Airplanes

Here is our cute boy on his very first airplane ride.  A hot bottle, crispy crackers, and airplane magazines and this little angel did fabulous.  The lady cross the way stared at us the entire 1 1/2 hr flight.  Her husband rubbed his face with what looked like an ice scrapper so I guess we were the next best option lol!


We realized we need to be a little better prepared for our long flight but I was beyond thrilled he was a little prince!  The darling backpack was for our care package from Lillian & Gretchen ( I can't find the blog link) but the backpack was the perfect size for our little guy and we could put several of his trucks and snacks into.  Sarah - thought of you here - um it was to heavy and he about toppled over backwards lol - so we had to take so,e things out!

Orphan crisis

The fascinating thing about this adoption process are the amount of firsts our children experience in such a short period of time.  I looked at our little prince yesterday and almost began bawling on the plane.

To myself I was arguing this is his first plane ride ... You don't know that ........duh, he was an orphan.  And the overwhelming sadness hit me again.  This child of ours who enamours all of those around us, and draws them in.  Our little boy with the surprise giant dimples in his chubby cheeks.  The cutest little teeth and cherub laugh.

This child who in reality started life with a pair of extra thumbs and was layed outside a hospital gate - probably in the middle of the night, just hours after being born . . . Because he wasn't perfect.

I just want to shout at the people - do you see how perfect he is, he is NOT a throw away child.  Even with the hidden secret of his dwarfism, he was still perfect.  

Probably a really good thing I am not fluent in the language.

Not even a week in my arms, and we are head over heels in love with this baby.  And he is already attaching to us.  Yesterday we went even 1 step further as he a fell asleep in my arms for the first time.  This was huge.

With Cav, it was months before we could walk past the room and he wouldn't wake up.  Although Cav loves us fiercely, his deep down trauma is heartbreaking.  Growing up in an orphanage with no family to love on him is beyond imaginable.  being just a number as a baby, no one to cuddle you when you cry, rock you when you ar sick.  Our little prince (Griffen) has shown me what adoption CAN be like - the pretty picture.  And my heartaches all over again for the hurt child at home I am not sure we will ever 'fix.'

Just like I know I can't fix a society who would throw away their children.  I don't by any means blame the mothers - in fact I cheer their efforts to putting their own lives at great risk to ensure their baby is found.  But I do blame a government and years of insane rules for making these families choose.

We are so blessed and so many things we take for granted but the very nature of where we were born affords us the opportunity to  LIVE.

********************************************************************************

We are in Guanghzhou now - going to do our medical today.  I will post pics, cuz I know that's what you want to read not,y crazy ramblings from a tired momma who hasn't been able to FaceTime with her kids for a couple days lol!

Happy thanksgiving

Not being home with my family really makes me remember how very much I love this ragtag group.  Hubby is making an Alton brown 14 lb turkey today and friend dropped of not one, not two but 3 giant pies after she realized that this was Cav & Fei's first Thanksgiving.  Another milestone - last year we had just received our TA and were waiting on a CAdate no idea we would be on our second trip a year later.

We are extremely grateful for so. Any things but ultimately the ability to live in a country where we can practice our religion freely. Have the family we chose, and pursue God's plan for our life.  Aloof our kids are a blessing.  Each unique and each teaching us along the way.  I do not have the words so I will leave you with a few pictures of our day and know we so appreciate all of those we know and those we still have yet to meet, that this Thanksgiving we are abundantly thankful for your prayers and comments, your encouragement and.ove!

Our version of the Rose parade ( the Thanksgiving one LOL!)

Our little guy is waivering beween bravery and separation anxiety. He prances when he runs.  To give you an idea of his size, his legs to crotch are the same length as an escalator step!!

We are packing the last of our treasures and heading to Guangzhou tomorrow.  Although we have loved Kunming our guide inferiorates me (even my 14 y/o is done), and we need to go.

Please continue to pray for a father who is still here. They didn't authenticate their POA. He was give. The baby on Tues but their fedex'd paper didn't come weds and the orphanage had to take him back.  No matter our problems, their is always way worse.  My heart absolutely breaks for them.

Orphanage visit

I have better pics on my big camera but no way to get them off ugh!

We went to the Kunmi!ng Orphanage today. We had heard that we would be disappointed by the trip so I went into it expecting nothing.  The end result was truly a blessing.  Tristan and I took cameras and we snapped pics of everything possible.  This is a very closed orphanage but for some reason we were given access to all areas.  The lady giving the tour helped car for Griffen the first year of his life, as they did daily PT etc to strengthen him ( dwarfs are by nature developmentally delayed.).

We found out he stayed in the orphanage until a year and then went to foster care.  He only returned back to the orphanage 2 days before we arrived.

Once babies are found they go to in processing and then stay in a separate building for the first 30 days.

Then the second room until a year I believe

The third room is for children 1-3 years and this where Griffen went when he returned from his foster family.

Each baby has their own specific crib.

It also looked like in the older kids room they had their own cupboards to keep personal possessions.

