Playing Catch Up

October 31, Nov 1^st and 2^nd

Sorry we've been absent.  There is a very good reason.  Read on to find out.

Beijing was a time for touring. Guangzhou was a time to do a lot of paperwork for the adoption and to just recuperate from being sick (Amy, Jade, and Micah).  Whatever hit us lingered for a couple days?  The only tour we had planned was to the Foram Park.  We had to cancel.  Poor daddy.  He didn't get to see the most ancient fossils in the world.  We hated it.  We would have taken this park over the zoo in Beijing.  Thank God Ray and Levi stayed healthy.  We did get one half day shopping.  It was great!  We went with Anne from Red Threads.  She is a shopping pro!  She asked us what we wanted and had us running for about 4 hours.  We were able to buy silks, jade, pearls, tea, and porcelain for very little cost.   Afterwards we were exhausted but packed for our trip to Hong Kong.

We left Guangzhou by van to Hong Kong.  After 2.5 hours and going through customs easily, we arrived at Hong Kong Disneyland.  For the first time on the trip, internet was a cost...  and a high one.  Knowing we wouldn't spend much time online, we decided not invest.

Rather than arrive 2-3 days early on this trip for site-seeing in Beijing, we opted to do a day in Disneyland at the end.  We did this as we knew we were going to be on the go for the entire trip, especially the back and forth to Beijing.  Disney HK would be a slow down time for us.  We were apprehensive about doing Disney due to not knowing what Levi would be like, but all was good.  He did very well.  I (Ray), on the other hand, didn’t do so well.  Apparently I held off the bug that Amy, Micah, and Jade had.  It nailed me at Disney.  Not good the day before flying back to the US.  After a day and a half without consuming anything, I started eating/drinking on the trip back.  The airplane food was horrible.

HK Disneyland was fun and different than Disney World and Disneyland (US).  Mainstreet USA had on odd feel.  A lot of red, white, and blue but very few Americans.  Food on one side of the park was all traditional Cantonese and Chinese.  Amy suggested Tomorrowland might have something more American.  We headed there and there were some burgers and fries.  Prices were outrageous.  But when you are hungry, you’ll pay.  Food we will pay for….internet…not so much.  The rides were fun.  The Toy Story area was great.  The atmosphere in this little piece of the park was Disney at its best.   Tomorrowland was small but very similar.  Space Mountain was closed!  That was a real bummer.  Jade almost cried.  She is the dare devil in our brood.  Autotopia was electric.  There was a Stitch interactive show that was much like Crush in Epcot.  Not too impressive.  Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblaster’s was like WDW.  Fantasyland was fun.  It’s a Small World was fantastic!  Better than WDW or Disneyland.  Same theme as US, just put together a lot better.  The outside was quite impressive.  Best of all, no line!  Levi did not like Philharmagic!  The 4D was a bit much for him.  The other parts were good (Winnie the Pooh, Carousel).  We only saw a little of Adventureland.  The Jungle Cruise was done in 3 languages (pick one of three lines to enter).  The humor was not exactly funny, but the attempt in itself was funny.  Overall, the Disney feel was all over. 

The trip back home was long.  We left for the airport at 7:30 am.  Checked luggage and found out that our plane was going to be late.  The 2 hour layover in Chicago was going to be cut short, especially for customs.  So we got bumped to a later flight creating a 5 and a half hour layover.  As soon as we hit Chicago soil, Levi was officially an American Citizen.  Talk about your proud moments.  The flight itself (13.5 hours) was long.  Micah and Jade did homework, slept, and a little recreation (movie watching).  Levi stayed up the entire trip, not that he didn’t try to sleep.  He was a busy little guy.  He loved changing the channels and volume of his headset.  Occasionally he hit the attendant button when we didn't watch.  The guy in the seat beside Levi was amiable and like Levi.  Colored with him and played other games.

Chicago to NC seemed like the shortest flight ever and perhaps the smoothest (and best landing).  Felt like 45 minutes to both Amy and I.  It was a nice finish to the trip.  The ride home felt great.  Levi liked his car seat.  The Tahoe was full with kids and luggage.  It was a good feeling pulling into the driveway at midnight (Saturday night, Sunday morning).

