I get such a kick out of her.

Anyway, the pics show how well these two siblings are getting along....very well.

Do you feel the love?

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

2009-02-13T13:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day from the O'Neal family! Gracie has her first "crush". His name is Jack, and you can tell how much she loves the boy. I have been saving these pictures for this occasion. Our friends, Laura, and her children, Jack, Gabby, and Olivia, (5 year olds) came to spend some time with us while Van was in China getting Garrett. These pictures are priceless. One day, we went to Michael's and purchased some valentine craft kits. They came home and started crafting. Jack gave Gracie her first love note. Here are the pics of these beautiful kids! I love this family!!! I wish they all lived across the street from us still. Those were the good ole'days. I miss my friend, Laura, so much!

There is a UT Fan in the Doghouse! Uh-oh!!!!

2009-02-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

Garrett has decided that he likes to be in Sugar's crate. YUCK. But I did get pictures of him in there when I noticed he was wearing his UT sweatshirt for the occasion. How fitting!!! LOL.

War Eagle, Van!

Note: I do not put my child in the dog crate. He crawls in there because he wants to be there. He is always supervised and is never locked inside. LOL. Just letting everyone know that this was just play for him. He is not abused. LOL. (But he will be by Auburn fans if he continues to wear that ridiculous sweatshirt!)

The rest of the pics are of Gracie when she fell asleep on her Daddy's lap in the recliner. I thought these were the sweetest pictures! Van is such a wonderful father. It always makes me smile when I see them having little moments like this. And honestly, they have lots of these little moments together. I just like taking pictures of them.

There is one shot of a spontaneous kiss and hug that Garrett gave Gracie one afternoon. These two really love each other. I just love seeing them together at last!

A Day at the Park with Friends and Neighbors

2009-02-09T20:37:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed some beautiful sunny weather here on Sunday. It was about 70 degrees and we all went to the park for a picnic and playtime. We just love our neighbors, and all of us hung out together with the kids. We have such a great group of friends! Here are some cute pics from the day.

Another Forever Family is Together at Last!

2009-02-01T12:05:00.001-08:00

Our good friends, Epin and Scott, have been blessed to be united with their second sweet daughter in China today. They have a wonderful family, and we are overjoyed for them. Hana, their oldest child, is Gracie's age and came home right around the same time as Gracie. She is now a big sister too. YEA for Hana!!! Their new daughter, Pax, is absolutely beautiful, and we cannot wait to meet her in person when they come home. Another forever family is together at last! Epin and Hana were at the airport with us when Garrett came home, and Epin took many wonderful pictures for us to capture the joy of our Gotcha Day. She is a great friend who I feel so blessed to know and love. Congratulations Epin, Scott, Hana, and perfect baby Pax!!!! You will always be so close to our hearts!

The First Snow and More Chinese New Year Family Pics

2009-01-28T16:39:00.001-08:00

Gracie and Garrett went out in the snow yesterday, and enjoyed a good time with their Daddy and neighborhood friends on sleds. They had a great time making snowballs and snow angels. Here are some pictues of them in their winter wonderland. Daddy looks cute in his hat too!

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

2009-01-28T05:36:00.000-08:00

Things here are going well. If we could all get physically healthy, then things would be even better. ;) I have finished with my antibiotics and Garrett is almost finished with his. He still has a cold, but seems to feel ok.

Garrett has settled into the routine, and he is doing remarkably well for only having been home a few weeks. He acts like he has been with us forever already, and seems very happy and content in his new house with his new family.

Gracie is doing well too. She loves her baby brother, but is often heard saying things like,

"I have had enough of you."

"I wish he wasn't here yet because he hits."

"You are annoying, Garrett."

All of the big sister type words of wisdom, she has down completely...

"Enough already, Garrett."

She also says, "I love you, Garrett."
Here are some of the latest pictures of the family.

Not Many Posts These Days, Sorry!

2009-01-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

Well, my friend and I used to share a joke about the "Man Cold" (Look it up on Youtube, it is hilarious!), but this cold beats that one by a mile. Garrett came home with some POWERFUL Mongolian cold germs. And he is slowly on the mend thanks to antibiotics for an ear infection and whatever other monster he was carrying with him. I, on the other hand, was given nothin' to fight this, but over the counter stuff which is not really helping much. So, there have been very few posts coming from me. :) I will try to post more soon. Gracie and Van have remained cold free so that is really good for them.

We are doing ok though, much better than I anticipated. Garrett seems to feel very safe and comfortable. He is the happiest kid! He is sleeping in his own bed at night, and has stopped getting up out of bed in the middle of the night for long periods of time for the most part. He is still fighting the cold which makes him a bit cranky at night, and he cries some, but I am sleeping right next to him most nights (since I have the same wierd germs anyway), and he goes back to sleep when he is talked to and held. He is a remarkable baby.

The foster parents definitely expected things of him, and it is funny to watch him push in his chair and ours after eating. He hands you his plate or bowl when he is finished. He puts away his toys. If he spills something, he immediately goes to pick it up and hand it to me even if it is just a crumb. He communicates very well with pointing at things to let us know what he wants. He is trying to talk and has said "please, car, socks, Gracie, Mama, Dada, more, and his best word is the word, No (because he hears that one a lot)" His motor skills are pretty good. He does have a bit of a coordination issue with getting up and down stairs, but he is learning. He walks into things a lot, but I guess two year olds do that. He is VERY active. But all in all, he is a sweetheart. He screams these loud pitched squeals if he thinks someone (mainly Gracie) is taking something away from him, and he will tell on Gracie by pointing at her angrily if that happens. But afterwards he will put his finger up to his mouth to say he is being quiet. He is a good little boy, and we are so happy to have him home. He is very attached to me now, almost a little too much. He kind of cries if Van takes him out of my arms. That was unexpected. I thought he would want nothing to do with me for a while, and would want Van to take care of his every need. He loves to take baths now. He copies Gracie's every move. He has been hitting her some which we are trying to stop. He also does this thing where he blows rasberries in her face and ous if we make him upset. It is not good. And he is sick which makes it even more gross. He still eats everything, and then some. The boy is going to be big! He is in the 75th% for height and the 80th% for weight. He got a flu shot last week, and we will start the immunizations in a week or so when he is well. I am also going to make an appointment soon for Garrett to be seen by the cleft lip and palate team in Washington DC at Children's Hospital.

That's it for now. I am hoping that we get well soon so that we can actually see people. Believe me, no one wants these germs. YUCK. It is the worst cold I have ever had I think. Feel sorry for me? Not so much, huh? It is only a cold, right? It could be MUCH worse. LOL.

More pictures...

2009-01-13T21:01:00.000-08:00

Big hugs for baby brother, Garrett!

Gracie is so protective of Garrett. It is very sweet to watch her with him.

The effects of jet lag...See Van in the background of this picture. Passed out! Bless his heart. It may be 4 pm, but his body says that it is 5 am in China.

Pajama days are so much fun!

How cute are they? The Sprout channel is so much more fun with a friend to share it with. I love Garrett's hair!!!!

This was one morning when I came downstairs with Garrett at 4 am, and Van was still awake from the night before. They both need some rest, but they cannot seem to get their bodies to adjust to the new U.S. time.

Gracie and Garrett

2009-01-13T17:47:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I love them both! This is the most wonderful time in our lives. My children are BOTH home, and I am loving every second of it. It is so surreal to sit in the recliner with these two absolutely beautiful children in my lap. Amazing! There are just no words to sum it up. Not even close. They are angels, and God has blessed our family twice over...and then some. Life is good!

Home at Last!

