A DAY OF REST...

A REAL DAY OF LEISURE....

Today was the first actual day of our time in China that we had NOTHING that we had to do.  It rained most of the day, anyway, so we opted to stay at the hotel.  We had planned a morning trip to Walmart, but when we saw it was raining we decided to postpone.  We ended up taking the girls up to the playroom for awhile, and then coming back to the room.  The girls played for awhile, and then I put them in the bathtub---one of Callie Beth's favorite activities---and then, after having to dry both of the girls' hair (Callie Beth is a SPLASHER!!!), I put them in their cribs for a nap. 

 We have their cribs side by side, so they can communicate before they go to sleep.  Roger was sacked out on the bed---he wasn't feeling too well.  I think it was the dinner he had last night that made him sick (chicken gizzards!!!---GROSS!!!!)  I decided to read for awhile.  I was engrossed in my book when I looked up and realized Molly Kate had crawled over the rail into Callie Beth's bed!!!  The two of them in one crib was cute, but I decided it probably wasn't conducive to sleeping, so I put Molly Kate back in her crib.  It didn't take long before she was asleep.  It took Callie Beth longer than usual to fall asleep.  Once she was asleep, I decided to take a little snooze myself!!!


Tonight we walked with one of the other couples, the Robichaux's, for our evening meal, which ended up being at KFC----yes, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and then we made a trip to Walmart.  It was raining when we started back to the hotel, which was about a 25 minute walk.  We have since been in our room, and are getting ready to go downstairs and try to skype with Evan.


Callie Beth had a very sad moment a little while ago.  She was standing by her bed, holding some blocks she had been playing with, when she just started crying quietly.  I think it was a moment of grieving for her.  She seems to be SO happy with us, but I know she is old enough to truly remember and miss her old life.  She let me cuddle her in my lap, though, and that, along with a snack, made her feel better.  She and Molly Kate are sharing snacks right now. 

I apologize for the boring post tonight.  A boring day has been kind of nice for us, though!!!  I do have some sweet pictures of the girls to share.


Until tomorrow.....


Vicki :)

AN EMOTIONAL DAY...

A ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS KIND OF DAY.....

Today was our day to travel to Jiaozuo to complete our passport application for Callie Beth and get her passport picture made.  It was also the day we were blessed to visit the orphanage where she has spent the last three years of her life.


Jiaozuo is about and hour and a half from Zhengzhou where we are staying, so our guide, Rita hired a driver and we traveled by van to the city.  Our first stop was at the orphanage.  I wanted to visit there because I wanted to meet all the nurses and nannies in the Show Hope Center where Callie Beth lived to thank them for giving her so much love and such good care.  At the same time, I was VERY concerned about the emotional effect it would have on Callie Beth to go back there.

Front door

Lobby

Callie's Crib

When we went in, everyone was waiting to see her.  She had her arms wrapped tightly around me, with her head on my shoulder.  It was obvious she was very aware of where she was.  Her nanny, whom she had called, "Mama" kept trying to get her to come to her.  I really didn't want her to take her from me, because I was afraid it would upset Callie Beth, and start the trauma of the transition to us all over again. Even though Callie Beth never reached out for her, she finally reached out to take Callie Beth from me, and I couldn't refuse her.  This was Callie Beth's primary caretaker during her time in the orphanage, and I could only imagine the sadness she must feel knowing she would never see Callie Beth again.  It WAS traumatic for Callie Beth.  When I reached to take her back, she was stiff, just like she was when she was brought  to us on GOTCHA DAY, and she cried.  However, it only took a few seconds for her to wrap her arms back around me and melt in my arms again.

Callie's Caregiver

I think the person in the orphanage who was most broken-hearted about her leaving was her teacher.  She stood over to the side, with tears flooding her face.  It broke my heart for her and made me cry, too.

Callie's Teacher

The Show Hope Center was SO nice, and all the people were wonderful!!!  It was quite heart wrenching to see the many special needs children there, some with pretty severe problems.  It was obvious, though, that they are receiving the best of love and care.  I spied a little cutie that I think would make a PERFECT little sister for Molly Kate and Callie Beth, but Roger said, "NO!!!!"  Actually, I think he thought she was pretty cute, too!!!! (For those of you reading this, PLEASE don't mention to my mother what I said in the last two sentences.  She would have a HEART ATTACK!!!!) 