We decided to leave the luggage to whenever we got up.  We entered the house to the soft mews of  Jasper.  We walked through the lower floor with Levi, showing him the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedrooms.  He understood where his room was and that it was his.  He got some toys out and played while we made 2 midnight pizzas (food on flights weren't so good).

Jasper was very attentive.  Levi did not like him at first but quickly warmed up to him.   Nina will  be the challenge.  Levi is petrified of Nina.  Screams every time she makes a move.  We can tell that Nina is trying really hard not to scare him.  

What we know about Levi so far:

Levi has a constant smile for everyone he meets.  He body structure is very much like Micah’s when he was 4 1/2…long face and stout.  He was not disciplined in the orphanage and has no barriers however; he is very malleable to the concept of having rules set.  It goes to show that the research is correct when it states that children want rules in order to feel safe.  He loves music, loves to dance, and loves to sing.  This has made Jade a little jealous as she is the musical one in the family.  He is unbelievable with a ball. Soccer is in his future next fall.  

US Consulate

Paperwork at the US Consulate today.  This is the end of the paperwork trail.  After this, it's only a matter of touching US soil.

Anyway, almost done!

Up and downs

Just letting everyone know that the VPN is rarely up for us now.  Only 15 minutes this morning.  Previous to this city, I'd fight with it (5-10 minutes to come up... sometimes.  Then would be up for 30 seconds to 10 minutes at the most).  Very difficult to get things done.

Everyone is feeling better.  Not perfect though.  Amy, Micah, Jade, and Levi are in the middle of nap.  2 hours 45 minutes so far.  Micah didn't eat much for breakfast and neither did Jade.  Have to see how they feel later.

Just know we're trying to post up.  Just difficult when doing other things.  I stay up late working on it.  But just so late I can stay up getting a minute of up time (have to watch intently for the window of opportunity).  After a few hours of this, the head hits the keyboard and I'm done.

Oct 26

Hey all.

Quick note that we're traveling to Guangzhou later today.
Quiet day in the hotel room packing.
Everyone is doing fine.  Homework is being done.  Everyone is getting along great.  Levi is learning about family structure.  Different for him.

Recent...

Paperwork at the US Consulate today.  This is the end of the paperwork trail.  After this, it's only a matter of touching US soil.  One option of flight paths back was through London.  Thought of getting to the US Embassy there.  But tickets were outrageous.  Normal path back.

Anyway, almost done!

Oct 23nd Shijiazhuang back to Beijing

Hated to leave the Zhongmao Haiyue Hotel.  The rooms and staff made quite an impression on everyone.  Well worth it.

Today was mostly spent stopping to pick up paperwork started yesterday, taking the fast train back to Beijing, and getting settled.

Levi had a rough night and only a few hours sleep.  Once we got up and going, he was rolling right along with it.

Levi's more rambunctious than we thought.  Really wants things his way.  At the same time, he sat well during the 2 hour train ride.  Today bath time wasn't a problem and neither was brushing teeth.  About to go to bed.  He's sitting cross legged with the pillow we sent him in his lap, and his head in the pillow.  He knew he was going to bed here and was good with it.  We will all sleep well tonight.

At this point, we are waiting for some paperwork from Tangshan (opposite side of Beijing).  The papers will be worked up by Friday and a courier will drive and bring them back to Beijing that day in time for us to make a flight to Guangzhou.

Summer Palace and Confucius' Temple are tomorrow.  Everyone is looking forward to them.

Gotcha Day

We had the opportunity to tour the Zhaozhou Bridge this morning before getting Levi in the afternoon.  The Zhaozhou Bridge is known as the world's oldest bridge.  While there are others, this one is reknowned for its seeminly perfect architecture.  Impressive for being close to 1500 years old.  The temple from yesterday was built about the same time.  But this arch and it' materials were a modern day marvel. 