2009-01-13T02:22:00.000-08:00

Garrett is home, and we are settling down into what feels like the greatest adventure of our lives. He is FULL of energy, into everything, and is just the sweetest little boy in the entire world. I simply cannot believe how trusting he is, and how he seems to just fit right into everything. He is the perfect addition to our family. I cannot say that I am surprised about that as I truly believe he was meant to be ours all along. Garrett is such a funny little kid. He just makes you smile because he is so darn cute and has this personality that is truly like "the life of the party". I thought it would take him a long time to settle in just as it did Gracie. Instead, he acts as if he has always been here with us. It is amazing to watch him. He has picked up English already, and seems to understand the basics. We point a lot. :) He said, "Please" yesterday. Garrett is up like clockwork the past three nights at 3 am, and we are out of bed at 4 am simply because I cannot get him back to sleep. He eats like a kid who has never had food. He LOVES to eat, and I think he will eventually eat us out of house and home if this continues. So far this morning, he has eaten two yogurts, a bowl of Cheerios, juice, crackers, and cheese, and it is only 5:30 am. He is so loving. I got my first kiss yesterday and it was spontaneous. He calls me Mama and he follows me around. If I am not in the room, he looks for me. Yesterday, he and Gracie were rolling around on my bed and he just snuggled right up to her, and laid there with his head on her shoulder looking at her. He loves his sister, and she loves him. She is a great big sister. Van went back to work for a few hours yesterday, but is still suffering the effects of jet lag. His body clock and Garrett's are still off. Here are some cute shots. One of them I borrowed from Jorja's blog. They must have taken it while they were in China with Van and Garrett. My sister says he is saying, "Touchdown Tigers"! I believe she may be right. If he continues to eat like this, he may be on the team someday playing defense. LOL. Just wanted to let you all know that we are so excited to have him home, and everybody is doing great!

To Van's Travel Group:

I so wish that I had been able to get to know all of you in China. Van says it was a great travel group, and he and Garrett had a fantastic time. Maybe we can arrange future get-togethers so that I can get aquainted with you and your families too. I would love to do that. I have heard so much about you all. I feel like I already know you. Thanks to all of you who looked out for Van while I wasn't with him especially when he burned his stomach. I cannot believe I forgot to pack the Tylenol and Advil for him on this trip. Crazy!!!! I have enjoyed seeing and reading everyone's blogs. You have beautiful families!

Van's Jan 7th Post ...

2009-01-13T02:16:00.000-08:00

I only thought Van had finished his journal entries, but he has 2 more to go. Here is this one...

I'm sleeping later and later, which is good. I just want to wake up and get down to the breakfast buffett by 8:30 a.m. Garrett wakes up just fine, and I sit him on the toilet so that he may start using it like he did the small pot back in Inner Mongolia. I get Garrett dressed, put on some more burn cream on my stomach which is still very red, and then head on downstairs. There are twice as many adoptive parents now at the White Swan. Still not what is was back in 2005, but plenty of beautiful kids and happy families. Most of the parents are talking to anyone sitting next to them. It's a very upbeat group and we all want to know each others stories. This morning, we're going to the 5-Rams temple and old fort (at least that's what it seems). We head out for about 30 minutes, and then get off in another wonderful park full of trees, plants, and wide paths. We have to walk up 100 steps, so we can't really take strollers for the first part. We get to the top, and out of nowhere shows a very different statue of 5-Rams, a predominant one in the middle standing about 40 feet or higher in the air. It is different since I've never seen an animal statue of this magnitude. I don't know the story yet on the statue, but I like it. While up on the top, I pass an elderly lady who is swinging her hips in a Bill Gates-Jerry Seinfeld commercial way. I catch it, and I know Doug has too, and you had to smile. Doug decides to get in the game and swing his hips as well. It's a very funny moment and we're all smiling.We head on downhill and come to an area that is full of people, mainly seniors, playing a version of Chinese hacky-Sack. They look like feathered birdies used on for badminton, and have a flat end with several stacked thin metal shims. About 150 people are playing, and that means that some of our group, being Westerners, would join in. Doug, after warming up by swinging his hips, is the first to join in, and after one hiccup, is part of a group. He is then joined by his daughters and a few others. It's very interested watching, but the park is beautiful and just being outside is wonderful. Garrett is sitting on my shoulders watching and then we head out of the park. Well, not exactly, we head up a very steep hill, to a location that overlooks a very large soccer stadium. We move on up to a red walled building, and after a few sets of stairs, we are at a museum/fort that is about 125 years old or more. It has several different looking cannons on one end, a big red building in the middle, and surrounded by some other buildings. As we walk around, there are several etched stones that are displayed in glass dating from 1059 to the 1930's. This seems to be where some of the English aggression was repelled in the 1880's and may have also been part of the 1st and 2nd Opium Wars. The children are running around, and because of the stairs, we have to watch them "flying" to fast. They find a lot of fun running down a metal slope near the cannons, that makes noise everytime that run on it. Well, instant baby-sitter. They run for about 10 minutes and are having a ball, so we're happy, and since we were mainly the only ones around, no one is being disturbed. The children are having a wonderful time. We all find snacks for them to eat and then I take Garrett to look at the large red building. Inside, there are several "Be Quiet" signs, which with Garrett, is pot-luck. He is good, but when he sees something of interest, he gets excited and yells. The few exhibitions on the ground floor talk about the history of Guangzhou, and also talks about the 5-Rams statue. Apparently, the 5-Rams statue is a symbol of Guangzhou, that is sometimes called "5 Rams City" , something about a legend which I've copied here:The legend says that many years ago people of Guangzhou were suffering from famine. But one day five immortals came there, riding of five rams, left the sheaves of rice and blessed Guangzhou. After they left, the rams turned into stone and the city grew rich and successful. I walk across to a large model of the city, and look to see where the White Swan Hotel and Shamian Island is located. I look for awhile, and notice some very tall buildings on a river compared to all the others. I was shocked how tall these buildings were and never seen them before. Brian joins us and we find where the White Swan hotel is, but now the interest in the tall buildings have perked my interest. Garrett and I walk to another building which quickly tells the story of the electronic age for the Chinese. In this set of rooms, they show that I'm quickly becoming a museum piece, since they have all these radios, computers, cellphones, telephones, and other items that I've grown up with, being "ancient". I was surprised, since I'm just now turning 29 this year, how quickly things have changed. LOL. Garrett is enjoying walking around, and once we get outside, gets back to running away from me. I let him a little. He is a sweet and happy boy, and I'm very lucky that this whole trip has gone without major illness or incidents. Three of the ladies have been fighting throat or sinus issues which can wear you out while raising a new child in a different country. It is 11:30 a.m., and it's time to hop on the bus. We all have agreed to eat at another Chinese restaurant. Rebecca is going to order for us, we do trust her earlier selections. We drive a bit, and stop at a restaurant. We climb up a set of stairs and come to a diner, with the Lazy Susans tables again. We end up sitting with the same folks as the first time, Stefani, Andrea, Doug, Lucy and families. It's a bit warm in the room, and we're all very thirsty. Most of us are Coca-Cola born and bred, and would love to have a big glass of it or Diet Coke at this point. We get an assortment of interesting food, the most interesting is the yams. These are boiled yams, stuck in a sugary glazed that hasn't settled, until you dip it in a bowl of water. We are all using are hands to get a piece of this tasty treat, since chopsticks just destroy the yams. The rest of the items are traditional Chinese food, and very tasty. Just no snake, which bums Robert and me. Garrett has a healthy appetite and I expect him to fall asleep on the bus ride back. Nope, he is busy watching people on the bus. He loves riding, I hope this keeps up in the car!Well, the time is approaching, and I must make the big shopping trip. I had held back until I heard the deals other people had been finding on the island. I must start making a big dent on some of the items Madeline had prepared for me in a two-page list. I had already checked with Pam and Jodi about going shopping around 2:30 p.m. I knew most of the stuff I could get in 1 hour, and I'm not a good haggler. I'm use to just looking at the price and then buying, not trying to lower the price and walking away as part of getting a good deal. As we arrive back from the restaurant, I needed to let Garrett have a nap, but figured I could go into the corner shops and do some damage. Well, I was pretty impressed, I knocked out about 1/3 of what I had left to buy in less than 30 minutes. I wasn't worried anymore since with Pam's and others help, I'm within the finishing line. I get Garrett upstairs and let him have about a hour and a half nap. I meet Pam, Robert and Jodi at a shop that is supposedly closing shop. In there, I get my best deals, thanks to Pam and Robert. Robert is a good haggler, he does it, and isn't embarrassing when doing it. I get 1/2 of Garrett's Chinese outfits for later in life there, a set of family Chinese T-shirts that we'll where when arriving back in the U.s. and several other items. I leave that shop, and go to Jennifer's for the clean-up. I go to Jennifer's, and even though I'm not getting probably the best deals, they pay attention to us and have always been good to us. The ladies pull-out and try finding some unique items that I need, and I'm very happy with the results. I also pick-up some stone etchings that I've dropped off to be made on January 2nd. After buying the rest of the clothes, especially a jacket for Madeline, I end up owing 300 Yuans. The staff just tells me to drop it off that night or the next day. That's taking care of a customer!I head back, because at 5:15 p.m., it's an important part of every adoption trip..The Infamous Red Couch Photos! This is a tradition, where some red couches on the 2nd floor of the White Swan are a favorite for the children to have group and family photos made. Most of the times, the children are dressed up, in either Chinese outfits or very nice clothes. This was a time to put a very unique Mongolian outfit on Garrett. When I put it on Garrett, he lit up with happiness. He loved this outfit and was just raising his hands and hand the biggest smile on him. We get downstairs, and he is running into every picture opportunity he can find. Luckily the other families are nice, and don't get upset when Garrett interrupts there session. He likes his picture taken, and loves his outfit! Not many Mongolian outfits are seen, so my little Ghengis Khan is trying to rule the 2nd floor lobby. I feel like the father of the star quarterback at this point, I'm very proud of him and his very jovial personality. After the big group picture, it's 15 minutes to change and get ready for a nice river boat ride and dinner.We get on the bus, and we're given a quick "beware of these vendors" from Rebecca prior to getting on the VIP boat ride. We arrive at the dock, and the vendors are being pretty polite and not bothering us. We go to a sitting room where several wrapped dates are available as a treat. We then proceed to the boat, and go up on the 2nd deck. The boat is about the size of the Spirit of America II in Washington D.C. but with a ton of accenting lights. I'm sitting with Andrea, Cole, and Stefani. We're allowed to sit anywhere after the boat departs, but I'm with good company. We all get up and take a whole bunch of pictures. Then, the buffet lines open, and it's a bit of a mad rush. I get Garrett's plate, but can't do more than one while also holding him. Luckily, Rebecca, worrying more about the group then herself, offers to watch Garrett so I may get the rest of the food. Yay Rebecca! We sit down and we're all eating some pretty tasty dishes. We decide to get some water, which turns out to be a 10 minute issue with the cost. The Chinese are very patient with our lack of Chinese, and Rebecca steps in to fix the issue. After eating, we head down a very lit up city. The buildings are fascinating, and so are the bridges. These are the new unique "fan spans" bridges. It has a similar feel as riding down the Sienne River in Paris, just totally different architectural offerings. The Chinese like to light up the night. We pass a several bright boats, but one with a huge video screen on the side. The buildings are like a constant fireworks. It is cold outside in spots, but Garrett and the others are loving this unique view. We finally pass the White Swan and start heading back to the dock. Another beautiful night in Guangzhou. The biggest day is ahead, the trip to the U.s. Consulate, and finally putting the paperwork to rest!