Lil Cutie

It was hard saying goodbye to everyone, but I really was ready to leave. I got the email address of the orphanage so I can share LOTS of pictures of Callie Beth in the future.  I also found out today that there was a period of time from April 2010 until December 2010 that Callie Beth actually lived in the orphanage, rather than in the Show Hope Center.  She was returned to the Show Hope Center in December 2010, and had lived there since.


After we left the orphanage, we went to finish the paperwork needed for Callie Beth's passport.  Other than having to lug her up three flights of steps, everything went fine there, and then we preceded to go to get her passport photo made.  This was quite a challenge.  Talking about STRICT regulations about passport photos....her eyebrows had to show, which meant we had to find something to pin her bangs back.  Her ears had to show and her hair had to be off of her neck.  The BIGGEST challenge.....she had to LOOK at the camera!!!!!  I was in the booth with her, at first standing off to the side and trying to sit her on my knee to get the picture.  That didn't work, so then we tried standing her on the chair.  She got tired and started fussing, so we had to step aside to let others go ahead of us.  Several minutes later we tried again.  I don't know how long it actually took to FINALLY get THE picture, but I really thought we might end up being in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the LONGEST known attempt at getting a passport photo!!!


Our last stop before heading back to Zhengzhou was at the hospital where Callie Beth received her surgery for the biliary atresia she was born with.  (This condition, along with a congenital vision problem is what gave her the label of being a special focus child.).  I asked Rita, our guide, why Callie Beth was allowed to have surgery, when so many critically ill children who are abandoned never receive surgery and die.  Had Callie Beth not had surgery for the biliary atresia, she most definitely would not have survived much longer.  She said that which babies get surgery and which don't depends on the weight and size they are at the time they need surgery.  If their weight is good, then surgery will be attempted.  I'm not surprised that even though she was really sick, our sweet chunky monkey was healthy enough for the surgery, and that may be one of the factors that contributed to it being successful.  We were not allowed to go into the hospital where she received the surgery.  In fact, I had to take a picture very quickly and get back in the van.  It is an army hospital, and photographs are not allowed to be taken inside or out. 


We were not able to visit the place where Callie Beth was abandoned.  It was an hour out of the city in a place called Wen County, and the roads going there are bad.  Since she was left in the women's restroom in the pediatric section of a hospital, we probably wouldn't have been allowed to go inside anyway.  When Rita said the roads were really bad going there, I asked if it was a poor area. She said it wasn't.  In fact, she said that  Taigui (I think I'm butchering the spelling) Martial Arts originated there, and that it was a nice area.


SO, today was a chapter in Callie Beth's life that we closed.  As we were traveling back to Zhengzhou, she fell asleep in my arms, and as I looked down at that beautiful face, I thanked God for choosing us to be her parents.  I know she is so confused being with strangers who don't speak her language.  She sometimes doesn't know how to communicate with us, other than grunting loudly, and occasionally having little emotional flares.  But you know, I truly believe she already feels our love and with each passing hour feels more comfortable with us.  I think she knows, too, that she has a little sister who is crazy about her---and there is nothing cuter than the two of them together!!!! 

Thanks to all of you----family and friends---- who continue to pray for us on this journey.....


Vicki :)

PICTURES FROM YESTERDAY

THE DAY IN PICTURES!

Breakfast with the girls.

A stroll in the park!  Molly Kate isn't sure about this ride.

Playing with blocks.

What is this thing, Molly Kate?

Sissy, let me explain this flashlight business!

Molly Kate is proud to be an American!

GETTING TO KNOW HER....

A LITTLE BIT of time makes a BIG difference!!!!!


It is amazing how much Callie Beth has changed in the short amount of time we have had her.  Today, she had a few tears in her eyes when she woke up, but that was it for the day.  We've had LOTS of smiles throughout the day!!!  She was VERY loud at times today, chattering away in Chinese, but she clearly understands what SSHHHHH means.  She does a lot of grunting like a cave woman, and does this loud whine when she wants something and doesn't get it.  HOWEVER, she does know the meaning of, "NO!"  Molly Kate is so obedient all the time, and she is setting a good example for her.  I truly do think Callie Beth is taking notice.