It was fun to see the nursery with it's very familiar bouncy chairs.  (All the babies referral pictures are taken in them).

Griffen cried as soon as we walked into the building and luckily we were expecting this - so we quickly placed him in the ergo and he sat quietly for the rest of the visit.

I do have to say as charming as this baby has been the few days we have had him, we had no idea this visit would be the nail in the coffin of his old life.  Some way it spoke volumes to him that we would not only protect him, but would leave WITH him.  He has been a talkative, giggly little dude since we got back to the hotel.

This orphanage keeps children until 18 years old and either tries to find them employment or if they are not able to work they move onto an adult nursing type home.  All of the healthier children over the age of about 6 months are in foster care (total about 500 kids).  The kids remaininginthe orphanage are pretty significantly delayed although one little girl reminded me of Cav's SN and used a wheelchair to get around.  There are about (200 still in the orphanage) although we only saw about25-35.

Each crib also had a toy, the orphanage is about 15 years old but well kept.  There was a huge playground int he center but I am not sur how much use it gets.  They use cloth diapers for the babies.  And had a lot of nannies for the few children we saw.

As far as Griffen's finding spot, it was nice to standing the spot and say a prayer for a mother who had to make an unimaginable decision.  He was left along the front gates to a hospital and after being there I can see how this is possible.  There is a bit of a garden right there.  The hospital is huge, and behind it has numerous huge skyscrapers.  We are not sur if he was born at the hospital but something the orphanage lady said made us think so.

Regardless, we have tiny bits of his past to share as he gets older.  Until then we treasure our new little blessing, and marvel at him.  We were thanked profusely by the orphanage workers, and how can you that we are the blessed ones!

Hidden treasures

Today was a free day.

I closed the heavy drapes last night and turned off all electronics hoping for a late morning. We didn't wake until 9 am but was heartbroken to see a wide eyed little boy laying in his crib still under the covers. Not even knowing to call out for mama. - sme parts of adoption cut to straight to the heart.

Luckily we had a bowl of Cheerios stolen borrowed from the buffet.

We finally were able to FaceTime with all of the kids awake. Griffen seemed fascinated by everyone and said Baba a few times before getting down to play.  They of course noticed all the little bits of their new brother and everyone agreed he is charming Albright another sugar elf lol!

We missed breakfast but atleast were able to get a few treats for the baby.  Then we headed off on our adventure. We must have walked miles. Rows and rows of tiny booths, tons of treasures to be found, and streets to get lost on.  At one point we looked up and found the most soectacular church in the distance. We wound downtime streets ( my family is used to my crazy adventures).   Finally happening on the church sandwiched between the huge new mall of present and the rundown past of China.  We went to walk inside and then were crestfallen to realize the the entire city block sized church built in the early 1900's had been turned into floors of jade stores!?!  I was heartbroken, mad to say the least.  The cross still stands as symbol but the rest is gone.

We headed back to our hotel still exploring more of the market - AND found our favorite Holiland bakery. Even DQ (not that we ever eat there at home lol) and got an ice cream treat for Tristan's birthday!

More purchases of mainly province specific treasures I knew I would regret if not purchased and we happened upon another jade section ( apparently the Burmese bring jade up to be polished etc that is why there is so much here.). We saw a cross but it was 150 RMB. We continued on and found another booth with crosses.  I had forgotten I had my cross on.  The lady pointed at a poster behind her which was a calendar with a cross at the top.  Her crosses (same everything were only 35 RMB). We found 2 for our bigger kids and then haggled for a bit cheaper for all our littles.  I also let Griffen out of the ergo to walk around a bit as he had sat for hours.  They were all enamoured with him, as they strung crosses on necklaces for us.

The language was minimal but the older lady did call a younger gal over to help.  I have really wanted a very special piece of jade for myself but didn't know what.  We looked at many and then the lady took off a necklace she had on and the girl translated it was a pumpkin - um ok not what I was looking for.  I almost put it back and leave with just our crosses when she found the meaning - Blesses.  I almost sat in that stall and cried.  She had handed me her symbol of a cross.  I asked if she was sure - besides the generosity of even offering me this piece she also discounted everything further.  I finally translated for them that Griffen was an orphan.  They got a puzzled look on their faces (all the ladies in surrounding booths) he China babe?!?  Yes I nodded.  His look is so unique that the Chinese thought he was American - sporting his little Gymboree outfit and gorgeous coloring!

We put his cross on him, and thanked them profusely.  Down the road it occurred to me that I should have prayed with them.  Sometimes I hate when I am so lacking.  I know many of my friends would have prayed with this incredible God loving lady without thinking.  For a bit I felt terrible at my own lacking, but then decided to ask for forgiveness and to take this encounter as the gift it was.

So much of our journey to Cav & Fei I felt forsaken.  I desperately played that I know God was right here with me.  I am shocked (and I know I shouldn't be) at how incredible these prayers have been answered.


