Final Day in China!!

We spent our last full day in China at a huge animal safari. It was drizzling most of the day...the strollers got wet, but we all had a lot of fun!

 Derek & Karilee loved having a chance to sit on an elephant! They had an awesome elephant, monkey and safari animal shows. It was amazing!! Such a good way to end our trip! 

Now we are packing up our room for the LONG journey home!!

A bell boy will come to our room at 6 am to pick up our luggage. The hotel is sending breakfast boxes with us as we will check out and leave the hotel by 6:15.

Our flight leaves at 9 am and we have a 2 1/2 hr flight to Shanghai.

At Shanghai we have a 4 1/2 hr layover. Seem's kind of long, but we may be glad...we will need to collect our baggage then go to American Airlines and recheck it in there.  Go through international security and maybe grab a bite to eat before we board our long flight.

American Airlines leaves at 4:20..... a 13 hr flight. Praying for the best with 2 toddlers. 

Arrive in Chicago around 4:40 pm. Claim our luggage & go through Immigration's. (Javonn becomes US citizen!)

6:30 pm leave for Watertown, NY! Woo-Hoo!!!!! In Chicago we will part ways with Aunt Ruth and she will fly on to OH.

It makes me tired just thinking of the trip, but we are so ready to be home, we are ready to embrace the long trip for the joy that awaits at the end!

Thank you so much for praying for us on this trip, it ment so much to us!

Tuesday~~ April 22

This morning we had our consulate appointment at the US Consulate. Only Steve, Javonn & I were allowed in. Our guide took us to the entrance then she took our camera etc and kept them with her while we went in. It was nice to be in an American office. The bathroom's were SO nice and  american, you felt like using them just because they were so clean! After security we joined 11 other families to finalize our child's visa. One parent got finger-printed, we took an oath (as a group) and did a bit more paperwork. Javonn's visa will be ready tomorrow afternoon. Javonn will be a Chinese citizen until he is admitted into the US at his first port of entry, which will be in Chicago.

The US Consulate here in Guangzhou issues visa's in groups of 12 families twice a day Mon-Thur. The Consulate's  Adopted Children's Immigrant Visa Unit is the  Department of State's busiest adoption unit. US citizens have adopted over 66,000 children in China since 1999. In recent years the adoption of children considered to have special needs has increased and are now currently 80% of the case load.

This appointment is the last and final one! I observed a lot of tired parents. All the ones I talked to are good and ready to get home. It's a very intense week for everyone, and being in your own home environment couldn't look more appealing!! Even the LONG flight back dosent look daunting when home SWEET home is at the end of it!!!  Today we said good by to the 3 families that were with us in our travel group with our adoption agency. They left to spend the night in Hong Kong where they will fly out of early in the morning. We will always remember and love these 3 special families and look forward to keeping in touch over the years and enjoy watching our Chinese treasures grow and thrive!

Since it was rainy today, it is rainy season here, we spent most of the day holed up in our room. We are all looking forward to going out to a local Chinese Restaurant our guide introduced us to last night. She went with us and helped us order. She picked out the dishes she thought we would like and we loved all of them except the one beef dish that she said was mild, was actually so spicy hot that we couldnt eat much. The fried rice was the best I've ever had!! Lots of little meats n veggies fried with it. It was our best eating out experience with Javonn. Maybe it was because he just woke from a nap, or because he really was hungry. But we left with no broken dishes and only a mild crying fit.

Yesterday afternoon we spent touring Shaimen Island. A lovely peaceful island where a bunch of old consulate buildings are. Tourists love to come take pictures and shop at little shops.
Now I said we went touring, I should say the others did some touring/shopping. Steve & I spent 99% of the time pacing the streets with 2 tired toddlers who needed naps (We left at 1 pm which is nap time) We had debated keeping one or both of the toddlers home, but it gets old staying at the hotel and we figured they would surely go to sleep on the bus ride there, or in the stroller. Wrong! The first shop we went to Javonn saw a toy he wanted and couldn't have so he threw a grand fit and pretty much cried/ screamed the rest of the after noon, with a few spots of peace every so often. I was close to tears myself. It is so stressful being in public with an angry child!! But someday Shao Bo will be an Amazing groomed young child who will have learned the joys of sweet obedience! Steve & I kept trading toddlers, because every time a new parent took him, he usually calmed down for  a little bit. Anyway, we left the island with no souvenirs. Just glad to be back on the bus.....and extra grateful to God for the lovely dinner that ended the day on a happy note!