Some of the other things I've learned today about Callie Beth are:


1.  She LOVES to eat, and will eat ANYTHING!!!!
2.  She is a GREAT sleeper!!!!  WOO HOO!!!!!
3.  She likes for others to do things for her, rather than doing them for herself.  Tonight I had
     to hand feed her, and she ALWAYS wants me to carry her when we leave the room to
     go somewhere. 
4.  She is not only loved by Roger and me, but she is VERY loved by her little sister.
     Molly Kate adores her!!!!-----and I think she is beginning to adore Molly Kate!!!
5.  For comfort, she takes her fingers and wraps them around either the sleeve or neck of
     the clothing she is wearing, and pulls it up to her mouth to bite. 
6.  She likes to put things in her mouth.
7.  She is truly very loving and accepts hugs and kisses well!!!!!


We had an afternoon of leisure today.  The other four couples in our group did the paperwork today that we will do tomorrow. We took a walk right after lunchtime to a nearby park, then we came back to the room and we all had naps!!!  We later walked to Walmart, and then came back to the hotel for dinner. 


 Tomorrow, we will be traveling to Jiaozuo, Callie Beth's home town, to do more paperwork and also to visit the orphanage where she has spent almost her entire life.  I hope to also get to go to the place where she was abandoned.  Please pray extra hard of us, concerning our visit to the orphanage.  I don't want to break Callie Beth's heart all over again, and I have a feeling it may make her sad to go back and then have to leave again.  It is important closure for us, though, to visit there, meet her nannies, and she where she has been cared for. 


Until tomorrow.....


Vicki :)

IT'S OFFICIAL!

IT IS OFFICIAL!!!!!  CALLIE BETH is OUR DAUGHTER!!!!

We went to the registration office this morning, the same place we went to get Callie Beth yesterday morning, and received the OFFICIAL document stating that Callie Beth is OFFICIALLY OUR daughter!!!!  She is now LEGALLY Callie Elizabeth Faith FuXiaYan Pierce!!!!!

Resting up for a BIG day!

This is serious business!

Are we cute, or what?

Oh, Callie Beth!  You're so funny!

On the bus enroute to become "OFFICIAL"

It's OFFICIAL!

Tomorrow we will go to Jiaozuo City to complete other paperwork, including the visa application and a visit to the notary.  We will also be visiting the orphanage and Show Hope Center where Callie Beth has spent almost her entire life. 



I am attaching a few pictures taken this morning.  Our girls LOVE each other!!!!


Vicki :)

SLEEPING BEAUTIES.....

\

Sister Love!

WHAT WE ARE LEARNING.....

TEN THINGS I'VE ALREADY LEARNED ABOUT CALLIE BETH


1.  She is a snuggle bug.  Even though she was a little tense at first, she will now lay her head on my chest and put her arms around me, pressing as closely as she can.


2.  She likes to eat!!!!!  So far, she hasn't turned down anything we've offered her.  Of course, it has been a rather "junk food" afternoon. 


3.  She is VERY INTENT when she plays.  She sat in the floor for no less than an hour playing with the Lego blocks that I brought, stacking them and putting them in a bag and dumping them out. 


4.  She's not too crazy about men.  Roger is DYING to get his hands on her, and she did actually let him sit in the floor by her when she was playing with the blocks.  HOWEVER, when he kissed on her, she was quite distressed.  She will be a daddy's girl before he knows it, though.

5.  She is a SOUND sleeper.  Right now she is taking a nap with the TV going full blast, and Molly Kate making all kinds of noise.

6.  She does know some English.  She has called me, "Mama" several times, and has said other words like drink and water.  She is also speaking in Chinese, and sometimes sounds like she is talking like a caveman!!!!


7.  She likes clothes and shoes!!!  I tried a couple of pairs of shoes on her that I brought to see if they would fit.  She kept putting them back on when I took them off.  She was also fine when I tried some different clothes on her.




8. She likes HAIR BOWS!!!!  When she was brought to us today, she had  the hair bow in her hair that I had sent in a care package.  I took it off this afternoon when I got ready to change her clothes.  She immediately picked it up and wanted it back in her hair.  WOO HOO!!!  I have another hair bow girl!!!!


9.  She LOVES a bath!!!!  When I first put her in the tub, she started to cry just a little, but she stopped immediately.  She splashed and had water EVERYWHERE!!!  She put her face in the water, she slid down the back of the tub, and she LOVED it when I put Molly Kate in with her.  I think she would have stayed in the tub all day!!!

10.  She is SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!  I thought she was pretty in her pictures, but they don't do her justice. 


Roger and I sure are a happy mama and daddy with the THREE BEST SONS and the TWO SWEETEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS in the WORLD!!!!  I know we are just a little prejudiced, but........ :)


Vicki :)