Life is good!

We are all having a grand time playing together!  Has it really only been 10 days since we have been home?!
We met Ken's extending family for dimsum on Saturday, and headed to the Renaissance Faire on Sunday.  Braden had his first outing to the park with Katie and me, and had loads of fun exploring.  He also had his first (of a predicted many) trip to Costco.  Since drumming things is his favorite thing to do at home, he gave it a go at the store.

A lovely statement

A friend sent this quote to me and I found it so touching.

By adopting a child and helping them reach their potential, they help us reach ours.  An adopted child is not an unwanted child; to the contrary.  They are a child who was searched for, prayed for, cried for, begged for, received  by arms that ached, making empty hearts full.  Love it meant to be shared" - Author Unknown

JIE JIE TIME : BIG SISTER TIME

with Nana

Home and Happy!

Braden loves his room, all the colors and all the fun stuff in there.  He is even comforted by his cozy crib.
All continues to go well, and we are slowly working out of jet lag.  I cannot believe that our little guy is completely in sync with the time change, but Ken and I continue to suffer with jetlag.  We are all very happy that Braden is doing so well.
He loves to laugh, and we all love to hear it so we do what we can to make it happen.  Swinging him around, tickles, raspberries on the belly, playing with balloons, puppet shows.  Such fun!

We didnt have much fun at the doctor, though.  We love our pediatrician and she is quite gentle, but the TB test and the blood draw was a bit torturous.  The lab tech must have seen the big "cry baby" sign over my head and asked that Ken hold Braden while she drew blood.  I didnt disappoint, as it was very hard to hear my little guy's screams and cries.  They took alot so that they can test to be sure that the vaccines that we were told Braden got, were actually given.  They are also testing for a few other things, that are commonly seen in adopted children.  We beelive all will be well.  Our mission now is to get some good nutrients into him.  He is in the 15th percential for height and in the 5th for weight.

We have introduced some new foods, and it is fun to watch him feed himself.  We really prefer to, but he is not only insistent, but quite strong in grabbing utensils.  He is also particular in wanting to be fed by us with chopsticks versus a fork.  Food that is yukky with a fork, is suddenly very yummy from chopsticks. 

The dogs really love that he is feeding himself at times  - there are lots more snacks now.  Except for the toppled dish of strained apples, pears that went all over them, it is all good.  Unfortuantely he also has learned how to feed them from his tray. (thanks,  Uncle Tom!)

He also uses both hands equally well - interesting!

HOMECOMING...and jet lag

Please forgive the delay in posting...I have been kicked hard by jet lag, but working thru it. Which means bascially I am narcoleptic today, and I finally showered since leaving LA Saturday morning.  Ick, I know.
But we have been busy...we have had such fun together, nesting in to our "real life".

What a terrific homecoming we received back in DC when we got off the plane!  We are both very touched by the welcome, and thank everyone who was there in celebration!  Unfortunately we made them wait quite a bit longer than expected, since on the descent from the skies, Braden had, shall we say,  a gastronomical issue.  and by that I mean his butt exploded.  So much so I had to strip him down to his cute little baby nakedness to clean him up, and throw away the onsie.  He was a trooper, but many of those in line to potty were practically crying form the yuck of it all. I know, I know, waaaaay too much info.
Eva, Nicole, Nana, Papa, Aunt Midgee, Uncle Ed, Uncle Tom, Katie were all waiting for us.  I couldn't walk fast enough to meet them all...we were so excited to be home.  and I couldn't wait to hug the girls and have them finally meet thier di di (little brother) in person.  They were proudly wearing their Big Sisters shirts.  ( I really hope I didnt get any of the transfer poopy on them when I hugged them)

Waiting for Mommy, Daddy and our brother

We headed home. I loved how motherly Nicole and Eva became when we were in the car.  Braden was not digging his car seat - he felt too constrained, and the girls were doing their best to keep him happy.  They had brought Cheerios to win him over and it surely worked.  He had his mouth stuffed so full, that he didn't dare cry, for fear of losing them.  Not so long, though since half way home it became clear just how much he hated the straps of the seat.  But when his sisters started singing to him, he was so very content.

We have had 2 great days together, making adjustments. Braden, I think has had a great time, but definitely some sensory overload - so much to look at, to listen to,  folks to hang out with, and dogs to hug and get licked by.  He has done remarkably well in our chaos, and grows more comfortable with it all by the hour.  

He loved the balloons!  He had fun playing Air Hockey with Aunt Midgee, Uncle Ed and Nicole, with lots of giggles.  He played ball and drums with his sisters

He likes the noisy toys, and more and more is diggin the doggies.

 

He loves his Nana and Papa already, and adores his goofy Uncle Tom.

We have lots more fun to share, but I need sleep.  Tomorrow is yet another day to explore all our fun toys and new foods.  Hooray to yogurt and goldfish crackers, boo hiss to applesauce and peaches, at least for today.   We will be visiting our pediatrician tomorrow to be sure all is good, stateside. and we just may have to explore ice cream, since we didnt find any in China to try.  Yum.

