Guangzhou, Baby!

We hated saying goodbye to our guide, Celine, but we were ready to get to Guangzhou.  It signifies the halfway point!

We checked into our apartment in the Garden Hotel around 8 pm.

The day started with giggles, as usual.

While Daddy and the girls made a Wal-Mart run to pick up candy for the girls' classmates, Kohlby and I stayed in the room to pack.  That makes one of us:)

He had everything he needed for his first flight.  Except a nap.  He dumped his snacks and threw a fit because I picked them up.  He wanted to sit.  He wanted to stand.  He wanted to crash.  He didn't know what he wanted, so he threw a proper two-year-old fit for much of the flight.  

I finally took him out of his seat and put him in the Ergo, and at the final descent he crashed.  Didn't wake up until we were on the way to the hotel.  Have I mentioned he's stubborn :/  

We love Guangzhou!  It's where we meet up with other families, both from Lifeline, and other agencies.  We love the fellowship!  

We do have important business here, but we plan to take some family time as well.  We're going to spend a day on Shamian Island, where we will attempt to take Kenzie's senior pictures, shop at A Gift from China, Sherry's for squeaky shoes, and of course, eat at Lucy's.  In all our trips here we've never been to the Safari park and we've heard it's really cool, so we're going to try to work that in as well.

This is the 6 am view from our 15th story living room.

Today is Kohlby's medical exam.  It's crowded and chaotic, but it's a necessary part of this process.  He's not going to like it one bit.  Since he's 2, he will have to have a TB test.  We've decided that I would take him, and everyone else would stay at the hotel because it's so crowded in the medical building.  I'm sure Kohlby and I will be fine :/ 

The girls have lots more pictures, including our goodbye at the airport.  They will post later today so check it out ~ Sisters Point of View.

Goodbyes, Foster Mamas and Forever

Today was quite a day!  We visited the orphanage, and we didn't know if the foster parents would be able to come until we arrived and learned the foster mama would indeed be there.

Mr. Yan.  He is in charge of all the adoptions.  He is a super hero!  We learned today that it was Mr. Yan who took the videos of Kohlby last October and answered my ten complex questions.

 When we were logged in back in October, we were allowed to ask the orphanage ten questions, and there was none of this, "How is he doing?"  No, no.  My questions were more along the lines of, "Has he been hospitalized for any reason, and if so, when, how long and why?"  That was one question.  And he answered each and every one!

This is another super hero.  This ayi (nanny) took care of Kohlby for the first 11 months of  his life.

 This is the baby room.  There are nine babies, and three nannies.  Kohlby's crib was the one to our immediate left.  When we came in, the nannies were feeding bottles, and some of the babies were already asleep.  They appear to receive excellent care.

And then another super hero - Kohlby's foster mama!  She's cared for him for over a year and a half.  I have friends who are foster parents, and I see firsthand how much love is poured into the children they care for.  This mama will always have a place in my son's heart, as well as mine.

Little man has no idea how significant this visit is.  He's in his own two-year-old world.

 The first thing we did was deliver our gift of diapers to Mr. Yan.  He told us they had kept a small item that was left with Kohlby when he was found, and we were given that item.  Priceless!

 Signs of children everywhere!  In fact, this CWI cares for 800 children, 300 of which are in foster care.

Foster Mama came bearing gifts.

Lots and lots of snacks.  Kohlby's favs.  She told us that he will eat all the time, so his eating must be controlled...all the while making sure both his hands were full of snacks and shoving three crackers at a time into his tiny mouth :) 

 Who could resist, right?!?

This is Foster Mama, Neighbor and Neighbor's son.  The neighbor also fostered a little boy, and they will meet the adoptive parents tomorrow.  Kohlby and this little boy played together all the time.  I would love to connect with this little boy's parents!  Can you help a sister out?

We toured the rehabilitation house.  Amazing!  Children with all sorts of medical needs receive necessary therapy here!  This is HUGE, folks!  Huge!  It is life changing for these children.  Orphanages not equipped like this must often cast the children with medical needs aside because they are understaffed and must focus on the children who are strongest and most likely to be adopted (in their opinion).  As a mama to seven children with medical special needs, this is HUGE!

They even teach the children skills by having a 'bank', a 'grocery store,' a 'restaurant,' an art room, and a 'clothing store,' inside.

As we were touring, the nurse for the Hope Floor flagged us down and gave us a letter from the doctor who is in charge of all the medical information.  We are allowed to contact him and get charts, scans, labs, ask questions, everything!

Then our guide, Celine, needed to go take video for a lucky Lifeline family awaiting news about their child, so it was time to break free and play!

 If all orphanages were as nice as this one, children and families would benefit greatly.  And there would be a need for people to serve more children right where they are.  But orphanage life is not ideal.  No matter how nice the facility, it is not all these children need.  It is not family.

We are created by the Father and for the Father.  The struggle to not conform to this world is very real.  But the more time we spend in the presence of those who depend on others for basic survival, the more we understand the need and desire to live radically different and apart from this world.

