REFLECTIONS FROM HOME SWEET HOME....

Believe it or not, we had TWO SLEEPING GIRLS before midnight tonight!!!!  Molly Kate did wake up later, and has cried quite a bit.  Callie Beth's meltdowns has really stressed her.  I actually think they break her heart because she loves Callie Beth SO much.  She will be fine, though, if I ever make it to bed.  Roger is asleep in the room with her, so she is fine, even if she does have to cry it out a little bit. 

We tried the new strategy of putting Callie Beth in her bed in the nursery tonight, instead of in the pack 'n play in our room.  I hated for her to sleep alone in a room, but it apparently is better for her, because she cried less than 45 minutes tonight.  I also kept Molly Kate in our room, and when I was rocking her to sleep, I had the TV turned up loud enough that she couldn't hear Callie Beth's crying and screaming.  It may not be a PERFECT night yet, but it will be the first night that I've had both girls NOT crying before 4:30 in the morning!!!! 

Callie Beth really had a GREAT, HAPPY day today!!!  We slept VERY late.  Both girls needed it, because I know they were exhausted from all the crying last night, and I needed it, too, since I have yet to get in bed before 4:30 AM any morning since we've been home. 

We went to the beauty shop today---not for a hair cut, but just to visit our friends Tam Tam, Gina, and Ellen.  I think Callie Beth felt just as much at home there as Molly Kate always does!!!!

We went to church tonight, and Callie Beth LOVED playing in the nursery.  She was very comfortable around the other kids, and played the entire time.  That's a improvement over last Sunday night in the nursery!!!

I know, I'm cute!

This is where the "dolls" go, isn't it?

Love playing with my Sissy.

Fashion Diva

After church, we went to Cracker Barrel to eat.  We discovered that she likes shrimp.  She wasn't too crazy about the pinto beans I ordered for her.  We are trying out new AMERICAN foods on her, and so far, there have been very few things she hasn't liked. 

When we got home tonight, it was obvious that Callie Beth realized it was bedtime, because she started whining and clinging.  I decided not to rock her, because it seems to make her want to cling even more.  She has had lots of holding, snuggling, loving time today, so I just hugged her, kissed her, told her I love her, and put her in bed.  Despite the crying and screaming, I truly believe she already knows she is LOVED in this home!!!!

Today was our 14th wedding anniversary!!!!  Roger and I  have been so caught up in PARENTING, that I think the date kind of slipped up on both of us!!!!  We are both tired from the lack of sleep, but we are also both VERY happy!!!!  I had two people today tell me that I LOOKED very tired.  I guess I'm going to have to step up my pace a little!!!!  I really don't think the fatigue is so much from parenting two toddlers as it is from the jet lag, and getting behind on my sleep before we ever came home.  I am feeling better every day, though.

I have learned a few new things about Callie Beth, and life in general, the past few days......

1.  She LOVES music, and has really great rhythm!!!!
2.  She is a VERY COMPASSIONATE child!!!!
3.  She is afraid of dogs, BUT I can at least set her down on the floor with our dogs in
    the same room, without her having a total meltdown.
4.  She is VERY smart, and knows a lot of things she hasn't allowed us to see that
    she knows.  Today when we were leaving the beauty shop, Gina waved at her,
   and she waved back.  It was the first time we had seen that.
5. She is SO proud of herself for the sign language she knows, and smiles ear to ear
   when she uses it.
6.  The scar on her stomach from her early surgery looks like a shark bite!!!   Believe it
     or not, we have had some VERY GULLIBLE friends and family members who have
     BELIEVED us when we told them it was her shark bite!!!!
7.  Each day it is getting harder and harder to remember what our life was like without
     her.......she is ANOTHER perfect fit for our family!!!!!
8.  Roger and I are the most BLESSED two people in the WHOLE WORLD!!!!----BUT, I
     actually already knew that!!!! :)


Before we left for China, I happened upon a poem on an adoption blog I was reading.  I don't remember whose blog it was, but since the author of the poem is anonymous, I think it is okay for me to share it.  Even though I don't know WHO wrote this poem, I AM POSITIVE that it was someone who was CALLED, as we were, to experience the MIRACLE of adoption....
                                                  ONE ORDINARY DAY

Every call has a beginning
A quiet moment when God
Whispers a promise to a mother's heart
A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts
The journey set before him.
A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns.....
Casting its first light on a chosen threshold
A gentle knock...a closed door opens
A sacred invitation sent by the Father...
Leads to the other side of the world.
Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows
Praying for someone to care...
And then one morning,
On an ordinary day
An orphan's life changes....
God sends them a second chance....through you.....