Gotcha Day for Madeline and Gracie with Garrett and Daddy at Dulles

2009-01-11T04:24:00.000-08:00

So sorry it took me this long to post the update. I am a mother of two now, and have had to juggle my already comfortable time consuming schedule. What an incredible day! My stomach was in knots until they walked out, and all of the worry and anxiety just vanished. Garrett is the most precious child! He is so sweet, so gentle, and loving. He has a fantastic, easy-going personality, and he loves people. No words can express the love I already feel for my son, and I think the feeling is quite mutual. He follows me everywhere, he hugs me, loves me, blows kisses, and is quite a charmer and trickster. He laughs at you when you tell him "No", and he does understand that word very well. He is into everything! ALL BOY!!! But what is most important is that he is OUR Garrett, our sweet, cuddly baby boy. Garrett says the words Mama, Baba, Hi, No, and has tried to say Gracie. Gracie is very protective of him. She pats his back, kisses his forehead, hugs him, and loves to play with him. She is an excellent big sister as we thought she would be. We have already had that sibling moment when Garrett hit her in the face for taking away the remote control. The bubble kind of burst immediately for poor Gracie. Reality...He isn't leaving. Time out for Garrett. She is also a little jealous at times, but we just keep reassuring her. Garrett is still very baby like. As big as he is, it is hard to imagine that. But he does have a lot of baby left in him. We are having some sleeping issues, but I am dealing with it. The first night went ok. The second night...Well, not so great. I think I spoke too soon that this was going to be so easy with him. He is still getting accustomed to the time change though. He does however go to sleep very easily. It takes him about five minutes max to fall asleep. He is darling, and is a wonderful, perfect addition to our family. We are so blessed!

Here are the pictures from Van and Garrett's homecoming on January 9th.

Final Post from Van in China was Missed.

2009-01-11T04:22:00.000-08:00

The Zoo Post from Van:

It's time for a special day, and I slept later than normal. Today is the zoo trip. This should make Garrett really happy since he reacted to the horses and dinosaurs at the museum in Inner Mongolia. We are waking up a little later every morning. Garrett though is falling asleep without having me to lay with him. He loves to sleep, that's for sure. We have another great breakfast and meet more families that had just adopted. The Christmas decorations have disappeared. We get back to the hotel room, and while preparing for the trip, I have a pretty serious accident. While trying to kill any germs on the sippy cups, I had boiled water in the hotel provided tea kettle. I normally do this at night, while Garrett is sleeping, but fell asleep early and forgot. I make sure Garrett is in the other room, and start to pour the recently boiled water over the mouthpiece and inside the cup. While pouring in the cup, I was preparing to pour it around when it slipped, pouring quite a bit onto my hand which I jumped and it poured onto my stomach. Well, I can tell you that it hurt!! I was really concerned about this, and quickly threw down towels and then grabbed a smaller towel to soak into cold water. I had a shirt on, which helped a little, but I knew I had really burned myself and was worried that it would require a doctor's visit. After about 15 minutes, it had turned red, but no blistering. I considered not going, and if blisters had formed, I would've stayed behind. I really didn't want to miss the zoo. I put on some moisterizing cream, and then head down to the meeting place. Once I get there, I let the guides know what had occurred. Rebeccca immediately takes me over to get a stroller, since carrying Garrett was out of the question now. Lilly is going to get me some burn cream. I feel okay, but my stomach is burned and it is painful. We get on the bus, which Garrett loves riding the bus. He just looks at the cars and peoples. A very easy going child! I look at the burn to make sure no blistering or separation of skin has occurred. The trip to the zoo is about 30 minutes. We get there, and Rebecca lets everyone knows that the zoo is gigantic, and it would be best to stay together since we will be leaving from a different gate than we entered. We get to see a ton of animals. The zoo is fantastic because you feel like you are away from the city, and it is in a tropical forest. They have everything here, and just as impressive as the National Zoo. Garrett just points at all the animals. He is throroughly enjoying it. I take a ton of pictures. The animals are all out and are very photogenic. This and the other trips are very relaxing for the families. I really enjoy these spacious, beautiful parks and we are all in very good spirits. The camera swinging and hitting my stomach from time to time is a pain, but I'm so happy that nothing prevented this great moment with our son. He smiles a lot and points then waves to everyone.We go to a local restaurant where they have the lazy Susans again. We eat a good lunch, with a very interesting yam dish where they are very hot, and you must stick them in water, and a glaze covers them when they cool. We are all thirsty, and it seems the room is a bit warmer than we care. It is another good Chinese meal otherwise. We get back to the hotel, where Lilly gives me the burn cream she has purchased. I immediately put it on and smell like I've been marinated in soy sauce with sesame butter. We take a good long nap, but I stay up to try to catch up on the journals. We hear a tap on the door, and the dinner plans for 6:30 p.m. has changed to 6 p.m. I get Garrett up and we walk with the group towards the Victory Hotel to pickup the rest of our group. I also drop off some laundry. We walk to the far east side of the island, to a newer Italian restaurant. The manager is definitely from Italy since I talked with him later outside. We sit on the top floor in two very long tables. Garrett is munching on the breadsticks. I ordered plain spaghetti with just a light butter on it for Garrett, and I get the grilled salmon. Everyone else gets more traditional lasagna and spaghetti dishes. It is a very nice restaurant, and I enjoy talking with Robert, Pam, Bryan and Jodi who are sitting at my table. This is a good close group. After the nice meal, we take a walk along the outside of the island on the river bank. They have lighted up the river bank outline with marquee running lights, just much bigger and wider! There is also a building that is like a large TV, at least 30 stories high, showing motion pictures and commercials. Never seen anything this large on a building. It is a lovely night and a very peaceful walk back to the hotel. We decide to take a detour and have an ice cream at the Deli Shop next to the White Swan. Garrett enjoys the vanilla ice cream, but doesn't care for the chocolate. No problem, Daddy can take care of that issue! Garrett plays a little, and it's time for bed. Garrett falls asleep in my arms just as I lift him up. Very sweet child that I've really bonded with in a short time. I have no doubt that Mommy and Gracie will have the same luck. I'm so looking forward to seeing Gracie and Garrett play. Garrett is a toddler, but still have enough baby that Madeline will have a mother/child bonding moment to cherish.