Tomorrow...our last full day here! We wanted to do something special for the children so we are taking them to the Animal Safari an hour from here. It is the largest Safari in Asia! They are so excited about it and looking forward to the elephant show, and to hopefully get a ride on an elephant! Hoping the weather will be nice and not rainy.

Javonn loves the song "Twinkle twinkle little star" and sings it along with us. It's so cute!  I'm writing "Javonn" because he's really starting to feel like my Javonn :) , but we actually still mostly call him Shao Bo because that's what he responds too. He is attaching to us so well! He must think we live in a hotel! It will be fun to have him become familiar with our home. His first experience of living in a house with a mommy, daddy and siblings! I dont think he will be shy very long when he meets his new relatives and friends. He pretty much is friendly to anyone who is friendly to him!

I need to go. I think we will head outside soon. Karilee is the one not feeling good today. Hopefuly it's just a one day thing like it was for some of us others.

Monday ~~ April 20

 Good Morning folks! It's cloudy Monday morning here in Guangzhou with a high chance of rain.

Steve & I intentionally woke up early so we could go down to the breakfast buffet and have a little couple time before the rest of the crew got up.  Refreshing to start the day together! The toddlers woke up soon after we returned. So we will help them get dressed & then take the second batch down for breakfast.

Yesterday we did some touring at a local art gallery. It was very humid and we could feel the sweat running! The children went swimming in the afternoon. They have a little kiddie pool for the toddlers to play in, which is nice!  

A welcome play area while we waited for our flight to Guangzhou. 

This is what the tired parents did while the children ran off energy at the play area. 

The famous bag of cheerios

The blue tape that helped distract on the plane ride. It ended up on his arms, legs and on daddy's arms.

At the medical exam..

Our entire travel group

Notice the lovely greenery! We are all wearing our China shirts except for Derek...his was in the laundry.

Last night Ruth joined some of the travel group on a river cruise. I was so glad she had some time away to have fun and relax as she is constantly serving!!

In Guangzhou!!

We arrived at our hotel here in Guangzhou close to 1:00 am.......The process getting here was not exactly fun, but now that we have arrived we are so excited about being here in this beautiful part of China!!

Guangzhou (pronounced Gwong-Show) is a lovely tropical sourthern part of China. Beautiful palm trees, flower garden and greenery abound! I LOVE it! It's so much more restful than Xian, no honking horns & motorcycles. and much more family friendly here. I think we will just love love our time here. I'm so excited about it!

Yesterday morning, our last morning in Xian, it was rainy and cold. We were all so ready to get out of THAT hotel. the toddlers were cranky, and various ones were feeling sicky...tummy trouble that we guessed may have been from some street food we had the night before. Steve had a really bad head ache and as we looked at the agenda for the day we just looked at each other and said seriously, we have no idea how we are going to survive this day....EXCEPT for God! And you know what, at the end of the day, exhausted though we were we just wanted to worship God, because again, he was SO SO faithful and he gave each one in the family strength that we did not have at the beginning of the day. We were all so aware of God walking with us, and it was beautiful to see the older children aware of Jesus giving them strength!

It took a couple hours to get our room packed up and checked out. Javonn was crying and upset most of this time. We ate a hurried lunch then met our guide & group in the hotel lobby. Our guide gave us Javonns packet of paperwork that had been prepared during our stay in Xian and the paper work that we needed to move to the final stages.
We made a quick stop at the City Wall in Xian and some of the group got out to see it. Steve & I stayed in the bus since we each had a sleeping toddler and it was drizzly with rain. After that was a stop at the police station to pick up all the china babies chinese passports. And from there we drove an hour to the airport.
Till we arrived at the airport all the babies in the group were awake and getting fussy. Long lines to get our tickets....long lines to check in luggage...long lines to go through security. One of our suitcases needed a security check which took longer. All this time we are passing out the cheerios and goldfish crackers trying to quiet the toddlers. Javonn is throwing cheerios all over the place then screaming and thrashing if we try to stop him. Cleaning ladies keep coming with their little broom sweepers to clean up the crushed to powder mess. Lot's of people stare, and not exactly with friendly compassionate faces. I had this thought that I hope to never again judge "That MOM" you see in a grocery store with a loud unruly child. Show compassion, not disgust. You never know the reason. I sure felt like "that mom!" today!
Everyone down to Kianna got a thorough pat down. I had to hold her still because she was scared of the wand. I watched amused and some what holding my breath as dear Derek had to unload his pockets. I stood there having no idea what sort of treasures he may pull out as you never know what sticks n stones he may be hoarding in there!
Oh, once at the airport we found out our flight was delayed by an hour. After security, on the way to our gate we found a little kids play ground. That was a life saver for the children. A good distraction and to run of energy.
We sure prayed a lot about Javonn's first plane ride, and came armed with a back pack of entertainment. God answered those prayers and he did amazing! Glad it wasnt longer than 2 hrs though! Steve held him and kept constantly busy with masking tape that he used as stickers, trucks, cheerios etc. He was so exhausted but fought to stay awake. It was a weird set up in Guanzhou. Once landed on the run way, the plane taxied for probably 15 minutes then stopped kinda out in no where. We walked off the plane into 77 degrees and humid! We had to jump on a crowded shuttle bus (Around 11:00) and it was half an hour till we got to the terminal. Waited awhile on our luggage then met our new guide and hopped on a new bus for the 40 min ride to the hotel. Javonn didnt go to sleep until we were on the bus to the hotel! We all collapsed into bed around 1 am. But like I mentioned....dispite the hardness, We totally felt God's GRACE to stay calm and to be strong for everyone. How often I thought of "When I am weak, God is Strong!"