Micah took a number of videos of the bridge looking at form and architecture while our guide told us fairy tales about the bridge itself.  Later we went to a grocery and bought two shopping carts full of baby formula as a gift for Levi's orphanage.  After a quick meal, we were off to get Levi.

Quiet in the car.  Everyone was reflecting.  At supper,We told stories of how before each major change, we relished the current.  The night before Micah was born, Amy and I sat on our front porch swing, remonescing about the coming change.  Same with Jade.  Amy, Micah and I sat on a street bench, going over our past and Micah's impacts.  Then last night, we did the same with the 4 of us.  Reflecting the growth of our family and the coming change.  As we drove down the road, everyone was thinking about our past and the beginning of our new future.

We pulled up to the CCAA about 3pm.  Levi's van had apparently pulled up about a minute or two ahead of us.  There were two children getting out of the car.  One of them was Levi.

Absolutely mad with my camera.  I thought I started the video.  It didn't start.  So while we enjoyed a great moment, we missed getting the video.  Hey, we enjoyed the moment regardless.

He recognized us immediately.  Quite excited about the situation.  He grabbed the pillow we sent for his birthday.  He knew each one of us in detail.  Mama, Baba, GuGu(Brother),and Gege (sister).  The nanny with him was talking to him and he responded quickly.  He kept going over our names.  Came over and shook my hand(dad).  He was quite busy. Think of a 2 year old.  Physically, we can't really compare height (other than knowing he's behind in the books).  We had a chance to ask the Nanny a few questions about Levi.  One of the quetions we asked her was to describe Levi's character in three words.  She basically told what we already had a feeling about...he is all outboard and no rudder. All BOY!

He is bumped up, with two scrapes (nose, forehead) that are less than a day old.  Very similar to Jades the first day we got her.

Paperwork was a little scary, as there were 2-3 items requested that we didn't have.  Luckily these items could be produced onsight.  The nanny that came is the one that named him.  Levi interacted and listened to her.  Yes, listened to her.  He CAN hear!  Much more than we thought was going to be possible.  Yes, there are issues but his inner ear gets more than what we could have hoped or dreamed.

While doing paperwork, we got to see his interactions with everyone.  He's strong willed, confident, and has the MINE attitude.  He does give to others.  Articulate.  Dexteous.  He loves to kick things like a ball (kicking a plastic bottle kept him busy for 15-20 minutes). He warms up to Micah who is enticing him with his camera.  Micah videos and then shows Levi his picture.  Levi is very intriqued. 

At the hotel, he has been a busy little guy looking around and playing with his big brother and sister.
Amy and I begin to see through Levi's cues of going toward the door that he thinks this is just for a visit.  We prepare for the witching hour when Levi will begin to mourn.  It begins by us all getting ready for bed.  We have laid our Levi's Pj's but will not push it.  He willinging wants to take off his clothes and put on his PJs.  He refuses to take off his shoes.  We don't push it.  Amy rocks him to sleep. He falls right to sleep. When she places him in the crib, he wakes up and realizes that he isn't in the bed he has known for 4 1/2 years.  He begins to cry. Amy takes him out of the crib to rock him.  We take turns rocking him... By the door that he wants to open so badly...On the ottoman ...Laying next to him in bed.  He can't be consoled.  He doesn't want to shut his eyes.  When he does he sleeps for minutes. He finally is out.  It is 12:15 am.  On a good note, he seeks Ray and me for comfort and wants to be held. 

At first I am saddened by his mourning.  Not for us, but for pain he must be feeling. I want to take it away but all I can do is rock and tell him in his ear that we love him.  Thank God our first adoption agency (Christian World Adoption) who prepared us for this.  So he cries and Ray and I both cry silently lifing prayers up to God asking Him to comfort our little Levi.  I also feel anger.  I am angry at the parents who would abandon such a beautiful and vibrant child.  I understand the reasoning as to why he was abandoned.  It doesn't subside my anger.

Tomorrow we will finish the final paperwork.  Get on the fast train back to Beijing where we will stay until Friday.  Our goal is to enjoy our children, soak in China's rich culture so that we can tell our children the story of their birth country, and if necessary mourn some more with our little Levi.