The Last Day in China

2009-01-08T08:13:00.000-08:00

Van and Garrett will be leaving first thing in the morning so this will be the last post about the China trip. They have had a great time, and have bonded to each other. I am sure it will take time for Garrett to adjust to being at home, and being part of our family. But Gracie and I cannot wait to help him to do that. Little brother, Di Di (Chinese for "little brother") is almost on his way to the U.S. with his Daddy. Thanks to Daddy for doing such a great job with Garrett while there! We have really missed him. It will be exciting to finally see them at the airport on Friday.

Here are some final pictures, and a post from Van.

I'm finally sleeping a little late. I can't tell if it's dry air or fighting a bit of a cold. I wake up around 5:30 a.m. and then take a quick shower. They leave new toothbrushes, so I decide just to toss them at the end of the day to prevent any water problems. It's hard to rinse them properly. Garrett is a good sleeper. I wake him up and we have breakfast around 7:30 a.m. He is a cheerful boy and loves breakfast. He normally eats a 1/2 of a banana, scrambled eggs, cut up ham, Soda biscuits (large buttery crackers), and either orange juice or apple juice. He has orange juice today. I stick him in the baby chair one more time. He doesn't mind, but I am tired today. He still does his usual flirting. We notice more adoptive parents at the White Swan. We all talk a little bit. A lot of proud parents!Today is the market shopping spree. This is where we got some pearls the last time. Pearls are on the agenda this trip as well. The bus ride is only about 10 minutes. It's not that busy when we are first dropped off. Rebecca takes us for a quick tour, she takes us into the first building to point out the shoes, dvd's, music, clothes, and the restaurants. She then takes a group of us that plan to buy pearls down to the basement of building #2. Only a couple of us are ready to purchase pearls today. I have a list of items to purchase for Madeline and Gracie. Last time, a group of us were able to barter and get some good prices. This time, I just want to get the pearls and go. They put several strands in front of you and then you get to pick the clasps and if you want bracelets or necklaces. The earrings are done separately, but you pick out the mounts. I get to pay with a credit card, and I'm hoping there isn't any issues since I called and notified the bank of my trip and which cities during what dates. Luckily, all is well! I'm glad to get these for my girls! I also get a thank you gift for a girl, Lauren, that had watched Garrett while I was doing the painful paperwork. I think she was happy with the gift! Garrett is sitting in a stroller that was lent by Doug and Lucy. It was nice and Garrett actually was enjoying being carted around. I make sure he has some snacks while waiting to finish with the pearls. Almost all of us end up at the local Pizza Hut for lunch. The have a fruit/salad bar that is perfect for Garrett, and I don't mind eat either. I share two pizzas with Doug and Lucy's family. Garrett actually is enjoying the pizza as well. Other families come to join us. Garrett is playing with Jodi a lot during this time. He is just the happiest child and is good with people after he knows them. I get up and change Garrett before we move on. We go to the shoe store since their isn't many shoes in Gracie's or Garrett's size on the island. Rebecca had told us the if there is a big "5" in front of the shoes, it means 50% off. If there is a big "4" in front of the shoes, it's 60% off. There is no bartering in this area apparently. I look around and buy two pairs of shoes for Garrett. I think the dressier shoes are a bit too large for him. I also get a pair for Gracie. The shoes were nice, but it was a very tiny shoe store, no larger than my office, with about 6 people in it and more trying to get in. We then meander to the DVD/music store. I look for items that might be enjoyable for Gracie and Garrett. I also look for any newer films that I can buy. You have to make sure you buy "DVD-9" and not "DVD-5". I find a few for the kids, and then 2 for the adults. I also look for some music, but I had already the good ones from Inner Mongolia. Most DVD's are just $2 apiece. Garrett and I walk outside and look at the open space in the market. It has become crowded in the past 2 hours. It's fascinating seeing all the various food and merchandise you can purchase. I'm thinking about getting some McDonald's ice cream, but really don't want the extra food. Garrett has been not as regular on his digestion and needs more starches. I don't want to give him a lot of junk for awhile. I take some pictures as Garrett watches the crowd. We have to be quick when jumping on the bus today since there is no real pickup spot. We get back, and Garrett takes a long nap. I type some of the past journals, trying to keep up, but also watch "Hancock" in a minimized window on my computer. It's pretty good and helps the time pass. I wake Garrett from his nap, he could have slept all day if I let him. I think it's going to be easier to get him use to Eastern time since he is a good sleeper. When I get Garrett ready for dinner, I also put on his new tennis shoes. He was ecstatic! As we walked out the door, I noticed that they even light up. I had no idea. It was nice to see a child react to something new. It's dinner time, and I've been talking to Robert about trying the local snake at a fine restaurant. We get outside with a couple of the group, and start talking about dinner plans. Well, seems like Robert and I are the only ones remotely interested in trying anything tonight. The rest of the crew plans to meet at "Lucy's". We get to the restaurant, and several people come to see the various "live" foods you can choose to have cooked fresh for you. The worst to me is the sandworms, water beetles, and silk worms. The other items are the snakes, pigeons, and various seafood that might be strange to many Americans. Many of the families cringe at the sight of the items, and then go off to Lucy's. We have decided to try the snake, and also the mantis prawn. Garrett is not eating any of these items. I order a duck breast (which he loves) and fried rice for all of us to eat as well. We get to look at the snakes, and the cook pulls out a large one for us to look at. We take photographs and also get to hold it, which it's pretty large, but due to the cold water, very lethargic. They way this big snake, and it's way too much and pricey for us. We choose a smaller snake, but of the same breed. Robert photographs some of the prep work, all the food is "freshly cooked". We sit down in a very nice dining area. Garrett is given an impressive booster chair for eating. We order a few beers (in case we really need it), and wait for the food to come out. The duck breast comes out first, and it's different from most of the duck I've had. It's marinated in a very tasty way, and I pull off the meat for Garrett to eat. We then receive the deep fried mantis prawn. It tastes like a small sweet lobster, but the meat is more that of a crab-like texture. Then comes the prized-meal, the snake! It looks a lot better cooked than uncooked! It's separated into about 10 pieces, no head, and is a golden brown with no skin. It smells great. I videotape Robert eating and giving his best Andrew Zimmerman type impersonation. It's my turn, and the snake is quite good. There is a technique to eating it, since it has a ton of rib bones, your better off going from the sides and pulling. You have to watch getting the meat stuck into your teeth, and also ribs coming loose. Robert and I both had to pick them out, LOL. So, after what many would never think of eating as a meal, Robert and I were quite pleased. Garrett had not tasting of any of the "scary meats". We walked out all proud, and went to Lucy's to see the others. We thought of letting Robert walk in with Garrett and telling everyone that I had to go to the doctors as a joke. We get there and I decide to have a good old fashioned chocolate milk shake. Nothing goes better after snake! We are outdoors and it's a very nice night. Garrett is running around with the other children. I noticed that his isn't tripping as much. He sometimes runs off, but I catch up with him. He loves to play and has a charming dismeanor. He seems to be most fond of Catherine, Robert's and Pam's girl, who Gracie had played with just 1 month before. Right when we're about to leave, Garrett runs over to a table with a man and a young Chinese boy. It turns out to be the last member of our party that had just arrived, Craig (sp) from Chicago and his 4 year old son. Craig ends up joining the rest of the gang. I have to get Garrett in the bath tub!I prepare for Garrett's bath. I know he doesn't like it and prepare for some crying. I get him in, with a few bubbles. He is doing okay, and tries to assist in the washing. I get to doing his hair, and he isn't enjoying it. I finished without getting to much water in his face. I get him out and he has already upset for being wet. I dry him off and get his sleeper on him quickly. He loves the sleeper! I dry his hair, he is okay with this, and then let him stay up for about 15 more minutes. We get a quick video conference with Madeline and say hello, Garrett starts crashing and falls asleep before I lay him down. It was another fun day with our son!