We are staying at a five star Merriot. It's lovely and has a  lot of sweet amenities like a lovely pool, hot tub, kiddie play area with water fountains and garden pathways and a HUGE breakfast buffet thats included with  our room. Steve & I have a king bed which is wonderful after cramming in a tiny twin for the last wk.
 Steve & I had to meet our group in the lobby at 9:15. We were all so tired and not able to get around fast this morning because of our late night so we just grabbed some thing real quick from the buffet before rushing to our appointment with Javonn. I'm really hoping for a relaxing breakfast tomorrow because it's the best buffet yet with lots of fresh fruit and american food like pancakes, french toast, bacon etc. AS much as we enjoy trying out new food our pallets are very happy to see some familiar things again!
 Because the US Consulate is here in Guangzhou all American families adopting chinese children need to come here. So our hotel is just filled with adopting families. I'd guess about 20 families? It's such a sweet common bond that draws us together. Fun to connect and share stories. We all feel compassion when a child acts out at the buffet or on the bus because we are all in the same stage together. I met an adoptive mom on the elevator from Lancaster PA and another mommy from Albany NY.

Our app. was Javonn's medical exam that all adopted kids need done so they can get their visa. Our guide got us an early app. because this place because very busy with all adoption families from all agencies coming  here. It again was so interesting seeing so many different families with their new children. Javonn did great except for shedding big tears when he needed to have a blood draw for a TB test. All kids over 2 are required to have this TB test, and it is why we need to stay one day longer than those adopting a baby because we need to wait for the results.
Javonn loves his gold fish crackers and loved to share them with everyone in the waiting room who would take one!
We were able to find a kids laxative and also apple juice to help Javonn with constipation. He is getting a bad rash on his back from the top of his pull ups.They really irritate his skin. Soft underwear would be much more gentle but he has regressed enough with his potty-ing that he needs to have a pull up on. Another mommy shared some Desitin with me, and we are trying to roll the back of his pull up down so the scratchy band isnt right on his skin.

Our guide for this city is a sweet older woman named Helen. She has been a tour guide for 30 years and an adoption guide for 10 so she is very skilled. She offered to take any laundry we need washed ot a local person to get washed who does it for a good price, at least mush cheaper than the hotel. It will cost me like $35 to get a basket of laundry done, but I'm done with hand washing :)

The children enjoyed time in the pool. It's 80 during the day. After a 6 mo winter it feels way awesome to feel such warmth!! Kianna has been fevering off and on all day and Derek has sore throat and fever tonight as well. Please pray with us for health!

We had a late lunch at McDonald's and though I'm not a fan of such unhealthy food we all enjoyed it so much! lol. They have a Starbucks right by our hotel and Steve surprised me with an ice cold white chocolate mocha this afternoon. What a treat!!

Tomorrow we plan to leave at 9:30 and go touring on Shaimen Island, a big shopping area for tourists

It's 9:30 and Steve & I had hoped to get to bed real early like 8ish to catch up for our short night but we are still both up on the computers. I think we are both unwinding because all the kids are sleeping, and the quiet is so peaceful and no one actually needs us at the moment :)

We are starting to get excited at the thought of seeing some of you again in a wk! We are on the last leg  of the journey!

Happy Easter Sunday to you all!!  .

More Touring

Today was a beautiful day in Xian. The first day the sun was shining! Made it perfect for some touring as a family. Yesterday Steve, Kianna, Karilee & Derek went with our travel group to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. I stayed back with Shao Bo and we had a peaceful day at the hotel. He enjoyed the one on one and it was good for him to be in a non stimulating environment. Ruth kept me company, which was really nice! 