The crisis is big, and we are small, but we can all do something.  One thing.  The first step is surrender.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17

One gave birth; one gave health and love; I promise to give you my heart and my life...forever, my Treasure.  Your Mama.

A Day at the Museum...and Jesus

Wednesday started with cuddles for big sisters!  Kohlby loves climbing onto the bed and flinging himself into the pillows...and for a millisecond he is completely still.  I just realized I haven't shared the girls' blog here so please check it out at Sisters Point of View!

 Ice cream from Burger King

 We visited the Provincial Historical Museum, and this picture is taken with the mythical man who 'created the world.'

And that's where the story begins.
I wish I were more interested in history...but I'm just not.  I took it all in, and there was a temporary exhibit I particularly enjoyed - the evolution of the Cheongsam (traditional Chinese dress). 
 Fascinating.
As soon as we were told this mythical guy was known as the 'creator of the world,' it took Clayton two seconds to start sharing about the true Creator.

  With every replicated dig site dated a million years ago, there was a conversation about the beginning of time.  With every tomb containing relics believed to preserve the afterlife, there were conversations about security in the afterlife through Jesus Christ.  Beautiful.  Truth!

After the museum, it was lunch time so we had our driver drop us off near Wal-Mart so we could eat a bite and shop for diapers to take to the orphanage on Thursday.  And we needed a toy phone for Mr. I-love-every-kind-of-button!

I've spent a lot of time in the room with Kohlby, and sometimes a trip to a meal or to Wal-Mart are a major journey.  But today was beautiful.  The best weather we've had.

 Kayden's pushing the stroller full of diapers and snacks...

I'm carrying the baby...who thought he could carry the diapers.   It was much too warm for my awesome hoodie from my friend Amy.

The rest of the day was uneventful: National Geographic on TV, noodles and rice at the nearby restaurant and bedtime by 8:30.

Kohlby hasn't been the least bit shy, but he's really opening up to all of us.  He's starting to learn, "No hitting," "No pulling hair," "No biting," "No scratching,"....

Thursday we visit his orphanage, which is very large.  We've also asked if we could meet his foster parents, and we're praying that happens.  He was with them a long time, and they obviously loved him very much.

Today when we were watching TV on the bed, he would come to me and just sit on me.  No matter how I sat, he would find a place to sit.  Be still my heart.

Trivial pursuit:  Zhengzhou has a population of 8 million, and the Henan province is the largest populated province in China with 100 million.

TO HIM BE ALL GLORY!!!

Gotcha Day ~ A Mama's Heart

This picture was taken on Adoption Day, the day after Gotcha.  I love this boy!  My son!

March 9th, a day beginning like the two before it: waking much too early because of  jet lag, and missing the material goods in the luggage we hadn't seen since checking it at Tulsa at 4:30 am Thursday, March 5.

And yet, this day would be very different.  The reality began to set in.  The precious little boy whom we'd fallen in love with in 7 pictures and mounds of paper would be placed in our arms today!

The culmination of praying, jumping into the proverbial river, fundraising, praying more, sharing our testimony, praying more and trusting like never before - it was all coming to pass today.  
The village that it takes to raise our children was in full swing.  The Huletts had stepped in swiftly and moved into our home because the roads were too treacherous for the Smiths to make the five hour drive on the 4th.  Our church family had begun preparing meals to assist in caring for our krew.  The Smith family arrived before the kids were off the school bus on the 5th.  Our internet connection was good and Skype was working.  All was well!

At 9:30 am we left the hotel and headed to the Civil Affairs Office.  We were the first family to arrive.  There was an adorable little boy already there with his foster family, and I thought for a moment he was Kohlby, but he wasn't.  Then a busload of families arrived.  Then a busload of babies arrived.  Another busload of families.  Another van load of babies.  Still none from Zhengzhou CWI.  We were grateful for the opportunity to watch so many children become family members!  Orphaned no more!!!  

I was so captivated by it all, I barely heard Kenzie say, "Mom, he's here!"  The next thing I knew a petite woman was walking my way and handed my tiny boy to me.  Where was the camera?  Where was my head?  

This little guy dressed in 3 layers of clothing wasn't fond of me and gently tried pushing away...until we found a sucker.  And then a cracker.  And another sucker.  Then it was Daddy's turn to hold him.  Although he is two, I had prepared a bottle of water, just in case it was exactly what he needed.  It was exactly what he needed!  Our little man loves the bottle, and it is a precious opportunity to bond with him.

He still wasn't sure about us white folks, but he loved playing peek-a-boo with the girls, and as long as they were playing with him, he tolerated us holding him.

I was so grateful that we had completed the guardianship paper work ahead of time and could focus on our son in this very crowded  room.  My arms had longed to hold him for nearly 11 months, and I didn't want to let go.

When our business was finished and it was time to go, I tried putting him in the Ergo, but he thrashed and threw such a fit it seemed every nanny in the room was telling me in Chinese that he didn't like that very much :/

I held him all the way back to the hotel while Daddy and the girls played with him.  Little man is said to be potty trained.  He was wearing split pants after all.  But he refused to sit on the toilet.  This was a new one for us.  We'd need some help with this one, but in the meantime, little dude would be dawning Pampers!