A Dinner Cruise Down the Pearl River

2009-01-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

Looks like the group had a great time!

The Red Couch Pictures at the White Swan

2009-01-07T08:06:00.000-08:00

From the looks of things, the parents had a difficult time getting the kids to sit still for the pics. Garrett looks like he is throwing his hands up in the air. Enough pictures already!

So proud!!!

Garrett is dressed in his traditional Mongolian outfit, and he looks so proud to be all dressed up for the photos.

The Tianqing Dao Temple Visit and Shopping

2009-01-07T07:48:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite treasures from China. Artists create these images on stone from your pictures by tapping tiny little dots on the stone with a special tool. The one we got of Gracie back in 2005 is still very precious to me.

This one is of Garrett with his foster mother, Mrs. Chung. Isn't it beautiful? I know he will treasure this gift forever.

These are the children in Van's travel group. Garrett is hugging Cole so sweetly here. Many new families are just beginning their lives together. What beautiful children!!!

It is almost Chinese New Year, and the year of the Ox. The red lanterns hang everywhere for decoration.

Daddy and Garrett in front of the Five Ram Statue.

Here are some great pictures of the tavel group's trip to the temple. Garrett is such a happy baby. It makes me smile every time I see pictures of him with Van. He seems to be handling the huge changes in his life very well.

Walking Along the Pearl River at Night

2009-01-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

A Snake Snack

2009-01-06T12:07:00.001-08:00

Guess the pictures just weren't enough proof that Van and Robert had a snake snack. Cannot believe they picked out such a HUGE one. You know, if you want to taste a snake in China, why not pick a little TINY one just to nibble on. This thing is gigantic and UGLY. Why this one? And what kind of snake is that? Did they do their research before they just decided to pick out that kind of snake? Doubt it. Did someone say to them, "Oh, choose this particular kind of snake because it tastes like CHICKEN?" Doubt it. I think they really didn't give this a lot of thought. They just ate it. How gross is that?

Garrett at the Zoo

2009-01-06T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a video of Garrett at the Zoo. He is hangin' with the pandas in China. Not many people get to go to a zoo like this one.

Van's Jan 4th Post

2009-01-06T08:01:00.001-08:00

It's morning time, and I'm up very early again. I get Garrett dressed, he is just precious in the morning and is a chunky monkey when putting his clothes on. I can't wait to get some cleaner clothes. I'm wearing my really old blue jeans today, and at least three times while kneeling down to assist Garrett, hear the pants rip more, lovely! I put on Garrett's clothes, and immediately have to change him. He didn't even finish breakfast before going. I'm sure he'll eat a lot know at breakfast.We go to the breakfast buffett and after several trips back and forth, we're ready to eat. I finally find the bananas that Garrett loves. The other Asian fruits (uglies, star fruit, some type of white kiwi, and asian pears) Garrett doesn't care for, but will try. I'm eating all the various fruits. While eating, Garrett is flirting majorly with all the waitresses. It get's so bad, he keeps getting out of his chair and running to them. This isn't funny anymore for me since I can't eat. I finally put him in the baby chair to prevent him from running all over the place. He doesn't seem to mind since he's still facing all the ladies, and he continues to eat, and flirt. This morning, it's the visit to the medical center for the checkup. We first stop and get our visa pictures made for our paperwork. The walk to the medical center is easy, a very nice day. Last time with Gracie, it was a torrential downpour that probably ended up making me sick at the end. This was very different. we walk slowly to the medical center and pass-by a kindergarten on the island. I take a few pictures since Gracie and Garrett will be in one before you know it. I meet Lori from North Carolina. who is adopting their 7th child. She has been a bit ill, but also doesn't like to see any needles or blood at any hospital, so she is not liking this part at all. We go back to a special room for adopted children to be examined. After some paperwork, Garrett is the first one to be examined. I sit holding his hand, he is a bit nervous and looks at me for comfort. The doctor doesn't make him remove all his clothes, and checks his heart and then looks through his medical record given by Inner Mongolia. He does a brief check of his skin, and his little scar that was on his head when I got him in Hohhot. We're done, and then we go to the next station, which is out of turn, but the ear, eye, and throat doctor. He asks me to hold Garrett in my lap, he plays some music which Garrett reacts appropriately. He uses a freshly unwrapped (it was sterile) tongue depressor and checks his palate. Garrett is then weighed, and he is a hefty 14.7 KG. Only the 6 year old girl Jorja I believe beats his weight. The conversion chart didn't read that high but he is around 32 pounds. We wait for some of the other children who had heart afflictions to finish so we can walk back as a group. We walk and stop at a few of the stores to buy some items. On the way back, we stop at the local playground. This is great for the kids and parents. Garrett does pretty well on the playground, but runs away from me a few times. The slide is a double slide for two children to go down, but Garrett continues to slide down the middle of both. It is great to see him play. He has taken a major liking to Catherine, Pam's and Robert's girl. I believe Gracie and Catherine were close at the Krispy Kreme as well in Fredericksburg, VA. We meet a couple from Louisiana as well, their name escapes me, but they have just adopted as well. We continue to the White Swan, but on the way back, I take Garrett through the local park with plenty of statues. There are tons of people kicking a feathered "hacky sack" in various groups. I have Garrett sit on a little pug dog statue, and then take some pictures. We continue to enjoy the day and walk slowly through part of the park. This day has allowed Garrett to be a boy the most since we've met. He is all boy! I stop at the local 7-Eleven and look for lunch items. We've been eating so much, that a lighter meal was appropriate this day. I choose some noodles for both of us, and some cookies and drinks. We go upstairs, it's past Garrett's normal lunch time. I fix the noodles, and then remove a small portion of them to cool. He loves them and is quite good at noodling up into his mouth. I give him some juice, which I mix with a 1/3 of water. I know he has a sweet tooth, but don't want so much sugar in his diet. He falls asleep pretty peacefully, the first time without having to hold him to sleep. He just zonks out! I have made the major transition. I also stop calling him Chen Guang and he responds well to Garrett. During lunch, I'm trying to keep within two days of my detailed journals. I'm feeling a little tired now. I really want to rest, but getting this information down will last a life time for our son. I wake Garrett up at 2:30 p.m. We are to meet in the hotel playroom to do our paperwork for the U.S. Consulate. This is the last of the major load of paperwork. Madeline and I worked on the checklist the whole weekend before flying here. I was positive that we had done a good job. I was just hoping something major wasn't missing. Only one parent needs to attend, and there are three of us that are the only single parents adopting while our spouse was at home. During this time, Garrett is playing with several kids, but as the paperwork continues, Lauren, a very sweet 11 year old of Doug and Lucy's, watches Garrett and keeps him out of major trouble. I really appreciate her taking care of him. The paperwork is still a bit confusing, and Rebecca, our guide, helps us with a checklist. She handles the group very well, and we finish some of the paperwork that had to be filled out in Guangzhou. A lot of us finished some of the sheets before arriving. After one and half hours, we seem to be finished. My mind is blank at this point. The paperwork is painful, but we seem to be done with it until the actual U.S. Consulate appointment. Let's pray we all did well!Now it's time to prepare for the big dinner at the Cow and Bridge restaurant for some unique Thai food. We walk slowly, and the whole group is upbeat. We sit down and immediately celebrate Lucy's birthday, I think she just made it to 29 like the rest of us. We get to eat the cake as an appetized, and it's very good. I got two pieces. Garrett only likes the cake portion, while our girl Gracie at home loves only the frosting. I look at the menu and order something that is different, but won't be taking an unnecessary risk of health either. I decided that "Goose cooked in Red Curry" would be nice to have tried. I love curry and never heard of goose getting people sick. I ordered a rice with beef item for Garrett since most of the items here are not meant for children. I also ordered to drinks for Garrett and myself. Well, those drinks come out, and mine is the most foo-foo drink I've ever seen, and I get chastised by the whole table. It is very funny, a purplish clear punch with two lychees floating and I believe a cherry, topped with a beautiful purple/white orchid-looking flower. I even had to raise my pinky when drinking! Garrett's apple juice comes in a similar glass, garnished with the purple/white flower as well. The food finally makes it, and my first piece of the goose, well, tasted a bit like 3 day old Thanksgiving turkey. I wasn't too impressed, and slowly started eating the bluish tomato style vegetables floating inside. Well, after eating so much of that unknown blue vegetable, I tried other pieces of the goose, which were so much better. I must have just eaten that one with the rauncy taste. I continue to eat it, and then get to try something new. Robert had ordered fried pigeon and offered me a wing/breast piece. I wasn't sure about it, since I'm more of a country pigeon eater and didn't know if this may be a city pigeon or not. I eat it and it's very flavorful. I continue eating as much as I can, while Garrett is eating a lot of steamed rice mixed with the soupy rice and beef that I had ordered him. We finish and then all head out. I stop and pick-up my clean laundry from Jennifer's Place which makes me happy! I end up sleeping for awhile, but wake-up around 11:30 p.m. our time to talk to Madeline and Gracie via video conference. Always a great way to end the day. The hard paperwork is almost over! Wake-up for VC