As for Griffen.  He is a jewel.  He cries when he wakes up from his nap but today he let me hold him and rub his back.  Then he was off and running.  But not wild.  He has been playing with his stacking cups in the little space between the bed and wall.  Playing with Tristan and chattering away.  He belly laughs which is so cute! As soon as we put him in the ergo he goes limp, sitting quietly for hours and watching everything.  He loves to eat. Loves Tristan and oh yeah loves to eat!

Tomorrow we got to the orphanage.  Please praying ones well, but we feel so blessed that because of us leaving so quickly he only spent a few days instead of the requisite week.

Full circle

Fourteen years ago, as I held my brand new tiny baby and marveled at the miracle of his birth, I had no idea that today we would come full circle.  Although my heartaches to share our new son with the other kids and daddy, I truly am blessed to have my oldest son with me to celebrate Griffen joining our family as well as Tristan's birthday. 

Although it was not the day I had envisioned I still weep when I think of the circle of children who fill our family. Although our guide says he has done adoptions for six years he leaves a lot to be desired. I finally lost it as I had to count out 100 bills in front if everyone with a hungry screaming baby.  Last time the guide had everything organized so we had everything counted out before going to civil affairs. In addition, he kept going into my purse look for papers. I don't care anything about the cultural difference I am pretty sure his mother would slug him too ( I didn't buy he knew I was done).  It took six very long hours. 

By the time we were done Tristan & I were exhausted and poor Griffen needed a bottle and a nap. So much for celebrating our big boys 14th birthday. We decided that really we could split the difference and celebrate tomorrow as it is our day off.

Griffen is so sweet and funny. He is so dang cute I could eat him up. I kept kissing and he keeps wiping them off lol. His poor torso is covered in bug bite scars which break my heart. But looks healthy which is truly a blessing. He eats just about anything but needs help. 

He lives his brother - almost to a fault. So we had to back off on Tristan holding him ( he loves the baby but the last hong he wants to do is HAVE to carry him everywhere.). This isn't a surprise as our overgrown son is a child magnet LOL!

Griffen slept all night and we woke him at 7 am like his schedule said (and we had to get to our appt). Yeah that baby could have slept another hour AND he is a grouch in the morning. BUT he wasn't scared of us when he awoke which was amazing. 

He takes his bottle for bed and usually goes right to sleep without a peep.  After our adventures with Cav we do know we are truly blessed. 

An interesting thought - we were required to take the ultimate leap of faith when we sent our LOI for Griffen. We were so afraid of the growth that was in store for us.  But is it possible that sometimes God just asks us to trust him so he can also

Bless us?  

Sorry the pics are wonky

PS we hit McDonalds for lunch - Griffen loved fries LOL!!

One less

What do you wear

How should you look

What should you bring

When you goto meet your son for the first time!

So many months of worry

Could we bring another child home with the extensive needs of Cav.  Don't get me wrong we love that kid but it has been so hard. Tao's adoption was the last thing we though of doing once we got home. Until you have actually adopted a child it is hard to understand how difficult it was. Only now am I realizing how traumatized we were - while imminently facing one more.

But let me just say - I know now how people can adopt 12 kids (don't worry I am pretty sure we are done). Tao (Griffen's journey has been what we prayed for.

We got stuck in traffic and decided to walk the rest of the way - our own amazing race to our son. We finally walked into a room which looked like part of an apartment complex. There sitting in a chair with his big eyes was our angel. It took all of about 10 seconds for him to look at me to Tristan and begin bawling. Nothing I our bag of tricks worked so I de died to just pick him up since he was already crying!  Oh sweet boy and the chaos that insured in the room. Finally the lady in charge came and told him to stop crying AND he did?!?

We were so surprised to see not one but two dimples and a mouth full of teeth. Just like a new baby we explored his hands, hisextrathumbs,and noticed how sweet he was. On the taxi ride back to the hotel he was fascinated with the scene that went by. He loved the carpenters we heard and we heard him speak for the first time. Oh LOVE!

He tried to roll down the window so we assume he has Benin a car before.

He started to cry back at the room, we changed him - yep diapers lol and noticed the printed schedule they gave us said he took several bottles a day. We gave him watering theplaytex bottle I brought and the outhit in the ergo and headed for Walmart lol. He sucked the bottle all the way there and quietly sat in the ergo. Some nice lady handed us one of the formulas in 3 aisles of for,ula. I have no idea if it is even close to what he is used to but atleast it was so,etching. We also got juice. As an aside - we had to specialty checkout the formula in the liquor department LOL!  They put a red stickers over the bar codes and handed us a receipt.

We also got KFC on the way back as Griffen happily slurped his bottle (now filled with juice) - I think the bottle must have a newborn nipple LOL. Once we got back to the hotel he became scared again. Finally we got him to take a little food, gave him juice in a tommy tippee cup.  Tristan was able to get him to smile by playing whim and his food. - truly an endearing sight.

His paperwork said he goes toned at 9 pm. Yeah way to late for us lol. Anyhow, we played with him, he is so cute and funny!  He will fit in perfect at home. A melatonin later and a warm milk bottle and he rolled over and went to sleep. We will see what tomorrow brings but atleast we know a funny sweet boy is in there a d we will love him through the pain.