Once back in the room, everyone was hungry and wanted to go out.  Thank goodness my mama instinct kicked in.  I realized that Kohlby needed to know he could trust me so he and I stayed in the room.  I made a warm bottle and ramen noodles for him.  He allowed me to hold him and feed him the noodles.  I could tell he was getting sleepy so I rocked him and sang him to sleep as he chugged the bottle. 

Once the girls and Daddy were back from lunch and Wal-Mart, we woke him after a few hours.  Daddy bought a small potty chair, thinking this is what he's used to.  No go.  I guess we'll potty train later.

It was reported that he loves his bath but does not love getting his hair washed.  Both are true.  The first bath, however, he would not sit in the water.  He squatted.  Even as I tried washing his piggies, he wouldn't sit.  I'm happy to say that the following night he sat and played like it was the highlight of his day.

We decided to go out to supper as a family, and again tried the Ergo.  He struggled at first and then settled right down.  Success!  We made quite a scene in the restaurant as I fed my baby noodles while he was strapped to me.  Him looking into my eyes as I fed him was enough for me to block the stares of so many strangers.  This is exactly what we needed!

I wasn't sure if he'd be able to sleep well since he'd had such a long nap, but apparently all the chasing his sisters between the two rooms, mimicking himself in the mirror and jumping on the bed did him in.  He settled in for a bottle and fell asleep just a few minutes after I laid him in bed.  What a day!  My heart is full!  My God is good!

The next morning, Adoption Day, we went back to Civil Affairs to sign the official adoption paper work.  Again, we were the first to arrive.  *Okay, church family, I know you have a hard time believing this :)*  Kohlby laid claim on both scooters in the room.  So when more families arrived and other toddlers took over the scooters, our boy didn't know what to think.  As I was talking to another mama, he came to me, grabbed my finger, and muttering in toddler-ish Chinese, pulled me to the scooters and pointed.  All I could do was love him and find another toy.  But oh my heart! 

Later as Daddy was holding him, he flung himself at me, and sweetly said, "Mama."  Yes, God is so very good!

Hour by hour, day by day, he will know that he is loved.  Not only by his family, but by His Creator.  May everything we say and do point to Him.  He brings beauty from ashes.  From brokenness and loss, He brings redemption.  We are not the redeemers.  We are the ones transformed.

Thank you for praying us to this point.  Thank you for giving to our nonstop fundraisers.  Thank you for encouraging us.  Thank you for supporting us before, during and after travel.  Thank you for loving us.  Thank you for loving the Father!

My heart is full.  All praise and glory to the Father.

*Please forgive the lack of proofreading.  There is a sleeping boy who is waking and needs his mama's attention.*

I will not leave you as orphans.  I will come to you.  John 14:18

Boy Wonder

So much personality in one tiny package!

Today was Adoption Day!!!

  We are so blessed to call him son and brother!

We went back to the Civil Affairs Office to sign the adoption agreement.  Boy Wonder made himself right at home.

He's convinced that his sisters are here to entertain, his mama is here to feed, and his daddy is here to keep everybody in line.

Our first night was great!  I gave him a bottle and laid him in the crib.  After a few minutes he crashed...and so did the rest of us!

Yesterday morning he had nothing to do with the Ergo.  Screamed and thrashed.  But last night after I'd spent the day with him, we put him in it, and he settled down and allowed me to feed him in it.  Now he snuggles right in.  He's a tad stubborn.  And a lot cute!  Even though he's 2, I'm so grateful that he's so much of a baby.  It's great for bonding!!  Now when he's hungry or thirsty, he comes to Mama!

He now enjoys his bath.  Last night he would only squat in the tub, refusing to sit.  

The girls have some adorable pictures to post.

Just the Pix, Please! Introducing Kohlby!

I know what you really want are pictures, so I'll save the story for later.

This is when we were back at the hotel and had stripped the 10 pounds of clothes off him :)  Little man loves his freedom.

Civil Affairs Office

 Kohlby's orphanage was the last to arrive, and we were all so touched watching the other 20+ families receive their precious babies.  My girls are so tender-hearted.  Forever changed.

First glimpse.  First touch.

 Looking at the photo album we sent him.  It's been well worn :)

The photographer took a break to cuddle with her baby brother :)

 We've learned a thing or two about little man.  He wants what he wants.  And he wants what he wants.  Once we got back to the room and removed his many layers of clothes so he could cool off, there was no stopping him.  I decided it was best if everyone else went to lunch while I stayed in the room and fed wild man Kohlby noodles.  It was a great decision!  I got to feed him, give him a bottle and rock him to sleep!

He's settled in for a nap, and this is the only time he's still.  My arms will be busy every minute he's awake from now on!

I can't believe how absolutely adorable he is, even when he's trying to exert his independence.  He's not sure what to think of me yet, but he's growing more and more tolerable.  It helps that he loves to eat!  I can spend all day feeding him if I need to.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!!!

PS:  we just got word that our last 2 bags will arrive tonight!!!!