Author Unknown

Thank you, Lord, for calling US to make a difference in not just ONE, but TWO orphans' lives.  I pray that we can make as POSITIVE of a difference in THEIR lives as they have in OURS......

Vicki :)

                                                       

A BELATED "WE ARE HOME!!!!"

 I intended to post on the blog on Friday night after we arrived in Hong Kong, but we didn't have internet service in our hotel room.  It seems that I have been busy every waking moment since then, so the blog has been put on the back burner.  Even though I have MANY things I need to be doing tonight, I'm taking the time to try to do a little catching up!!!!

We're ready to go home!

Daddy and his girls

Yogurt Break

Our last day in Guangzhou was on Friday.  We had intended to take the girls to the park after we got everything packed, but it was a rainy day, and even when the rain stopped, everything outside was messy.  We met up with Joey, Tasha, and Lee and decided to go to the indoor playroom in the hotel.  

Joey, Tasha, and Lee

Playroom Fun

Callie Beth loves the slide

Molly Kate

BIG Smile

Even though it was small, the kids really had a fun time.  As they were playing, we were hoping it would wear them down so they would ride well on the 3+ hour ride to Hong Kong we had to make that afternoon.  Jason and Grace delivered Callie Beth's visa to us around 4:15, and we promptly loaded up in the van that was taking us to Hong Kong.  It was sad for me to leave our "new" friends who felt like they had been our friends for a lifetime, but I was ready to COME HOME!!!!  

Our guides, Jason and Grace

 The girls were pretty good during the van ride.  We arrived at the Regal Airport Hotel in Hong Kong and checked in.  It was late and we hadn't eaten.  Unfortunately, there wasn't a 7-Eleven we could walk to to get food, and we had to eat in one of the hotel restaurants that was EXTREMELY expensive.  I told Roger, though, that there was a logical reason why my roast beef sandwich was so expensive----it definitely had the dual role of food and/ or sling shot.  The meat was tough enough that I think I could have flipped a rock to the good  ole USA!!!!  I was SOOO tired when we got back to the room.  Evan had had an interview at North Calloway on Thursday afternoon at 1:30, and I had stayed up to wait for an email from him to see how it went.  That meant that it was actually 2:30 on Friday morning in China when he was interviewing, and by the time I heard from him and got to bed it was at least 4:30 AM.  SO, I lost my sleep that night.  ANYWAY, I was looking forward to going to bed.  I had to stay up for awhile, though, and rearrange the items in our suitcases because our big one weighed 60 lbs!!!  FINALLY, it was bedtime!!!  I had the girls settled, Roger was sleep, and I was just about to crash, when Molly Kate started crying.  I don't know what was wrong with her.  I really think she didn't feel well, but I also think the crib they brought for her to sleep in was a little too small and felt confining to her.  I ended up holding her half the night to keep her from crying.  I was finally able to put her back to bed, and she slept the rest of the night. 

I got up at 5:30 to finish our packing, and we were checked out by 7:30.  Our hotel was attached to the airport, so it was easy to get where we were going, EXCEPT we had a little dilemma, considering we had TWO strollers to push, as well as the cart with 4 large suitcases on it, not mentioning our backpacks and extra carry-ons.  Roger did one heck of a job pushing Molly Kate's stroller behind the luggage carrier.  He had to do that a LONG way!!!

We had an issue with our flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo, because Todd Gullinek had not gotten our seats together---he had them two and two, and I knew that wouldn't work for LOTS of reasons.   I had emailed him as soon as we received our tickets to tell him it needed to be changed.  He first said it was our best bet to keep our seats that way.  After I EMPHATICALLY told him it wasn't going to work, he told me not to stress, and I understood him to say he would take care of it.  NOT!!!!  Luckily for us, we did get one person to swap seats, so I was able to sit with both girls and Roger was a few rows back.  It wasn't an easy four hours, and Todd was DEFINITELY not top on my list of favorite people on that ride, but I survived.

When we reached Tokyo, the announcement was made as we were getting ready to get off the plane that our flight to Chicago was already loading.  Here we were in a foreign airport that we knew NOTHING about, with no idea WHERE TO GO!!!  I have NO DOUBTS that God was with us, though, because right after we got off the plane, and employee of the airport came up out of nowhere and asked if we needed help.  When we told him our situation, he led us all the way there, and he even got us moved up to the front of the security check line.  We went up floors, down corridors, down floors.....in other words, had he not come along, we would have DEFINITELY missed our flight.  AND, wouldn't you know, once we reached the gate at the last minute, they WOULD choose Molly Kate to be one of their random choices for doing a temperature check on. I was a little worried, since she had felt badly the night before, but she had no fever.  We made it on the plane, and I was very thankful that we had four seat together in the middle row this time.