Van's Jan 3rd Post

2009-01-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

I wake up bright and early at 4:15 a.m. I take a much needed shower. I have a full bath now, which will help with Garrett's bathing. The baby bath tub wasn't very easy for a larger toddler. Garrett is sleep pretty well. He has really grown on me. He has the most lovable look in his eyes, and he is definitely boy the way he plays and mocks me when I say no! I have to be firm, but he gets a little reprieve as long as he doesn't run out into the road or other dangerous areas.
Garrett wakes up. He is pretty cheerful when he wakes up. I take him over to get him acclaimated to the "bigger pot" that we all call the toilet bowl. No success yets, but he is fascinated and likes to flush it after trying. We go down stairs for a simple breakfast. Well, if you haven't heard, the White Swan is famous for it's breakfast buffet. The most important meal while travelling in China is breakfast by far, no ifs, ands or buts about it. The White Swan is still decorated for the Christmas season. The bridge over the koi pond is closed off to accommodate a 25 foot Christmas tree and other very festive decorations. We are greeted by a hostess dressed in a Santa outfit, with skirt. We are place by ourselves next to the windows looking out to the Pearl River and the boats that are passing by. We get a great assortment of foods including made to order omelettes, star fruit, bacon, more bacon, buttery croissants, and plenty of anything you could imagine. Garrett does well and is loving the view of the river. I let him get up close to the glass. This is an off-season so far in Guangzhou and it's not nearly as crowded as the previous time in 2005. I think only 30 people are eating at this point. The eating area could easily accommodate about 300-400 people. I'm not complaining! Garrett starts looking and flirting with the 5 to 8 staff members around our area. He is a natural, but I believe it's due to the younger staff at China Care. I think he has just a truly innocent loving look that you don't see all the time. He eats pretty well and we now have to get ready for the trip to the botanical gardens. Before going upstairs, I take some pics of the waterfall, the big jade boat, and now a big jade pagoda in the main lobbies. I see the red couches that we will see again our last day here.
It's off to the botanical gardens and we meet the whole group. Rebecca and Lilly give turns talking, and then they hand the microphones over to the families to give tell their stories and about their child. It's a very nice group. We had bonded very much with our group the first time adopting Gracie, and I was starting to really like this bunch. The bus pulls up to the gardens, which are fascinating. I've been to the gardens in Halifax on our honeymoon, but this was just huge and on several hills. The still have Christmas decorations out in front and the chinese people are all taking their pics in front of Santa Claus and Christmas trees. Their are 3 paths you can take at the beginning: left, right, or straight ahead following the fountain. Garrett and I start on the right-hand side and are enjoying this beautiful day. I keep Garrett's jacket on since I've heard someone already was scolded for not having a jacket on their child. They expect kids to be "bundled"! We walk with several different families at various points, taking many wonderful pictures along the way. It is just a relaxing time and the weather was perfect. We get towards the top, and are taking pictures with Stefanie, Andrea, and Andrea's son, Cole at the rock gardens. To all of you that have asked if I've met Stefanie, yes I have, and she is a very sweet and I can see what the fuss is about her from the Yahoo groups. Her sister, Andrea is very nice and her son Cole is very cute and runs, skip, and hops a great deal. The attraction we're around is the zodiac sign with concrete displays of all the Chinese Year animals. Their is a big silver ball in the middle. We takes pictures and I see Garrett really loving to run around. The next stop is the rose garden. All of this hundreds and thousands of roses were in wonderful full blooms in January. Garrett really likes this part and I tried taking pictures. Luckily, Robert showed up and took two pictures of us. Robert mentioned the pictures seemed overexposed. I didn't think much about it until later and found out that at some point, probably while disabling the flash, I had set the exposure to the lightest it could be. The rest of the pictures start to come out better. Thanks Robert!
We walk around and I get to see a very happy Garrett just taking in the breath-taking garden. We make it to some columns, and take some nice pictures. We then continue to the main water fountain, and see some very huge koi fish being fed. I had some shrimp chips that had become crumbs and through them out to get some fish our way. They come and Garrett gets very excited. I give him some of the crumbs and he shoves them in his mouth. No way was he going to give up his favorite snack! We leave and come across a lady using a an electrical hand bubble-blower shaped like a bird, that also tweets. I buy one just for Garrett, who likes popping the bubbles. We decide to walk down the middle of the garden where a multi-tiered fountain flows down to the entrance. I take some pictures of Garrett. It has been a beautiful way to start any day.
We continue outside the gates to a local restaurant. They show off their prized fresh fish and also their freshly skinned poultry. We walk inside and the groups take over 2 large tables that have lazy susans on them. We are sitting with Doug and Lucy's family along with Stefanie and Andrea's family. We are given several different dishes, a few have heat (like the beef) and the rest are mainly noodles, vegetables, and fried meats. It is a wonderful lunch, and Garrett ate plenty of noodles. I had asked for some apple juice, they ended up bringing freshly squeezed apple juice in about a 3 quart container. I helped drink a great deal of it. Garrett is doing so well, and he loves being around people.
We live to take the busride back to the White Swan hotel. Garrett falls asleep on the way back. This toddler is really growing on me and I really feel like his Dad now that we're not enclosed in a hotel room. We get back to hotel and Garrett continues to nap after a brief wake-up period. I needed to catch-up on the journals and start typing. I also want to upload the pictures as I take them since we've had that incident during Mother's Day where all of our pictures at the beach were destroyed. I'm missing Madeline and Gracie and wish they could be here to meet Garrett. I just wish they could be here!!JGarrett wakes up early from his nap and we walk down to some of the shops. Jennifer's and Susan's place do not exist anymore, which isn't good since they seemed to be the largest. The stores have moved around some and it's now nearly as busy as back in 2005. I walk to the end and finally find the new home of Jennifer's place at the end of the street. It's actually at the same location behind a Subway shop. I meet Jennifer's sister and ask about the stone etchings. They have a new style, but it's done electronically where the other is hand-tapped out. I have about four of the etchings made, and they aren't cheap either. That has to be done early since it takes several days to complete. On the way back, I go inside of another store and start buying some of the other items on my Honey Do List. I get a mah-jong set, and other items that will be good for Gracie and Garrett to remember their Chinese culture.
That night, we walk over to Jennifer's place to drop off a lot of laundry. We also go to get some stone etchings made. We eat at the local Subway for dinner, we see Andrea, Cole and Stefanie walking in Jennifer's place. We continue to eat, when Robert and Pam's family stop by to eat as well. We walk back together hitting several shops. I'm waiting until we visit the market until buying a bulk of the clothing that I'm supposed to buy. I could easily fill up a 3rd suitcase, but pretty sure after getting rid of clothes and some medicine, can fit it all in.
We get back and crash around 9 p.m. I'm up a bit later to talk with Madeline and Gracie. It's always a wonderful way to end our day and begin their day. The next day, it's the paperwork, and I can't wait until that is completed!

