Ahhhh home sweet home....

Soooo its been a while since I've posted but we made it home safely last weds, May 16th, after some traveling adventures. Let me just say, I am SO proud of my sweet 6 year old! She did AMAZING in China and also did AMAZING traveling home with momma and lil brother. She did not complain at all when we had to go through security for yet the 3rd time on our trip home (and in the 3rd country no less -1st in Guangzhou, 2nd in Tokyo, 3rd in Chicago). The landing in Chicago was pretty bumpy, did not sit well with either CC or JJ (or the lady infront of us)... Of course JJ didnt have words to tell me he was going to vomit, he just shared it all over me instead - not my preferred method of communication but pretty effective way of letting me know that he didn't feel well ;)

Once we landed in Chicago we had 2.5 hrs to make it through immigration and customs and baggage claim, to our final flight... Momma was in tears at one point due to all the go here, wait 1 hr, then go here (good luck finding your bags bc its been so long since they came off the carousel bc you had to wait for 1 hr at the previous immigration stop), then they finally processed JJs paperwork, then go here and recheck your bags, then ride the train and go through security again (all with my youngests 'sick' all over me)... all that to say we had 5 minutes to spare before our final flight left for HOME!!!!

Arriving at BNA was amazing... coming out and seeing so many sweet friends welcoming us home just blew me away!!! No words to describe how it felt to be reunited with my amazing husband and precious daughters... instead here are a few pics :)

 

 

 

Sweet Giggles!

Tomorrow...

is the big day! Well, second to getting JJ... It's the *big* appointment at the US consulate - where we have an oath swearing ceremony and, more importantly, where we get JJs US visa so he can come home!!! When we land in the US he will officially be a US citizen but to get there we need this visa in his Chinese passport (the one that was oh so painful to get).

Our appointment is at 10am here in Guangzhou, so Sun 9pm CST (what a Mothers Day gift!). We should hopefully be back to the hotel by lunch time :)

I can't wait to get home and introduce you all to our sweet sweet son! He is just *so* precious!! :) He has been through way too much in his short life, praying for lots of healing... but so very grateful for our gift from God.

Catching up

Sooooo yesterday we went on a sightseeing tour with our group which included a Buddhist temple, an arts and crafts facility and a shopping arcade. JJ and CC did great! It was so nice to go out and have a change of scenery :) Have especially enjoyed getting to show CC glimpses of a world that I grew up in... She really has done so beautifully here, handled all the differences better than some adults :) have been so grateful for our travel group too, for the support in these new friendships!

JJ is doing so well too - he is like a changed boy, feeling SO much better now (we stopped the amox he was on bc he broke out in a crazy rash while on it but sm still doing antibiotic ear drops)... He LOVES eating!!! only had 3 bowls of oatmeal for breakfast today (after having a bottle in the room 30 min prior!). He is definitely gaining back the weight he lost in his week at the SWI!

Today hubbys sister D (who lives in HK) came up to visit. Was special for CC to get to see her auntie again so soon - they went riding in paddle boats in the park across the street etc. Aunt D came on the perfect day because I had to go do some paperwork for half an hour with our guide (in prep for our CA appt first thing Monday morning, sun 8:30pm CST) - so she babysat :) It was *so* much easier to do the pprwrk without the kids there... Thank you D! So very grateful!

Here are a couple of pics before momma crashes :) babe, the darlie is just for you! ;)

In Guangzhou!!!!!

We made it!!!!! JJ did great on the flight - definitely an adjustment for momma to travel with a 19 month old... can't hand him the iPad and get my kindle out ;)

I wish I had someone from our group take a picture of me in the airport - we looked pretty comical... me pushing the cart, loaded down with 2 bags, 1 stroller precariously balanced on top, 1 six year old riding atop the basket for hand carries, 1 giant (overflowing & HEAVY!) purple backpack on mommas back balancing out the nineteen month pouched on the front... I think I've lost a good 5-10lbs in the last week ;)

We arrived in GZ around 8 last night and were in our hotel rooms by about 10... Everyone slept GREAT last night!