The flight from Tokyo to Chicago was a little over 11 hours, but it was an overall good flight.  Callie Beth only had a couple of long lasting meltdowns, one of which woke Molly Kate up from a nap, so she joined in the crying and screaming, too, for about the next 30 or 40 minutes.  Both girls did take some good naps during the trip, though.  I had one or the other of them in my lap the majority of the time, but that allowed room in their two seats together for the one I wasn't holding to stretch out and go to sleep.  Finally, they were actually BOTH asleep at once, and I got a few little catnaps.

At the airport!  We're going HOME!

We arrived in Chicago on time.  I had dreaded going through immigration, because it was such a pain for us in Atlanta when we came home with Molly Kate.  In fact, it took so long there, that we missed our flight to Nashville and had to reschedule.  This time I had made sure that Todd planned a longer layover before our flight to Nashville.  To our pleasant surprise, there was only one person in line in front of us at immigration.  The officer there was definitely NOT a patient person and was having all kinds of trouble making this couple, who was from China, understand what they needed to do.  He told us to sit down and wait.  Once he got to us, though, and took the "SEALED BROWN ENVELOPE, " it only took a couple of minutes for him to take care of everything!!!  From there, we had to go through customs, which was right by where immigration was.  In Atlanta, customs had been quite a distance from where immigration was, and by the time we got there, our suitcases had been setting out in the middle of the floor for at least an hour and a half.  It's a wonder someone hadn't stolen them.  This time, though, we had been able to get our suitcases BEFORE we went to immigration.  When we got to the officer at customs, he asked us if we had any food in our bags.  We told him that all we had was snacks for the girls.  He said he wasn't going to check us, and that we could be on our way!!!!  We had that same good fortune in Atlanta, but I think it was because we probably looked like wayfaring strangers that night!!!

We decided to just wait out our flight, instead of re-booking an earlier one to Nashville. 
Evan and my mom were coming to the airport to pick us up, and we knew they had just left home.  It was nice to have some time to sit and relax somewhere besides on a plane!!!!


We arrived in Nashville around 7:30.  We hadn't eaten, so we stopped at Cracker Barrel in Clarksville on our way home, to give Callie Beth a taste of good home cooking.  She liked it pretty well!!!  By the time stopped and ate, it was after midnight when we got home. 

I had things on my list I wanted to do before I went to bed.  HOWEVER, Callie Beth decided to throw in her own agenda to the night.  I tried rocking her and putting her to bed, but she had NO INTENTIONS of going to sleep, so when I finally decided to go ahead and put her in her bed, SHE decided to have a MAJOR meltdown.  I think it was about two hours later before the screaming and crying stopped.  This, in turn, sort of traumatized Molly Kate, so she was upset, too, and wouldn't go to sleep.  By the time they were both settled, it was after 4:30.  I finally got in bed at 6 AM, and set my clock for 8 to get up and get ready for church.  When eight o'clock came, though, I realized there was NO WAY I could make my body get up and get not only myself, but two little girls ready for church.  Molly Kate was crying and acting like she felt badly, so I ended up putting her in bed with us.  Callie Beth was still asleep.  I rubbed Molly Kate's arm and face until she fell asleep, and the next thing I knew, it was 4 PM, I was still in bed, with Molly Kate and our two dogs sound asleep beside me!!!!  We did make it to church on Sunday night, and it was great to get to go out and eat with our friends afterward, as we usually do.  Callie Beth fit in just fine with the crowd, and she had her first taste of Mexican food!!!!  Like Molly Kate, she liked it!!!!

It took me another day to get over my jet lag, but I am back on my normal schedule now, except I AM staying up a little later than usual.  I don't think I've been to be before 4:30 AM yet.  Callie Beth is adjusting and doing well, EXCEPT at bedtime, and I honestly have to say it is a HORRIBLE time.  She has willed herself NOT to go to sleep, even when we rock her, so once I've held her and rocked her for a while, I've been going ahead and putting her in bed.  She screams and cries (with no tears, though) for no less than and hour and a half.  This has really upset Molly Kate, and now she won't go to bed in the room where Callie Beth is.  She was up with me until 4:30 this morning.  Tonight, I though Callie Beth had finally fallen asleep, and Molly Kate had been asleep from me rocking her for quite a long time.  When I went to lay her in her bed, though, she started crying, and Callie Beth popped right up and started in again.  SO, I had TWO little girls crying and screaming at the top of their lungs.  I finally picked Callie Beth up, snuggled her and told her I loved her--of course, as soon as I picked her up, she stopped crying---and I took her and put her in her bed in the nursery, instead of the pack 'n play in our room.  She screamed and cried for another 10 or 15 minutes, and then settled down.  She also took a nap in there today, and didn't scream and cry for as long.  I think from now on it will be better for her, and when she finally stops these night meltdowns, I will move Molly Kate into her bed in there, too.  Evan's room is right across the hall, so it's not like she is far away from anyone.  Maybe this way, I can get Molly Kate back into her normal routine again,without her getting upset every night, too. 