Back in the USA

WHEW!
We are so very  happy to be back on American ground.  We are in LA, and will fly back to Virginia tomrorow.  Braden did so very well on the plane.  He fell asleep around 9pm, which is when we were supossed to take off but we ended up leaving an hour late due to thunderstorms.    He slept until about 6am, China time, which was pretty good, though he was indeed a thrasher on my lap.  and a little sweatbox.
I was so excited, thinking, wow we are going to land at 7:45, he slept almost the whole way, then had a total buzzkill when I realized that was Eastern time and we were landing in LA, 3 hours behind and had 3 additional hours to go.  I suddenly was very weary and fell asleep with my little man whining away, thank goodness Ken stayed awake to prevent all the throwing of objects aroudn him.  Shu was awake and very fesity for about 2 hours, then fell back asleep until we landed.  He woke up a happy boy.  When we landed and people shouted "yeah" and clapped - okay, it was really me - Braden did the same thing.  He clapped and exalted "Yeah" , making many folks around us laugh.  It was priceless.

We collected our many just under weight limit bags and headed to immigration, where we turned in Shu's paperwork.  Stemp of approval.
YIPPEE....HE IS NOW AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
Can't you just see his excitment?  huh?!?

hanging at Immigration

Then through Customs - easy breazy lemon squeezy, as Eva would say, then off to the Marriott for the night.  Shu is sleeping again and I hope that he can acclimate, and not consider this a nap.  Of course I should be in bed, but I am wound up.  Ken and I are both very relieved to be almost home, to have our son, to re-connect with our girls, and now figure out the rest.

We had an amazing trip, and feel so lucky indeed!  For not only our treasure in our son,  but for the terrific 2 weeks in China together, for Ken and I.   It really was a trip of a lifetime since it was all about completing our family, and we got to tour some incredibly inspiring sights.  We have so missed our girls, and we are all eager to be together again. 

I have to again say THANK YOU, to all of you for being such great support to us throughout the process.  So many of you have kept us in your thoughts and prayers, and it means so much to us.  Many of you listened to me lament over the years on how long it was taking.  You hung out with me at my pity party - a few of them, and a very special couple of you listened to me question our staying in the program, as it took longer and longer and we aged and I became more tired and cranky.  (though away from work stress, I have to say I am quite adorable and delightful).  You reminded me to keep my "eye on the prize", and that we both, Ken and I, plus our girls, had so much love to give to a little boy coming into our family.  Harmony.  Balance.
I glance over at my son now with a lump in my throat, that I could ever have thought for one moment that this wasn't suppossed to be.  Yes, even with a bruised cheekbone from my head butt on the plane (I wouldn't let him down to eat the cheerios off the floor) I know that I thank God for giving me the patience (not my forte, as most of you know) to wait just a bit longer while our path was being constructed.  We faced a great deal of delay, detours, dead-ends that should never have happened, and over which we had little control, yet suffered great misery.  But as I hold my son, "it no matter" (Chinaspeak)  I know, too, we will feel that even stronger as we hold all my children together.  I can't wait for that tomorrow night.

Thank you for those of you who helped us on our way by praying, good-vibing,  fundraising, volunteering, donating, gifting, and generally cheerleading.  A special THANK YOU to Braden's Grandma and Nana who took care of the girls in our absence.  Of course Katie too, and for taking care of our doggies and cats along with the girls.  Some of you were in witness of  a couple of meltdowns when our agency messed something up, and I was shaking in sobs,  and you just listened and let me vent.  I am so very grateful.

Mostly I have to say, I know each night when I shut my eyes, that we are truly blessed with the love of family and friends.  That is absolutely what is important.  I know I have a gift in Ken, and what a terrific adventure we are in as we step forward.  Thank godness he knows to keep me well nourished in chocolate and chardonnay.  :-)

I will let you all know how our reunion, or rather,  union, goes.

Our last day in Guangzhou

So we are packed and ready...just waiting for our coordinator to call with Braden's Visa and official paperwork to turn in to US Immigration when we enter at LAX.

He is ready! 

True to form, I couldn't sit in the hotel all morning, knowing we had several hours at the airport before we leave, and then 13.5 hrs on a flight to LA.  So I dragged Ken to our last sight to see.  Despite the heat index of 110F we both enjoyed it immensely.  We went to the Chen Family Temple and Academy.  It is not a practicing temple any longer but a museum.  It was magnificient!  and one of our favorite places to visit.  The wood carvings in the building were breathtaking, and the colorful temple designs were just amazing.  The pictures won't do it justice but give you an idea.  We so enjoyed walking around and admiring the architecture, but he contents of the museum were also beautiful, showcasing Chinese folk art in Ivory carving, embroidery, porcelain, furniture making, to name a few.

We bid you good bye for now.

Thank you all for experiencing this journey with us.  We have had a fantastic trip, with a most amazing treasure in our son.  I will continue to post for a while longer, to comment on Braden's transition into our house, and into Eva and Nicole's lives.