This morning we had JJs visa medical appointment - lots I could say about... we had another traumatizing picture taking session :( we finally managed to get it after trying multiple contortions recommended by the photographer - including JJ on my shoulders with my head bent down as far as possible ;)

Stats from today: height 87cm (34.2in) weight 10.8kg (24 lbs) - pretty incredible considering that he was only 9lbs at 6 months! So very grateful to everyone at Marias for the life changing care they gave JJ

Sorry for the lack of pics - I took what I could but my hands have been pretty full carrying a certain young man ;)

PS my budding photographer took 11 blurry pics of JJ and I at the medical appt ;) I may need to start taking the pics myself ;)

Pics

Here are a few pics from our time in ZZ, a couple are from today but most are from a few days ago... I wish i could figure out how to write captions for each... Next post coming to you from Guangzhou!!!!!

Playroom at the hotel...

Playtime on mamas bed

 

Bubbles!

Jon Jons high chair in the hotel room

First time ever wearing a swimming cap!

Yesterday...

... we went to Maria's big house of hope, where JJ has spent the majority of his life. It was another adventure getting there ;) we were told it was 2hrs away from ZZ buuuuut when we were 2 mins from Maria's the road we needed to go on was shut down, totally torn up (and it was pouring with rain!) So we sat at the roundabout for 45mins while our driver and guide tried to ask people, contact someone at Maria's etc for directions to the 'back way' to Maria's. We finally were waved in the general direction, went down dome interesting 'roads' but arrived 30mins later.

5 minutes before pulling up at Maria's CC started feeling horrible, had the chills etc - this momma felt so bad for my sweet girl, feeling so miserable :(

Dr S, who is the doctor at Maria's, was SO kind to look at both JJ and CC. He gave me some antibiotic ear drops for JJ - whose ear was still oozing nasty stuff, smelling horrible and just super infected :( He looked in Claire's ears, saw no fluid but said she probably had a virus (why she has the fever and subsequent vomiting). Enough with the sicky details though...

It wasn't until we were sitting in the eating area across from JJs old room that he seemed to recognize where we were. He pointed at his door and grunted...His ayis had already greeted us, tried to hold him but he was having none of that - was clinging tightly to momma. When we finished eating and went in to his room it was so wonderful to see how very much he had been loved at Maria's. You could see how thrilled they were to see him again, especially his main ayi. He went to them and had goodbye hugs, which I think was so important. I know he doesn't really understand it all but on some level I feel like it brought some closure for him. After we got back to the hotel last night and had dinner he was the happiest I have seen him yet... Running around playing tag with sis and momma in the hotel room, lots a giggles, lotsa tickles :) he normally passes out at night when I put him in his crib but last night he was so cute, babbling (& growling! All boy!) for a good 20mins while momma rubbed his back ;)

Today has been a mellow day, our guide went and picked up whatever was notarized last Friday... We went back to the park with 2 other families from our group. CC enjoyed riding the carnival rides with the other bigger girls... and now we are back in the hotel room, JJ having a much needed nap, sis watching beauty and the beast and momma laying on the bed blogging... New prayer request: JJ has a crazy rash all over his trunk now :( looks like an amoxicillin rash :( so we are working done Benadryl through his system, hoping that will help.

Things I'm learning...

about my son:
1) he LOVES his bath - momma and the bathroom are both drenched by the time he is done ;)
2) he has the sweetest giggle
3) peek a boo is a fav game (especially when big sis Claire plays with him)
4) books - not so much... I'm holding out hope he'll come around. Right now they are mostly good for throwing...
5) he loves it when momma makes funny animal sounds
6) he giggles like crazy when you toss him in the air
7) his eyes disappear when he gives you a full on smile
8) stairs are a new thing...
9) he loves popping bubbles, hasn't figured out how to blow them yet - learning that the bubble wand doesn't taste good ;)
10) he is super ticklish!! feet, chin, armpits - definitely a Strachan!
11) when there's a lot going on he wants to be in mommas arms, NOT down in the thick of it.
12) he'll sit in the high chair in restaurants now - he's feeling a bit better and less scared, not needing to be on top of momma all the time we are out of the hotel room.
13) he is a good sleeper!!! Is sleeping through the night - so very very grateful for however long that will last!
14) plastic water bottles (anything noisy really) are fav toys
15) he's learning to shake his head yes for more (is more like a nod - super cute!)

A Long Hard Day...

Am not sure where to start... Yesterday (Friday I think??) we were up early at 5:30am after not a lot of sleep. At 9:00 we went back to the registration office (where we had gotten the kids the day before) to complete the adoption. It was very quick, involved us receiving our registration document and listening to the official talk about how grateful she was to each of us, how we had changed our children's lives, given them a future. Makes me think of how grateful I am to my heavenly father for adopting me, giving me hope and a future.