At the Zoo in Guangzhou

2009-01-06T06:38:00.000-08:00

First off, I spoke to Van this morning and he informed me that he burned his stomach while rinsing out Garrett's sippy cup with boiling water. He said it is a second degree burn and that the guides went to a pharmacy and got him some burn cream to put on it. He says it hurt A LOT, but he went ahead with the group to the zoo afterwards anyway. He sent me pics and it looks like a bad sunburn (no blistering, thank goodness) and he says that is how it feels. OUCH!

Next, they went to the Guangzhou Zoo. He says it is one of the nicest zoos he has seen. They saw a Panda (1), and Garrett had a blast seeing all of the animals and playing with the other children. Here are some pictures. One of my favorites came from Stephanie who emailed me this morning to let me know what a great job Van is doing with Garrett. I knew he would be fantastic with Garrett on this trip because he is such a loving, devoted Daddy. But it is sure sweet to hear it from others too. I am so proud of Van!

Van's Write Up for January 2nd

2009-01-05T19:49:00.000-08:00

We arrived at Guangzhou airport. Pam, Robert and the rest of us walk to pick up our baggage. We meet Rebecca immediately, who is a very jovial person. We also run into Jason, Lori, and their new child, Jacob. Wow, the same people that met 3 weeks ago are together again. I was really feeling good at this point. The airport was air-conditioned. We had to go up a level while waiting for Stefanie and Andrea to arrive. We let the kids play and talk a bit. We had all met just about 1 month before in Fredericksburg, VA and now we're here together in China. Andrea, Cole and the well-known and respected Stefanie Leitz arrive. Stefanie and I know about each other, and saying hello is just formalities at this point. We walk outside the small bus. We get on and then the driver starts loading us up. Well, we must have set off something because some form of Chinese security, armed with video camera, starts asking questions and delays us about 3-5 minutes. It turned out, all of the baggage brought about some curiosity and needed investigation. On the drive to the White Swan, I'm talking with the group and we're all the happiest parents right now. I really like this group a great deal, very kind and very genuine. We make it to the White Swan, just as glorious as the last time we were here in November 2005. We meet in the lobby and are handed our keys. We make it upstairs, and I'm thankful that I've made it to the "safe zone". I'm with a group, and we're mostly on the same floor in the hotel. I start unpacking the clothes, setting the vault for our money, putting the heavy clothing away into the closet, and getting the paperwork in one location. Quickly, we end up all walking to Lucy's, a fifties style diner just about 200 feet from the White Swan. We go to Lucy's in a private room. It turns out it's the Fredericksburg group, less Jason. We all order some good old American food. Garrett has fried chicken planks, and I have a large cheeseburger. We do a ton of talking. Garrett starts to really like the other children. After eating, we walk to a nearby restaurant to survey some of the unusual food to eat. A major assortment of fish, but then it gets fun: silkworms, snakes, water beetles, some type of big worm, and on and on. I stop at the 7-Eleven here and grab the essential big water bottle. I don't want it to be too big where it will be less fresh. I also grab some snacks and some drinks for Garrett and me. We go up and settle down some. He falls asleep quickly. Tomorrow, we meet the rest of the groups. I am not very worried anymore except about having something unexpected to do with/on the paperwork. I'm with good people and Garrett has some children to play with which will make this much easier.

Guangzhou at Night

2009-01-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

Guangzhou is so beautifully lit up at night. I used to love looking out of our window at the White Swan at all of the boats going down the Pearl River and at all of the buildings in the distance with colors and lights so brightly illuminated.

The Pearl Market and Pizza Hut

2009-01-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

Van went to the pearl market today on a trip with the travel group. Here are the young ladies who string the pearls by hand. They are so beautiful! The work is very intricate and their fingers move so fast. It is amazing to watch them work.

The group also ate pizza at Pizza Hut. Yes, they have Pizza Hut in Guangzhou. They also have McDonalds. Van did not have to eat that snake. THAT my friends was purely the result of male peer pressure!

The Chen House, A Folk Art Museum

2009-01-05T07:32:00.001-08:00

Van's travel group visited the Chen House which is a folk art museum in Guangzhou. It is quite beautiful with the hanging red lanterns and the landscaped trees and surroundings, and the oriental design of the buildings. Van and I visited the museum when we adopted Gracie in November of 2005.

Dinner Pictures

2009-01-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

These are some more pictures of what my husband and his travel mates decided to choose to eat for dinner. I have no idea what they ate...other than the snake. You can guess. I kept thinking Van was teasing me when he said he was going to eat snake.

New Shoes

2009-01-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

The look on Garrett's face speaks volumes. Van says Garrett was so excited to get new tennis shoes.

There Just Are No Words...

2009-01-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

Van and Robert ate this...Looks pretty good, huh?

That was this snake!!!! They chose it. The guy cooked it, and they ate it.

Video of Garrett

2009-01-04T02:06:00.000-08:00

How cute is this kid???

A Typical Market Food Store

2009-01-04T01:59:00.000-08:00

Are ya hungry? These pictures are just to let you have a peek into a tiny part of the Chinese culture...Here are some amazing pictures of the foods they sell on the streets of China. They serve live animals waiting just for you to hand pick and carry home to cook. Mmmmmmmmmm, so yummy!

Medical Appointment and Playground in Guangzhou

2009-01-04T01:43:00.001-08:00

Here are some very cute pictures and a video of Garrett going to his medical appointment and also of him playing on a playground. Looks like they visited an elementary school. Van says he is healthy, there are no issues, and he weighs 32-33 pounds. I love the picture of Garrett sticking out his tongue.

Mama

2009-01-04T01:12:00.000-08:00

Garrett is saying Mama in this video. I think Van thinks he is saying it or learning the word just for me, but I think he is missing his foster mother who he also called Mama. Makes me sad because I see a far off look in his eyes. I am sure he wonders where they are and what has happened. Poor baby!

On top of that, I received the translation of the note that had been brought with Garrett to Gotcha Day from my friend, Epin, who had it translated by her family. Thank you, Epin!!!! Thank you so much!!! It made me cry again. It seems I am doing that a lot lately. The note was from his foster parents. Basically, it translated to say that they think of Garrett as their biological son, and they are heartbroken, and they just want to see him one last time. I am so thankful that we had the courage to take him back to Baotou to see them that day. Not every new adoptive parent does that because of the trauma it can cause to the child again. We felt we needed to do that for Garrett in the long run. Even though he would be confused and sad initially, we knew someday he would want that meeting to have taken place. It was either go to Baotou and meet them/see them with Garrett or not go at all. Thank God that Van was able to do that. I am sure it gave them some peace of mind to meet Van and see how loving and caring he is with Garrett. But I know they are still grieving and so is my baby boy. He misses his Mama, Mrs. Chung, and his Baba, Mr. Chung. They will always be a very special family in Garrett's life, and someday they will see him again when we can afford a trip back to China with both of our children.

Van's Posts from Jan 1st and 2nd in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia

