Some recent pics......

Not flesh of my flesh,
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.

Never forget for single minute
You didn’t grow under my heart –
But in it.

Fleur Conkling Heylinger



I know I have not been good about posting updates. Sorry, its been a little crazy around here. Also this week I've been feeling under the weather.

We are ready to celebrate our first Thanksgiving with Corwin. He is fitting in just like he was always here. He and Kai are like twins. They are 5 months apart in age and must always be doing the same thing or have the same thing. If Kai has a sucker then Corwin wants one....well duh what kid doesn't want candy when he sees his brother having some? But you get the picture right? Today they were hiding from each other and laughing......all giggles, I had to stop and watch and smile and rejoice in the moment. Right now they are sleeping like angels...so precious. I can't believe that the boy we prayed for for so long is here and has been for 2 months!

Today we went and visited a friend whose family owns a Chinese restaurant. She had not seen Corwin yet and started to talk to him in Chinese. I did not know if he would still remember it but he did. He answered her in Chinese.

Well, its late so I'll post new pics tomorrow!
Cheerio!

update..........

Here are some recent pictures! We went to an airshow on Saturday and Corwin was very scared of the noise. It was not much fun. He finally calmed down and we had a nice time.

Corwin is doing great. He and Kai are having some difficulties sharing and such but things are getting better. He loves his brothers and always wants to kiss and hug them. Its hard to believe that we have been home a month already.

The weather is cooling down and its time to break out the winter clothes.
















Dancing!















Samuel and kids at Airshow















Sarah, Sophia and Samuel-Airshow
















Corwin and Samuel-Loving Brothers!

2 weeks home, One month since arriving in China!

Here are just a few new pics. Corwin is doing great and is a real ham. He is also very loving.

We got a surprise last week in the mail. A letter from his foster family We are so blessed to have this opportunity to thank them for their love and care of Corwin.

We have started school and are working hard to play catch up. Samuel is reading well and the two older girls love their classes. It is a challenge with two two year olds but also an adventure. No day is the same. Next week promises cooler weather and we are looking forward to it.

I can't believe that one month ago today we were in China. Has that much time really gone by? Its amazing.

Some pictures from today at the park

Home at Last

Typical two tear old!









Grammy and kids









Learning to speak Chinese?









Yummy! SI made the cake










D and her new friend









Corwin on the boat


We are FINALLY home! It is SO good to be home! Three of our kids met us at the airport, it was so good to hug them again! Corwin is doing great and all the kids absolutely adore him. He is having a blast getting so much attention. He is an amazing little boy and very smart.

While we were on our last flight home last night I thought alot about what this journey means to him. He is too young to understand but I can't help but wonder what he would think about it all if he could tell me. His whole future has just changed...One of my major regrets about our trip was that we did not get to meet his foster family. We wanted too so much but our guide did not think it would be a good idea to have him see them again. I agree with that but I feel we owe so much to them. He is just an amazing boy and I think alot of that is because of them. We have only had him since 9/9 and he is doing so good considering that before then we were total strangers to him.

Here are a few pics from before we left GZ and some from tonight......

Heading Home

Finally....we are heading home! I am so happy to be going home. We are leaving for Shanghai tomorrow morning(Wednesday)..thats Tuesday night for you folks in Texas.

Today all us Americans went on two huge buses to the US Consulate,the entire reason we are even here in Guangzhou. We got our elusive "brown envelope" and it is safely tucked away in my carry on. The moment we land on US soil, Corwin will be an American citizen.

I have met one wonderful family here and only wish they lived closer. Their daughter and D have become friends and they even have a 7 year old son and a two year old son. And they homeschool too.

Today I made a Chinese shopkeeper mad! I wanted to but some beautiful tea cups. She was asking 58 yuan. I offered her 50. Thats like $6US. She seemed reluctant but finally said "For you, 50 yuan". While she was wrapping them up (before I paid) and I saw my friend mentioned above walking down the street. I told her about the teacups, she said she got the same cups for 25 yuan at another shop! So she walked in there and told the shopkeeper I changed my mind

Monday in Guangzhou

Smiles at breakfast!




















At Lucy's






Street scene









Inside White Swan








Waterfall








At Lucy's







Today David went to the Consulate and did at the stuff that I know nothing about! He called about 11:30 and said that all was well! What a relief!

While he was there I met some families in the hallway of our floor where I was playing ball with Corwin (had to stay in telephone range of our room in case David had to contact me)Two of the families were from Virginia near where my brother and his family just moved. One of the guys is in the Air Force and recently came back from Korea. One of the families had a boy from Inner Mongolia and he was such a cutie!! Just two and had a CL/CP just like Corwin.

In Fuzhou, we were one of three Western families that were there. Here in Guangzhou, is another story. Everyone that adopts HAS to come here. So there are Americans everywhere. This morning the breakfast buffet was so crowded that we has no place to sit. But there are some Africans here and Indians also. On our first morning here (Saturday) a man from Denmark offered to take our picture for us at breakfast. He then wanted to know how the entire adoption process works and seemed truly interested and surprised.

Tonight we go with our group, two other families from Small World and one from Lifeline on a dinner boat cruise on the Pearl River. We are becoming friends with anther Small World family here that has a little girl from Huangzhou (?) spelling it wrong! They are so nice and all the kids are here with them. They have an older girl, near D's age and two boys, K's and S's age. The dad is a nurse and is helpful because Corwin is nursing a cold...

Saturday in Guangzhou........