It may seem cruel letting Callie Beth cry, but we DO give her LOTS of love, hugs, kisses, and nurturing throughout the day.  I have raised three sons, though, and have parented a daughter for the past 16 months.  I know that if I pick Callie Beth up every time she screams and cries, I am reinforcing a negative behavior, and she is going to expect me to do it every time she screams and cries.  I don't think I want to create that bad habit in her.  I realize that she is still adjusting from her life being turned upside down, but I truly do believe that she will soon realize that the life she has now will be better than her life could have ever been at the orphanage, even though she was very much loved there.  We love her to pieces!!!!  She is such a sweet child, and SO beautiful.  And, even though her crying and screaming upsets Molly Kate so badly, Molly Kate still loves her, too.  

Home Sweet Home!

SO, tomorrow---actually TODAY, is another day!!!!---AND, I'm anticipating it's going to be a GREAT one!!!!  In fact, it's mine and Roger's 14th wedding anniversary!!!!!  I have been SO caught up in parenting, that I just realized that!!!!!

I am attaching some pictures we took on our last day in Guangzhou, and on our plane trip home. 

Until......I don't know when....... :)

Vicki :)

THE LITTLE LESSONS IN LIFE......

We have had an absolutely AWESOME day today!!!!  What better way to start out the day than with our appointment with the U.S. Consulate to finalize Callie Beth's visa and take "the oath" that all the information we had provided was true, to the best of our knowledge.  NO MORE PAPERWORK!!!!  NO MORE APPOINTMENTS!!!!!  AND, when we step off the plane in Chicago on Saturday afternoon, Callie Beth will officially be a CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!!  I have to say that I think our girls were definitely the most PATRIOTICALLY dressed children at the Consulate appointment!!!

After we returned to the hotel, Roger had to go to a meeting about our departure time and procedure tomorrow afternoon.  The girls and I stayed in the room and played.  As soon as his meeting was over, we headed back to Shamien Island, with our friends, Joey and Tasha Robichaux.  We ate lunch at Lucy's--a very AMERICANIZED restaurant on the island.  How much more American can you get than chicken, fish and chips, and burgers!!!!   AHHHHHHHHH........I had the first glass of ICED TEA there that I've had since June 19!!!!!!

After lunch, we enjoyed walking along the streets on the island, and doing a little shopping along the way.  The girls were really good.  In fact, they both fell asleep in their strollers, as did Joey and Tasha's little boy, Lee, in his carrier.  I had to make a stop to buy squeaky shoes for my friend Eva, for her new granddaughter.  I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to find many in the small size.  I also made another stop and ended up buying a couple of more pairs each for the girls.  They were just SO cute and SO much cheaper than I could ever find them in the United States!!!!!

After we finished our shopping, Joey and Tasha caught a taxi back to the hotel, but Roger and I decided to stay on the island a while longer and take the girls to a playground that we had discovered after lunch, right behind Lucy's.  We knew Molly Kate would love it, but we weren't sure about Callie Beth.  As I've said, we know she has a vision problem, and we're just not sure exactly what that problem is, and just how well she can see.  I mentioned earlier that she wouldn't play on the playground at the airport at all last week.  Well, she played today!!!!  I know she slid down the slide no less than a hundred times.  She wasn't quite as daring a Molly Kate was, but again, I think that's due to her vision.  She ran and climbed and played HARD, though!!!!  It was really hot, but the playground was totally shaded, so it was very nice..

We stayed at the playground for at least an hour.  We finally bribed the girls back into their strollers with food!!!  We walked along the Pearl River's edge, to the end of the island, and then caught a taxi to come back to the hotel.  The girls were absolutely FILTHY, so I put them in the tub for a bath.  Molly Kate isn't always thrilled about taking a bath with Callie Beth, because Callie Beth is like a TIDAL WAVE in the tub.  She had Molly Kate's hair soaked before I knew it.  I got Molly Kate out and let Callie Beth stay in the tub for a LONG time.  She was having SO much fun!!!!  I finally had to get her out, though.  We had planned to walk with Joey and Tasha to a bakery not too far from the hotel for a snack for our dinner.  None of us were really hungry after the good lunch at Lucy's.  I went ahead and put the girls' PJ's on---and wouldn't you know it, Molly Kate wanted a bow in her hair!!!!---and, of course, I put one in her hair and Callie Beth's, too!!!!  