 From the registration office we went to the notary's office... to get something notarized. Our agency founder told us in a phone call to give our brains to our guides while in china - am doing exactly that, have no idea half the forms I am filling out (as they are all in Chinese), no idea what/why we were getting anything notarized, just trusting and following, doing as I'm told... Am sure there's another lesson in there...

After that we came back to the hotel for a very quick lunch and bathroom break and then it was time to go apply for JJs passport. Long story short but 3-4 weeks ago the local gvt decided to change the process, now requiring the new parents to take the child to the police/passport issuing office in the local city where the child was from. For us that city was Anyang, about 2.5hrs away from ZZ. All 4 of us families were headed in different directions, each on our own without a guide... but in private vans with a driver who knew kind of where to take us. We met up with the staff from JJs SWI (social welfare institute) at a roundabout in Anyang and followed her the rest of the way to the office.

Now it was time to take his passport pic, no biggie right?? Well, poor sweet boy has had his whole world turned upside down and is literally clinging to me for dear life (almost tearing my shirt he is clinging so tightly to me)... burying his face in my neck... There is no way that he is going to sit on a stool, or sit on my lap on the stool facing forwards for his pic. He cried/screamed for over an hour while we tried everything to get his picture taken - they would not accept a picture of him crying because his mouth was open, they wanted his lips together... Grrrrrrr... My poor poor boy... Did I mention yet that he is not feeling good but has nasty green/yellow gunk draining out of his tube in his right ear??? In the middle of all this CC needed to go to the bathroom so we found ourselves in the dungeon of the police station, using a squatty where things did not all go as they should... Am sure it will be funny another day, just not today ;) then it was back to trying to take JJs pic again. CC was AMAZING during all of this - blowing bubbles trying to distract brother, turning on baby Einstein on the iPad, suckers, dancing, books, silly faces you name it. She tried it all in an attempt to get him to stop crying for the pic. All he wanted was to bury his face in my neck, with both arms wrapped around me, grabbing my shirt as if his life depended on it. Finally after a few (not very quick) phone calls, someone high up okayed our crying passport pic and we could then proceed with the passport application process.

More forms in Chinese but this time no guide, just the SWI staff who was oh so sweet but spoke no english. I had a piece of paper with a few sentences written in both eng and Chinese to help us communicate some.CC  was a hit at the police station - had her photo taken with sooooo many people who worked there. She didnt mind the first few but after about 5 she was fed up. Everywhere we go people smile at her/wave/call out to her, like its a celebrity sighting. My shy girl is handling it with such grace, giving lots of waves and hi's back.

Anyway, back to the police station... After all that we got back in the car and headed 'home' to ZZ. About 2hrs into the drive home I handed the driver my handy piece of paper saying my child needs to go bathroom can you find a 'rest station' please. It was time for another squatty, gas station style, this time with JJ on my back while I 'helped' CC.

We finally made it through traffic and were back in our hotel just after 7pm. One very long, hard day...

Today has been much better! No mtgs, no paperwork just free time. I was able to speak with the
Dr from MBHOH and got JJ started on some amoxicillin... We went for a walk to a park down the street (managed to navigate the sidewalk full of motorcycles going all directions and not get run over), found 7-11 and got some snacks, had lunch in the hotel and he is still napping peacefully in his crib. Appreciate your prayers for JJ, for his ear to heal (not what you need on top of everything else), for his eczema (which is really bothering him) and for his heart/emotions with all this change going on. He is so scared... When we are in the hotel room and the door is closed he is ok to be out of my arms and has fun playing with CC and I but anytime we leave the hotel room he is hanging on for dear life, can't quite be close enough or high enough or tight enough :(

PS have I mentioned that *my son* LOVES splashing in his bath??? and has the sweetest giggle!

We have him!