Dinner at the Cow and Bridge Restaurant



















What we ate










Corwin in stroller









At breakfast



















Waterfall inside White Swan










Corwin at breakfast

Today we went to get Corwin's medical exam. Its basically a check up to make sure he is not sick. He did not like it at all. He cried alot! But after he was fine. After that we went around to some shops and looked at all the stuff. Its very different here than Fuzhou. I think its more Americanized. At least right here by the hotel its not as busy as it was in Fuzhou. Donya and I walked around and looked at all the shops here in the hotel also. They have some beautiful furniture (cabinets and such) wish we could ship some home...but its not in the budget.

After Corwin's nap we met in David's room and did paperwork for the consulate. That took about an hour. Later we all met up again and had dinner at the cow and bridge. It was good food and not too expensive.

Tomorrrow. we go on a shopping tour....not sure where. Samuel is home and the kids are all happy!

About Corwin, I am not kidding, almost everywhere we go someone comments about what a good boy he is. He IS a good boy. He just sits quietly and eats or walks to where we are walking and does not try to run away(Kai?), he stays with me!!! He goes to bed and and takes naps so easily! I am amazed. Oh and he is so smart, he definitely knows whats going on. Just a few days ago, I started signing to him at bed and nap time and today he started signing with me.Of course the words aren't right but he is trying..that is so cool. I just can't sing his praises enough.

Yesterday I started signing the patty cake song with him and tonight he knows it! He loves to be tickled and laughs up a storm! Its hard to believe that I am with the child now that we prayed for for so long....I just can't describe how I feel sitting here and listening to him breath in his sleep.

Guangzhou

White Swan
Last sunset in Fuzhou









We are here! We had a good flight...well pretty good.Corwin was an angel at the airport and when we got on the plane he was very happy and chatty. The plane taxied down the runway and I THOUGHT.."wow, I have it made on this flight",well,in a word,No! Pretty soon after lift off he started crying hard. I don't know why, maybe he was scared, maybe the noise, maybe tired.I don't know.Finally I took him out of his seat and put him on my lap and he cried for a good while. Finally he fell asleep. I woke him up when the plane landed and he as fine! The flight was only about an hour.

Our guide here is David and he seems really nice. Tomorrow at 10am we meet in the lobby and go for the medical exam. Donya and Corwin are sleeping now. Samuel is on his way home and will be there at 8:55pm Texas time. The hotel, The White Swan seems nice, it was dark when we came in and we went straight to the room so did not have a good look around.

I feel like I made a friend for life with our guide Katherine in Fuzhou. She is very sweet and I can see us keeping in touch. I feel she really loves what she does and has a heart for the children.

Oh good news......Corwin did not cry AT ALL during his bath tonight!!!!! He seemed to like it!

Until tomorrow......

Leaving Fuzhou..hello Guangzhou

This afternoon we are leaving Fuzhou and heading to GZ. Samuel left early this morning to head home. The children are all looking forward to seeing daddy. Katherine and David (our driver) will meet us at 3pm in the lobby and then to the airport. Looking forward to this last leg of our journey. I miss our kids!!! Corwin is doing great!!! He is now ours as far as China is concerned. We have his passport and all the Fuzhou adoption papers. GZ is where we do the US side of the adoption. Here is a cute picture of Corwin in his undies! He is totally potty trained! In the background you can see D...ever on the computer.

Every day is better than the day before and Corwin is really a sweetheart. I have seen no aggressive behavior and no sign of an undisclosed condition. He is shy around strangers and will not talk to anyone that speaks to him in Chinese except for our guide. I think he will love hanging out with the boys at home. ok until GZ.........bye!

Corwin

Corwin is wonderful. He is amazing! He wakes up happy. He wants to play and LOVES D!!!! He calls her name all the time. He is smiling all the time and loves to play with the toys we brought. I am so thankful that he seems to be adjusting to us!!! He is such a ham and doing silly things all the time! The only time is is upset is at bath and bedtime. And it does not last long. He gives hugs and kisses freely! We are SO BLESSED!! We definitely love him and can't wait for him to meet his brothers and sisters! I am just watching him while he is sleeping now and can't believe he is really ours finally.He is a beautiful boy!

The last two nights he has cried and called for momma.I have just held him and rocked him til he falls asleep. It takes about 10-15 minutes. Oh and did I tell you he loves to eat?!

Wednesday

Almost bedtime








Shopping anyone??













At orphanage




At orphanage








Panda Zoo









You Jie






I am very tired so this will be short...

Today after breakfast, we went to The Panda Zoo. More on that later.

Then we went to visit the Orphanage. I was expecting that we would meet the director and be able to ask questions but our visit was very low key. As soon as we got out of the van we went inside a building and met a little boy and his foster mom. He is waiting to come home to a family that asked us to bring him a package. We gave him the package and took lots of pics and video.The foster mom seems very very nice and did not mind letting me take all the pictures I wanted too. Then we went upstairs and saw three baby rooms. Each room had about four babies and three aunties. The babies were little. I think that at least two babies had cl/cp. One tiny baby was hooked up to an IV in her head. ALL the babies were under alot of blankets and it was hot with no AC. The ratio of babies and aunties was good and all the babies looked well cared for. We did see some little kids playing at a playground,but we did not go to there. Thats pretty much all we did. We did not meet the director.

After, we had the day to ourselves. I have to say, the city is big, but there is nothing to do with a 2 year old here. We ate lunch,Corwin took a nap and then we called a taxi and met another family about 10 minutes away at a shopping mall. There is just so much time I can spend cooped up in a hotel room. As usual, many people looking,I don't think this city gets alot of Western visitors. I am tired of Chinese food so we ate at McDonalds! It was cheap...fit our budget!!! Ok enjoy the pics....