2009-01-04T01:03:00.000-08:00

January 1, 2009
Happy New Year's from China! I woke up after getting a little sleep. The fireworks kept me up here and there throughout the night. I looked at my watch and it's 4:15 a.m. I start trying to keep up on typing the journals. Also, the Holiday Inn allows $200 US to be exchanged per day. I need to make sure I have enough. Today, the main thing on the agenda is a trip to the new museum, get a suitcase, and pack! Garrett wakes up around 6:30 a.m. He cries a bit when no one is in the bed, but stops as soon as you touch him. Still not 100% toddler, still has some baby aspects that will make bonding easier. He falls asleep easier then any child I've seen, that is if you have to lay with him for 2-3 minutes which is not problem. Garrett gets up and to my amazement, he uses the little plastic training pot for the first time. Yes, progress!! I give him high praises which normally means hugging and high-fives! We go to breakfast and again, Garrett and I are treated like royalty again. Garrett eats pretty well. It's now time to go to the museum.We drive through the main part of Hohhot. The traffic is crazy as normal, far worse then Beijing or Guangzhou. There are several New Year's decorations, mainly red ornamental balloons and grand dragon style archways into all the buildings. It is the beginning of a 3 day holiday. The air is between 5-15 degrees right now. I make sure that Garrett has Vaseline on his lips, and special Desitin on his cheeks and forehead to protect his skin. We arrive at the museum, which is fascinating. The architecture is something I've never seen in a building this size. The building is 1/2 museum, and 1/2 opera/concert house. We enter and the main hall is a huge travertine grand room with several sandblasted wall motifs depicting the various history of Inner Mongolia. We then go to the next section which is various dinosaur exhibits. I loved this since I was a huge dinosaur fan, turns out Garrett is as well and start lighting up for the next 2 hours. We walk into the larger exhibits including a 40 foot long dinosaur, like a diplodocus or brontosaurus. We also see some nice mastadon and Wooly Mammoth skeletons. Garrett is getting very excited.The next grand rooms (about 10 of them) depict the early cultures of Inner Mongolia. There are some stunning exhibits, even compared to the best Smithsonian exhibits. Garrett is starting to feel a little freedom and I let him run around a bit, as long as he doesn't scream or touch things. Well, that's exactly what started happening soon so I had to be a bit more controlling. He is the sweetest kid and his face lights up. He is getting a lot of attention from the dressed up attendants and the security guards. Sandra is really affixed to him now and I find her wanting to give me a break more and more. I think it's more to play with a very sweet child who is just passionate in this museum. Sandra is a history major by default, so we are all having a great time for the next 2-3 hours in the museum. We get to the Genghis Khan exhibit which, besides the dinosaurs, is the nicest one for me and Garrett. Their is a full size Mongolian tent on a huge wagon. The statue of a young Genghis Khan on a horse is where many of the men are having their pictures made. Genghis Khan is still the national hero in these parts, and was voted "Man of the Millenia" by Time Magazine last millenia. Garrett is starting to wind down a little. I'm very impressed how much he can walk. He always keep a very cheerful look on his face. We bundle up and walk outside to the car and prepare for a quick shopping trip for a new travel suitcase to hold some of our new items. We drive for about 10 minutes and then drive into a parking space near one of these red dragon arches in front of the entrance. We walk through some heavy red curtains that lead you into a 4 story mall/flea market. Most of the shops are in narrow alleys. Sandra warns me to watch my stuff, people are pickpocketed all the time. I make sure my wallet is in the front pocket, along with my camera zipped in my coat. Sandra is still really being helpful with Garrett by holding his hands. Garrett, BTW, is great on excalators. He knows exactly when to step off. We've been on about 20 and so far, no trips or anything. We come to a shop that has more suitcases than your typical Macy's displays. I choose a red, then change to a silver/cinnamon colored suitcase that I could spot a mile away. It isn't as gaudy as the red and won't show the black marks that you get immediately with a new suitcase after a flight. Only 168 yuans, or about $30 US. What's ironic is that they were showing me how this suitcase locks, and I had to let them know that in the US, you can't lock them anymore. We get back to the hotel, and eat lunch immediately. The meal is now about $23 for both of us, since they were giving wine and beer, all you can drink. I did have a few beers at lunch and again at dinner. In between, Garrett took a nap, and I packed our new suitcase and get all the gifts split between the suitcases. If you lose one, you still have 1/2 the gifts, clothes, and medicine (the minor ones). I ended up falling asleep at the last part of Garrett's nap. Garrett woke up earlier than me and proceeded to cry to try and get my attention. Well, when I didn't respond immediately, so he got in my face, cried louder, and then started chanting, like we all did with the Indian chants. It got my attention! We go to dinner and see the staff at the Champs Elysees one last time. We had seen Hilary at lunch time for the final time, she was our first "friend" during that first day. I do plan on writing a nice letter to Holiday Inn about their service and very tasty food!We get back, and it's time to pack, but must give Garrett another bath. The last group of laundry shows up, which I'm glad made it since if it was missing, I didn't have a 2nd day to find. I get the bath water ready, but just a little warmer. Garrett is doing much better this time, and also tries to help out on his legs and feet. I dry him off, get his sleepers on, and then dry his hair on low. He falls asleep very easily. I finish packing by 10 p.m. and then make sure that the hotel give me a wake-up call at 4:30, just in case. Happy New Year's from china!

January 2, 2009 The Last Hohhot Entry
I didn't wake up until the hotel called at 4:30 a.m. I get up, do some push-ups and crunches, then hop in the shower. At the tail end of the shower, the phone goes off again. I can't get to it since I'm soaked. I finish, and start towelling off when the phone rings again. Who is calling me, Sandra to make sure I'm awake? Well, it we the front desk checking to see when the bagboy needs to upstairs. I tell them at 6 a.m. I get ready, take a pic or two, and then wake Garrett up. Oh please, poop before we leave. I had some coffee in the room, and the last pastry that the Chungs have given to Garrett for a quick breakfast. Garrett is given the last of the fresh yogurt the Chungs have given him and a banana and cookies. Garrett uses "the pot" in the morning for #1 which I praise him for doing, even though it's a tough task and a small area. At 5:50 a.m., Garrett answers my requests and follows with a #2. No changing diapers on the plane or airport! The bellboy arrives right at 6 a.m. It is another cold morning, but now snow. Sandra is in the lobby and I close the bill. The streets are empty. It is dark until about 8 a.m. in Hohhot, and the sun sets right around 4:30 p.m. The drive is the calmest since I've arrived. We get to the airport without issue and then it's just about 45 minutes before boarding the flight. China Air has very nice planes. We get on, and I meet an Englishman sitting across from me. We talk for about 5 minutes before the hugest Mongolian sits between us. He is about 6'7" and just BIG. He could easily suit-up for a defensive linemen in the NFL or be a professional wrestler. He is nice and smiles our way, even though his knees barely fit in. Garrett takes a quick nap, the flight to Beijing is just 1 hour long, than I catch another flight to Guangzhou. I get to see more of the ranges this time, but not next to the window. They serve us some hot dogs for breakfast, with rolls that spiral around the hot dog. I hold one back for Garrett since I've seen him eat them. He wakes up about 20 minutes before landing and proceeds to eat he hot dog and drink the water give to him. Thus ends my Hohhot story. I made it through the scariest part of the trip, and was feeling great. I had bonded with Garrett and he trusted me so much already. We were father and son on a journey home, with one more stop for a week. I really came out so much better than I predicted, not having to do baby bottles was one reason, but Garrett's calm and loving demeanor was the key. Talking via video conference with Madeline and Gracie helped so much with the days being away. I can't wait for this new member of the family to meet his mother and his big sister. Now, on to Guangzhou.

The Going Home Barbie

2009-01-03T14:27:00.000-08:00

Barbie? Yes, Barbie. Garrett got a Barbie. This is no ordinary Barbie though. The Going Home Barbie is the special gift that the White Swan provides for it's adoptive families staying in the hotel. I think we were told that Mattel makes them especially for them so they are not easy to come by. Wonder if this would pay for his college tuition. Any collectors out there? LOL. I specifically told Van that if Garrett received a Barbie that he was NOT to give it away to one of the little girls. Sorry, girls, Barbie is coming home to Mama too.

Guangzhou and the Botanical Gardens Part 4

2009-01-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Lunch? Dinner anyone? Mmmmmm, the smells of China I remember so well...

I just l0ve these pictures of Van and Garrett!

These are the last of the pictures for today. Looks like they are having so much fun, and thank goodness everyone has stayed healthy. Guess all of that medicine I packed will benefit some other adoptive family who may not have been so prepared. Van will donate it all to Jennifer's, a local store that many adoptive families shop in, before he comes back home.

Roughing It in Guangzhou Part 3

2009-01-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

How precious is this picture?

And there are more pictures to add...Some of these are Garrett playing with Cole, Stefanie's new nephew, and Andrea's son.

Roughing It in Guangzhou Part 2

2009-01-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

Yes, that is my boy! So cute! And that is Stefanie in the background. Hi Stefanie!!! Hi Andrea!!!

Here are some more extraordinary pictures of my boys. The White Swan is decorated for Christmas. Even the staff there are dressed up as you can see. There is nothin shabby about this place. Five Star all the way! They went to the Botanical Gardens in Guangzhou with the other travel group members including Stefanie Leist and her sister, Andrea. It looks so breathtaking and beautiful. Garrett had more playtime with his new friends. Van is doing very well. Others comment to him about how calm and relaxed he is, and how well is he doing this alone with Garrett. I am sure he is. That is Van. Calm and cool and collected Van.