We came back to the room and ate our bakery snack, and then went back out, with the girls in the strollers, to a small mall next to our hotel to buy an extra suitcase.  I DO have to have something to get all my SQUEAKY SHOES home in!!!!  Actually, we needed to be able to reduce the weight in a couple of our suitcases.  Hopefully, having this extra one will help.  Before we ever left the mall, Molly Kate was crying because she was SO tired.  As soon as we got back to the room, I held her and sang to her, and she fell asleep.  Callie Beth was SO sweet.  Several times she gently rubbed Molly Kate's arm as I was holding her and trying to get her to sleep.  Once I had her in bed, it was Callie Beth's turn to be held.  I took all of ten minutes to get her to sleep.  There was NO SCREAMING AND CRYIING at bedtime tonight!!!!!

You know, I may be 54 years old, and Callie Beth may be my FIFTH child, but I've learned that there is ALWAYS MORE to learn about parenting, even when I think I've seen and experienced it all.  Every child is different, and even though all children share many common needs, each and every child has his/her own SPECIAL needs.  Today, I reflected on the frustration I have seen in Callie Beth's face and eyes during the past week and a half, due to the language barrier between her and us.  But today, I saw some of that frustration slowly begin to melt away, as she was able to not only use the few signs I've taught her in sign language, but to also be able to say the English words in a calm manner that go with the signs.  When we get back home, I'm going to have to learn more signing, because I think it's going to be the easiest way to communicate with her, while teaching her the English language.  We know that she is really smart----she has shown that non-verbally in many ways.  She really is a compassionate child---we've seen that through how she interacts with Molly Kate, as well as the other children around her.   We have seen this more and more every day.  After seeing the children who were in the Show Hope Center with her, I think I understand why she is so compassionate.  I totally understand now why we were met by so many of the nurses and nannies at Show Hope last week when we visited the orphanage, and even though I know they were happy for Callie Beth to be adopted, I can understand their sadness, too, to see her leave.  I have no doubt that she was a beacon of joy and happiness there. 

Last night, after a pretty exhausting day, I realized I was trying to figure everything out all by myself, rather than turning it over to God.  SO, I let it all go, and I immediately knew today was going to be a better day!!!  I realized last night that the girls had not had a lot of time to get out and play, and that even though we have been out and about every day, most of our time out, they have had to be in their strollers.  Even though I brought a few small toys, they really haven't had a lot to play with.  The naps they took in their strollers today were better than any they've had in their beds the past two weeks.  The time at the park allowed them to get some of that pent up energy out of their bodies, while having LOTS of fun!!!!  AND, I also discovered today when Callie Beth was about to go into a LITTLE meltdown, that when I tickled her, she giggled so hard that when I finally stopped, she wasn't upset anymore.  It worked today, and it may NOT work tomorrow, but you'd better believe I'm going to try it, if need be!!!!

Tomorrow is our last day in Guangzhou. We are planning to take the girls to a nearby park in the morning.  Hopefully, I will have everything packed shortly after breakfast.   We will receive Callie Beth's visa around 3:30, and be departing for Hong Kong shortly afterward.  It is going to be a sad time saying goodbye to the other wonderful families in our group who we have been with from Day 1 in Beijing.  Even though Roger and I are probably old enough to be the parents of all of them, they have accepted us as if we were their peers.  Joey and Tasha are the youngest couple in our group.  Roger was laughing tonight about Joey telling him today that they had spent more time with us the past two weeks than they have spent with any of their friends all together in the last four years!!!!  We are going to miss them and their sweet adopted son, Lee, like crazy!!!!  We are going to miss all the others, too.  We've shared SO much during our time together, INCLUDING moments when ALL of our children had meltdowns and screaming fits.  Callie Beth just wins the award for being the LOUDEST screamer!!!!

I think I've probably said enough for tonight.  I would LOVE to go to bed, but Evan has a job interview today at 1:30 PM, which is 2:30 AM China time, and I promised I would stay awake and pray for him!!!!  I think I may have to go and run the steps to wake me up!!!!!

Tomorrow night will probably be my last post on this blog until after we get home.  I have enjoyed sharing our journey with you, and I GREATLY appreciate all who have taken the time to read my lengthy narrations!!!!   I hope to continue to add to the blog once we are home, so please stay tuned!!!!

Vicki :)

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM CHINA!!!