Sometimes both toddlers want mommy at the same time!

We took  the subway and walked through the Muslim District. It's like a huge open air flea market. It was so very interesting! We loved it. A wonderful cultural experience. 

Our most favorite stop was at "Helen's House of Chinese Calligraphy" She had beautiful painted plaques and hanging scrolls with scripture verses in Chinese and English. She had beautiful worship music playing in her shop and her whole self just oozed with the sweetness of Jesus!! It was such a ray of sunshine among the many sad faces you pass!   

What a sweet sweet spirit she had! She wanted to hold Shao Bo and he immediately went to her and sat all peaceful in her lap which was proof of her sweet spirit, because he wont let just any stranger hold him.  She passed out candy to the children and shared her testimony with us! She told the children they must from now on call her Auntie , because she will always be their auntie in China! We will never forget sweet Helen! 

How thrilled we were to eat here for lunch!! Oh it was so yummy if we would have had tails they would have been wagging  like a happy lamb!! 

Celebrating Derek's 7th birthday a bit early. 

How we love this sweet little boy! He's such a goofy copy-cat and cracks us all up!

He is so easy to love, and so worth the paper work pain...the long wait...the tears and the faith stretching.

I love love having "twin" toddlers. It gets crazy at times, but it makes life exciting....double trouble, but double blessings and joy!!

Tuesday ~ Day # 6

Good Afternoon!

I am presently enjoying some quiet time, and I must say it is very refreshing!

We were so blessed with our best night of sleep yet since coming to China! We have no paper work that needs done today so we have a free day to do as we want. We decided against going out and doing some sight seeing as it became very apparent today that our newest treasure is feeling a lot of grief and sadness today. This is very much to be expected, and is a needful/ healthy thing for him to go through as we walk with him on his journey to healing. He has just been torn away from everything he has ever known. The  people that have ever cared for him, all his playmates, familiar routines, food, smells sounds etc. Even though he cant logically process this, He is feeling a deep sadness

He has been very sad and angry today. Lots of tantrums, spitting and acting out. When someone hurts, they tend to want to hurt others. We feel only compassion for what he is doing & how he is acting, because we understand WHY he is doing it.

There was a specific episode today where he was screaming, retreating into a corner and clearly showing he did not want me. I gave him some space and sat about 2 ft from him and talked softly and smiled. As tears rolled in a little stream down his face I saw so vividly at that moment a very hurting boy. And just as vividly I felt the amazing responsibility/ blessing of being the hands of Jesus. Tears came to my eyes too, as I felt his hurt, and imagined how confusing life must be right now...

God never said it would be easy. Our flesh tends to shy away from things that are messy. Things that take us out of our comfort zone. But He does promise that He will flow through us if we are willing vessels. And at that moment I felt the supernatural love of Jesus flow through me for my scared little boy. I kept holding out my hands to him so he would know he was welcome in my embrace whenever he felt ready. And after awhile he came... sweaty. tear stained and exhausted. But ready to receive.

Beautiful. The love of Jesus always works. We are honored to be part of Javonns healing! He is such an amazing creation!

So between Steve & I, we have been spending a lot of the day giving one on one time to Javonn. Aunt Ruth has been able to occupy the other children in the other bedroom. (Bless her!)
He fell asleep in daddy's arms and had a long restful nap. Naps always help! I'm so blessed to be a team mate with Steve. he is always so calm and steadfast! Love him!!

Daddy loves his new son! Sometimes he just wants to Squeeze him! Because he's so squeezable!

Just as Shao Bo Is learning about us, we are also learning about him, and some triggers too avoid. Like a little trip to the super market for a few items = a meltdown, because it is so overly stimulating to see all those bright colors and hundreds of options to grab and cling to that he finds out he isn't allowed to. So we wont even take him there knowing he isn't ready for it.
Food...he loves snacks! And we learned that snacks were given freely at his orphanage and used as a solution for anything.  We have plenty of snacks for him, and offer them often. But we learned today to only give him a snack for each hand, a sin 2 pieces, and only hand him piece by piece as he is ready for it. Giving him the whole bag causes melt downs because he stuffs his mouth then flings and throws them all over the room etc. He has a lot of habits to unlearn that he's been accustomed to using.

We are almost half way through our journey here! Tomorrow is touring the Terracota warriors. Steve has been looking forward to that. Derek is excited about his 7th birthday in four days. I brought candles along and am hoping to buy a cake from a local bakery.