What an incredible day! I am not sure how well I will do trying to put words to today but will try... CC and I both slept really well last night (10+ hrs for her!), which was much needed. This morning we went and had breakfast in the cafe downstairs. CC thought it was pretty funny to see a whole salad bar laid out for breakfast - but that didn't stop her from adding bell peppers and cucumbers (some of her favorite foods!) to her plate ;)

Breakfast

In the room before going down to breakfast

We met our group and travel guide in the lobby at 9:30... so excited that this moment had finally come... The civil affairs office was pretty close, only about 15 minutes away. When we got there one of the children was already there waiting... This sweet little boy really grieved and struggled... so heartbreaking! Jon Jon was the second to arrive, so so amazing to finally get to hold him and kiss him and love on him. He was pretty apprehensive at first, taking it all in... the baby crying in the background, all these westerners, a little 6yr old girl who was dancing around, a strange lady in a red shirt who was talking to him. The orphanage staff gave me some filled disposable cameras we had sent, his photo album we had also sent, some medicine, and a bag of formula. When they handed him to me I was surprised that he reached out and came to me willingly, no tears, no clinging to the staff. He grabbed on tight to my shirt and would not let go... big sis got out some toys we had brought and started blowing bubbles for him. He was so taken with them, even had a small smile when he popped one :) before we left the civil affairs building he was giving us full smiles and laughing... but still holding on tight to mommas shirt - no way was he going to be put down! He fell asleep on the way back to the hotel but then woke as soon as we arrived...

We've had lunch, cuddles, giggles, skyped with dada at home, played peek a boo with sister (initiated by him!) and are now sleeping peacefully in the crib.

I am so overwhelmed by Gods goodness to us in the gift of our precious son. What a treasure he is! The sound of his laugh just melts my heart.

In the van on the way there

 

 At the registration office

In Zhengzhou!!!

We made it to ZZ this morning... trying to get Internet figured out so am keeping this short (at a restaurant borrowing their wifi).

We are doing great! There are 3 other families in our travel group - 2 of them brought their daughters ages 5 & 9 to China so CC has more new friends :) The three girls had a big time holding hands through the airport.

Tomorrow is the big day - we head to the civil affairs office around 9:30am china time (so 8:30 weds night CST) to meet JonJon. Appreciate your prayers for him! and us!

Here's a couple pics

Our China Timeline to JJ

July 6, 2011: Viewed Jon Jons file
July 11, 2011: Sent our application to CCAI
July 13, 2011: First home visit with Social Worker
July 14, 2011: LOI to China & Approval by CCAI
July 15, 2011: Pre-Approval from CCC*A to adopt Jon Jon

***Commence mad dash for paper chase - certified copies of original birth & marriage certs, police background checks, child abuse clearances from every state/country we lived in after age of 18!, references, etc etc etc.

July 22, 2011: Bob & Amy medical appointments
July 26, 2011: Second Home visit with Social Worker
July 27, 2011: Girls medical apptointments
August 1st: Final home visit with Social Worker
Sept 23, 2011: All dossier documents Fedex'd to DC for final authentication steps.
Oct 14th: Home Study Approved
Oct 14th: Mailed I800A off to USCIS
Oct 21st: Notice of receipt date from USCIS
Nov 9th: Fingerprinted
Dec 20th: I800A approval! (day 60)
Jan 13th: DTC
Jan 17th: LID
Feb 21st: LOA (35 days!)
Feb 23rd: Sent off our I800
Mar 7th: I800 Approval!!
Mar 15th: NVC cabled
Mar 16th: Article 5 drop off
Mar 30th: Article 5 pick-up!
Apr 13th: TA!!!!!
CA is May 14th!!!
Metcha day: May 3rd!!!

We made it!

We made it to Beijing after a long (12.5hr) and uneventful flight :) from Chicago. CC did beautifully on the plane - she even managed to sleep for 3hrs which I was grateful for! Hoping she sleeps longer on the way back ;)

We are staying here in Beijing with some sweet friends that I have known for almost 20 years. They have 2 precious daughters who are 4 and 6 years old. The three girls are fast friends, having a blast together!

This morning we got up early and went to the Great Wall... It was the perfect day to go- not too crowded or too hot. It was incredible!!! I havent been since I was about CC's age so was amazing for me to get to experience it afresh with her. I can only post the pictures I took on my phone (which aren't the best) so will try to upload the (hopefully) better camera pics after we get home...

After the Great Wall we drove into Beijing - saw Tienanmen Square, the 'pants' building aka CCTV tower, the forbidden city etc. So grateful for wonderful friends who showed us around - love you guys Danny & Jill!

Tomorrow we are heading out early to fly to Zhengzhou which is where we will get JJ. Really appreciate you prayers for him... and for me - for wisdom and insight as I start getting to know my son and try to help him through the grieving process (while traveling to all sorts of government offices to complete all the required paperwork)... And for CC as she becomes a big sister again, but in an unfamiliar place... She has been amazing - handled all the new experiences really well!!! no squatty potties yet ;)

Will try to post again tomorrow from ZZ.