I never dreamed that I would spend a 4th of July in China!!!!  Needless to say, there were no parades or fireworks here today----for a different reason than no fireworks at home!!!  I dressed the girls in one of the 4th of July outfits I brought with me, though, so they looked quite festive!!

Happy 4th from Molly Kate and Callie Beth!

We started our day by going to the Guangzhou City Zoo.  It was very hot, and some of the animals were not out in the open, but the girls got to see a lot of animals anyway.  Molly Kate was more impressed by the steps and the water than she was the animals, but she enjoyed it.  Callie Beth had fun, too.  I'm not sure that she was able to see all of the animals, especially the ones that were far off, but she did see some of them.  I won't bore you with the pictures of took of the animals.  I WILL include some of the pictures I took of the girls while we were at the zoo, since they are OUR little monkeys!!!!  :)

Daddy and his girls.

What is that?

When we got back to the hotel, we had a little time before we had to leave to take Callie Beth back to the medical examination clinic to have her TB skin test read.  We knew it was fine, but it was one of those things we had to do.  The drive to the clinic was about 15 minutes.  It took all of one minute for them to look at her arm and tell us she was fine, and then we came back to the hotel.

I decided it would be good for the girls to take a nap, so I changed their clothes and put them in their beds.  It took Molly Kate a while to go to sleep, but she finally did.  An hour and a half later, Callie Beth was still screaming and crying.  I suppose she thought she didn't need to take a nap!!!  I hated to reinforce negative behavior, but I had to get her up to get dressed because we were scheduled to have our group pictures made at 4:00.  Once she was out of her bed, she was a happy camper.  Molly Kate, on the other hand, cried and cried when I got her up to get her dressed. 

In the past, all adoption groups have had the infamous "red couch" picture made at the White Swan hotel.  Because the White Swan is under renovation, we have been staying at the China Hotel Marriott, and sadly, there are no red couches here.  SO, we had our group picture made on the red steps.  I know I'm SO prejudiced, but Molly Kate and Callie Beth looked SOOOO cute in their Chinese outfits.  I am attaching pictures.

 

We ate dinner tonight at a Japanese restaurant that is here in the hotel, and then we took the girls to the outdoor playground that is on the 4th floor.  It was immediately obvious that our little Callie Beth has already come a LONG way!!!  Last Saturday at the airport in Guangzhou, she wouldn't get our of her stroller to play on the indoor playground there.  Today, she was sliding and swinging and climbing.  She and Molly Kate both had so much fun!!!
 

Fun on the slide.

Just a swingin'

We brought the girls back to the room and I dressed them in their PJ's.  We had intended to go for a long stroller walk, but Callie Beth started one of her episodes, so I decided it was best if she and Molly Kate both went to bed.  They had had a VERY long day, and were both exhausted.  It was NOT an uneventful going to bed time, but both girls finally fell asleep.

As our days in China are drawing to an end, I have to say I am VERY ready to be home, even though I dread the long flight.  It is a bittersweet moment, too, though.  It is so utterly amazing how God drew eight families together from different parts of the country to be a travel family these past two plus weeks.  None of us had ever met each other before or even seen each other, but we immediately shared a bond, because we were all here for the same special reason.  Three of our families adopted non-special needs babies, just like we did with Molly Kate.  The other five of us all adopted children with special needs----biliary atresia, cleft lip & palate, missing hands, & anal atresia.  ALL of these children are BEAUTIFUL children, so deserving of good homes, and that is exactly what they now have.  All of our babies have had and continue to have moments of grieving with crying and good old temper tantrums, but they have also all come SOOOO far from what they were when we got them 10 days ago.  Sometimes Callie Beth's crying and screaming gets old, but then when I see that sweet smile of hers and the cutest giggle and observe how much she really does need me and trust me, my heart just overflows with gratitude to God for allowing me to be her mother.  I know HE has the greatest confidence in Roger and me that we can give her what she needs and help her to overcome her frustrations with our language barrier.  She has certainly already enriched our lives, just in the short time we've had her.  I am so thankful for Molly Kate, too, and we are both proud beyond words of her for being almost PERFECT on this trip, and for being so sweet with Callie Beth.  Roger and I are truly amazed at how much it seems she has grown up on this trip---maturity wise.  There has virtually been NO fussing between the girls.  I couldn't ask for them to get along any better than they do.  It's obvious that they have already formed a bond with each other.  

Travel Families

The Girls

In the morning, the five special needs adoption families, us included, will be going to the U.S. Consulate to finalize our visas and take the oath of adoption.  Even though Callie Beth has been officially ours since June 25, this is the last step in finalizing our adoption!!!!  When we return to the hotel, we are planning on going back to Shamien Island and spending the afternoon.  Who knows, in celebration, I might find a few more pairs of squeaky shoes for the girls!!!!