We are all having fun learning about the culture and trying new foods. We all eat at the breakfast buffet then only buy one other meal per day.

Some foods we LOVE, others not so much. Like the chicken feet at the buffet arnt too hard to pass over!

We sure enjoyed our day at the Great Wall! I still intend to post pictures of some of the places we toured when/ if I get time :)

Our sweet guide that was with us in Beijing. The children really fell in love with her! She said we were the biggest family she ever saw!

Ok, dear people. Enough for tonight. Time to go join the family.

Till next time.....

It's official!!

What a special day today was for our family! And for a special little boy who has never known anything other than the life of an orphan.

Today, Little Wei Shao Bo officially became:

Javonn Tyler ShaoBo Glick

At the civil affairs office in Xian, China, we sealed our finger prints on top of our signatures and promised to love and raise ShaoBo, 

We promised to become your forever parents and to never abandon you....

It is truly an honor to receive you into our hearts, Javonn! You will add so much JOY to our family!

This photo has a special little story that warmed my heart. Before we left the civil office I asked for a photo with Shao Bo and his orphange director. He was a very kind man to Shao Bo and I wanted to be sure to have a photo in his memory book of this special man who helped facilitate his adoption.
Remember, when we first arrived yesterday, he cried to leave the director and nanny, but today when I handed him to the director Steve & I both watched ShaoBo transform before our eyes. Moments before he had been playing and laughing but as soon as he was in the arms of the director he just emotionally zoned out. You could see it on his face and he just made himself limp and would not smile for the picture. The director tried to tease/ kiss him but he was listless. As soon as I reached for him he jumped in my arms, smiled huge, and just relaxed!! It was so obvious he wanted no chance of going back . He WANTED us!!
It is such a gift that he is receiving our love so quickly!

We keep telling you over and over:

"You are LOVED!!!

YOU ARE chosen!!

You are perfect just the way you are, because you ARE fearfully and Wonderfully created by a Father who loves you so much and has a special destiny for your life!
 

He is soaking in all our love. He just thrives on it. He freely comes to us to be reassured that we are still here, and that we still love him!

We will spend the rest of our life assuring you of our love, and most of all of your Heavenly Father's unending love for you.

We cant wait to come home and introduce our little man to all his extended family and friends. He will def. crack you up! He's quite hilarious at times!

Speaking of coming home, I'm already kind of home sick! I try not to dwell on it, because i really do want to enjoy this time but I cant WAIT to be home again!

I wont lie, it has been HARD at times having the whole family along, K & D do great, it's really just Kianna that has made some challenging times. She has felt very threatened and is not happy at all about sharing mommy! My heart feels so soft toward her, I understand the adjustment is hard for her.... I'm sure things will level out and they will become best friends!

This afternoon we had an appointment at the police station to get his picture taken for his chinese passport. It will be finished on thursday. Tomorrow we have a free day, so I will probably be able to write more and post some more pictures.
I must go join the family in bed, now that everyone is actually sleeping I dare not waste the chance to get some shut eye! Planning to take a sleep aid in hopes of a longer night. I am still waking every morning around 1-3 am. GRR!! Last night was a hard night, it was Shao Bo
s first night. While he didnt cry and cry, which was wonderful. He was so wound up he couldnt relax. Both Steve & I were so tired we could hardly stay awake... Shao Bo had about 6 things he latched on to as treasures, tissue packets, bubble bottles, his photo album from orphanage. He was CONSTANTLY moving these 6 items around in his hand. Stacking them up. It would tumble. Stack back up. Cling to everything. Try to hold them all at once. Impossible. so rotate..rotate..always sorting..holding ...clinging. He would wimper if I tried to lay his head down and strongly resist. We knew he had probably never had any one item he could claim as his own and right now he needed that security. Seriously, it didnt matter what it was. He would find a toothbrush, and cling to it for dear life and cry if we tried ot take it away. He was so hyper exploring everything. but everything he discovered he wanted to hoard. For awhile he had a handfull of Q-tips that he would not relinquish! Dear boy. As the hours drug by, I finally just held him and sang n prayed softly as I paced the floor. (wish there was a rocker in here!)
Finaly his little head relaxed onto my shoulder. A bit longer and stuff started dropping from his hands as he lost grip. I laid him down but he slept restlessly the whole night. I think I was up every hour. Once he rolled off the bed and slept on the floor for awhile.
Tonight we gave him a sleep aid and are hoping for a better night for him, and all of us!  He went to sleep beautifully tonight and even allowed Karilee to sleep beside him.

Goodnight!!