HAPPY 4th of July to all of you at home!!!!

Vicki :)

SHOPPING TRIP

SHOP, SHOP, SHOP and BUY, BUY, BUY!!!!!

Today was my first REAL day to get to do some shopping!!!!  I've been joking about the squeaky shoes---well, ACTUALLY I've been serious about them---but there were other special things I wanted to be sure and buy for the girls while I'm here.  Roger says this is our last trip to China----for a CHILD, that is---so, until we bring the girls back when they are older for the Heritage Tour, I knew I needed to get those special things NOW.

We started off with a trip to the Pearl Market.  I brought the pearl necklace and bracelet that I bought for Molly Kate last year when we were here so that I could get identical ones for Callie Beth.  I did WELL!!!  We also got some gifts while we were there, too.  I even ended up with a very pretty pink pearl bracelet for myself!!!

As soon as we got back to the hotel from the Pearl Market, Emily Young, one of the other MAMAS in our group, the girls, and I got a taxi and took off for Shamien Island.  It was almost 2:00 when we got there, and we had to be back to leave for the Pearl River Cruise by 5:45, so we had to do some SERIOUS shopping in a very short period of time.  I think we ended up going to six different stores, and I found everything I was looking for, except a crocheted doll for Callie Beth.  My very favorite store on the island is "A Gift from China."  This store has very nice merchandise, much of which is handmade, and all the proceeds from the sales goes to the orphanages.  I bought some really special things there, including a BEAUTIFUL baby quilt to give to Callie Beth when she has her first baby.  I bought one of these for Molly Kate last year.  They were out of the crocheted dolls, though, so I will just have to pay the big bucks for shipping and order one online later.  I did buy some other really nice things there, though. 

Our next stop was, "Jenny's Place."  This is my favorite place to buy squeaky shoes.  You should all be proud of me, because I think I only bought eight pairs, compared to the 23 pairs I bought last year!!!!  Of course, I did go into the store across the hall after I left there and bought two more pairs!!!!.  I love shopping at Jenny's though, because she and her husband are Christians, and they are truly sweet, honest people.  Since I forgot that I was supposed to buy some squeaky shoes for my friend, Eva for her granddaughter, Roger and I are going to have to go back to the island tomorrow to get those.  I really hate that!!!!----RIGHT!!!!! :)

Emily and I made the rest of our stops and then started trying to find a taxi.  It seemed to take FOREVER, and were beginning to worry about getting back to the hotel in time for the cruise.  We made it, though, with about 45 minutes to spare.  Emily had left her new daughter in the care of her husband, but we had Molly Kate and Callie Beth with us on the island.  They were both pretty good, and I really appreciate that Emily helped with diaper changes and snacks while I was shoe shopping!!!!

The Pearl River Cruise was GREAT!!!!  The food was even better this year than it was last year.  It was a great night to be out on a boat, and the lights were absolutely beautiful.  It would have been a totally perfect outing had Callie Beth not had one of her screaming, crying meltdowns after the meal was over.   The good thing about it, though, was that we were outside on the deck, so even though she was making quite a spectacle of herself,  she wasn't as loud as she would have been inside.  She had already had a meltdown on the bus enroute to the cruise.  I hate for others that she makes a lot of noise when she is doing this, but we actually ignore her and let her get it out of her system.  Most of the time, she sat on the floor on the deck.  When I picked her up, she continued the crying and screaming, so I kissed her, told her I love her, and sat her back down.  If she were my BIOLOGICAL three year old child, I would handle the meltdowns in a totally different manner, but we know this is all part of adjustment, and her whole world being turned upside down.  I think she already knows that the world she is in now is BETTER than before---even though she was well-cared for and loved to pieces at the Show Hope Care Center.  I think when we get home, though, in the confines of our own home, we may have LOTS of screaming and crying times, but we can work on the issues that are causing them.  We are going to have to help her learn to communicate her needs to us in another way, because it doesn't matter how much she scream and cries, we still don't know what is wrong with her.  Signing is helping some.  I think it's all so frustrating for her, though, that when she wants or needs something, because she doesn't understand what we are saying to her, and we can't understand her babbling, then she has no patience and wants it NOW!!!  Molly Kate is a good role model for her, and I think that will be helpful in the future.  As I've said many times, she really is very happy and content the majority of the time, and I can tell that she is getting more attached to Molly Kate as time passes.  Molly Kate loves her to pieces, too, but she doesn't want her touching her.  She still likes her personal space.  If Callie Beth touches her, she starts fussing, but at that time I can ask her if she wants to take Callie home with her, and she says, "Aye!!!!"  That is how she says, "yes."  She likes having her around, but she still wants her "MAMA TIME," too. 

When the cruise was over, I suppose that Callie Beth decided she had cried and screamed enough, because she was fine when we went back into the boat to get ready to get off.  She fell asleep in the bus on the way back to the hotel.  When we got back to our room, I got both of the girls ready for bed.  Molly Kate wanted me to rock her, so I took care of that first.  Callie Beth fussed a little about that, but when I started singing to Molly Kate, she stopped the fussing.  She LOVES music---another thing I have learned about her.  Molly Kate fell asleep quickly, so I sang to Callie Beth until she went to sleep, too.  She woke up when I put her in her bed, and she cried a little, but she went back to sleep. 

Tomorrow we are going to the ZOO!!!  I think the girls will like it.  When we get back, we then have to go back to the clinic to have Callie Beth's TB skin test read.  I'm thinking we will probably head to Shamien Island after that.  The other ladies in the group are going for manicures and pedicures here at the hotel, but I think I'm going to have to opt for the TB test reading.  I think I pampered myself enough today with shopping anyway!!!!

Molly Kate is crying, so I need to see what is wrong with her.  Until tomorrow.....

Vicki :)

POST SCRIPT

I forgot to put something REALLY IMPORTANT in my blog, so here is a SHORT post!!!

PROGRESS!!!!!

I can't believe that I forgot to tell what AMAZING thing happened tonight while we were on Shamien Island.  We were getting ready to leave the island.  Roger decided to go into the 7-Eleven store and get some snacks.  I waited outside with the girls.  Molly Kate was out of her stroller, but Callie Beth was sitting in hers, drinking her water.  She emptied her bottle, and apparently was still thirsty.  USUALLY, when this situation occurs, she starts whining quite loudly, and then is crying and almost screaming (without tears) before we get it refilled.  Roger had the bottled water inside his backpack, so I didn't have anything to give her right away.  As soon as she handed her bottle out to me, I took it and asked her is she wanted more, signing when I asked her?  AND, for the very first time, she proceeded to do the sign language for "more" that I have been showing her all week, and actually said, very calmly, "MORE!"   Folks, that may not sound like anything special to you, but for US, that is PROGRESS!!!!  It tells us she has added an ENGLISH word to her vocabulary that makes sense to her!!!   She was actually VERY GOOD from the time we left the hotel tonight.  She LOVED the Thai food, and behaved perfectly during dinner.  She really is a GOOD girl, and behind that introverted, shy personality, she has a lot of SPUNK!!!!  We are SO blessed to have been given the opportunity to add her to our family!!!!  Just like Molly Kate, it's already obvious that she is going to fit in PERFECTLY!!!! 

Vicki :)

SHOPPING

 NO SQUEAKY SHOES PURCHASED :(

This afternoon we headed to Shamien Island for dinner and SQUEAKY SHOE shopping.  We ate at a Thai restaurant called the Cow and Bridge.  We had an EXCELLENT meal, and fun and fellowship with three other families. 

After dinner, we headed to my favorite stores on the island, Jenny's Place, Sherry's Place and China Adoption Charities.  Sadly, they were all three closed.  Needless to say, we will be making another trip to the island probably tomorrow!!!!

I did buy a few things---matching outfits for Molly Kate and Callie Beth, really cute ladybug bracelets for them, a pendant for myself, chopsticks with Callie Beth's name on them, and a chop with her name engraved on it. We are going to have to go back to the island anyway to pick up those last two items.  HOPEFULLY, I will return with lots of SQUEAKY shoes, too, as well as other special items I have on my list!!!

We got back to the hotel a little before 9:00 tonight, and believe it or not, I had BOTH girls in bed by 9:30!!!  Callie Beth fell asleep during our taxi ride home, and didn't even wake up when I put her PJ's on her.  Molly Kate had fallen asleep in the taxi on the way TO the island, so she was wide awake on the way home.  I just left Callie Beth in her stroller until I was ready to dress her for bed.  At one point I looked up, and Molly Kate was poking on her and moving her head backward and forward!!!!  Luckily, she didn't wake her up!!!  It is now 10:05 here, and Roger is fast asleep, too!!!

Tomorrow we will be taking a trip to the Pearl Market.  I am in search of a pearl necklace and bracelet for Callie Beth.  Tomorrow night we will go on the Pearl River Cruise.  The food on the cruise is horrendous, but the lights of the city are absolutely GORGEOUS to see.  I think the girls will LOVE it!!!!


I am adding more pictures from today!!!!

I love yogurt!

Yogurt!

Vicki :)