Photos of the past 2 days.

Picture #1 is the Master Nanny.  I can't properly say or spell her name but it sounds like Jan.  She is a nice lady and teared up a couple of times before she told YiLin goodbye.

Picture #2 are the items we bought from the love gift our church gave us.

Picture #3 is our new family :-)  Notice the look on Jeremy's face.....

Picture #5 is downtown "Town Center" in Chengdu.

Picture #6 is Ian's first time holding YiLin this morning.

SHE SMILES! SHE SPEAKS! SHE PUKES!......no in that order though.

Yesterday was my hardest day, attachment wise.  I was spoiled with Yi Lin the night before and thought maybe she was bonding with me.  That was a big NO.  After I posted my last blog, I returned to the room to find her a daddy's girl and mama can't anywhere close to her.  Jeremy did not want me to go to the supermarket alone, so we planned for him to leave while Yilin was using the bathroom and then I would watch a movie with her.  Well, it didn't go over well to say the least.  He didn't even make it in the elevator before Yilin had cried so hard that she puked all over me :-(  That was not good because we had just got her to take her antibiotic.  So we all ended up going to the market and because we were pushed for time, I couldn't even change clothes.  I ended up having a meltdown in the supermarket and again at the hotel when we got back.  I was so emotional!  I hate that about me.  I finally got a much needed shower and felt a bit better.  Remember we still had not heard her say a word and I was beginning to think she couldn't speak.

 

When we arrived at Civil Affairs, the head nanny comes in and Yi Lin smiles the biggest smile ever!  What?  She smiles?  Master Nanny says something to her and she speaks!!!!!  What?  You mean she speaks!  She said Baba and Gugu (brothers) and after some encouragement from the nanny, she softly said, mama.  Oh the joy that filled my heart.  Everything is going to be ok I told myself, I knew it would be.  She was so happy.  The whole time we were there and even when the nanny said goodbye to her for the last time, she looked sad, but just held Jeremy's hand.  She was so brave.  When we got back to the hotel, she was laughing and smiling.  She is fine as long as I am 5 feet away.

 

She let me give her a bath and we played with the bath toys together.....wonderful time for me.  I rubbed her dry skin down with baby lotion and gave her a back rub after her pj's were on.  But she wouldn't let me rock her to sleep, so daddy stepped in.  He is amazing with her!  If you could only see the pure joy on Jeremy's face.  I slept by her crib at Jeremy's request and she awoke crying at 1am.  She had coughed so much she was gagging.  I rushed her to the potty thinking she would thow up again, but she didn't.  She wasn't happy that I was the only one to care for her.  She wimpered around for about an hour and finally laid in her bed and was out again.  She was content with me when woke at 5:30am but that of course was out the window when you know who came in 1 hour later.    I can't wait til bath time tonight :-)

 

We had a wonderful day today.  We went to the notary and go her passport and then to the People's Park.  Wonderful experience!  Chengdu is a beautiful place after all.  We walked around for several hours and also purchased tickets to an opera show for tomorrow night.  I will tape it for Yi Lin to have.  It is supose to be a great show.

 

The boys are doing school work now.  We have the rest of the day off.  Jeremy is putting YiLin down for her first nap.  We put her pj's on so she will know it is time to sleep.  I am amazed at Jeremy.  WOW what a transformation in him so far.  I am so proud of him.  He is so gentle and affectionate with her.  The boys have noticed this too.....I am giving them extra affection so they won't get jealous.....by the way, I have nothing else to do....if you get my drift.

 

Our guide, Lily, is a blessing.  She is so kind and trys to please us.  She is wonderful with YiLin but YiLin doesn't really like her either so I don't feel so bad.  For anyone else reading this that is due to go to Chengdu, I highly recommend her.

 

Just a some random notes about YiLin.....

She is a size 3 and not a 4.

I still don't know what size shoe she is, but we did buy some cute dress shoes for her yesterday.

She is feeling a bit safer with us now.  She doesn't cling to all her little items so much.

Jeremy noticed that when she is nervous or scared, she turns the flashlight on. 

But when she is calm, she has it off and has even left it in her purse all day without bringing it out.

She loves rice....of course.

Doesn't seem to like eggs...oh no..or pizza....I guess we will have rice and pizza on pizza night.

I brushed her teeth this morning, and her top front teeth are really messed up.  One is even broken in half.

Her palate is still open a bit with a small hole.

She loves toys that play music.

She chose a Sponge Bob balloon at the park over a bunch of girly ones.....

She is very tickleish...I think I misspelled that, sorry.

She snores.

She is a very sweet little girl.

She hasn't asked for anything yet and is alittle shy when we offer her something.

 

We go to the Panda Base tomorrow and we can't wait.  Thanks those of you that have posted or emailed comments to us.  I sat and cried (of course) when I read them all earlier.....It means alot to me.  The boys say hello to all their friends and cousins.  They have bought a few things for you.

Continue the prayers!  YiLin is taking the medicine for daddy, even though it is gritty and not so good.  She obeys very well, except when you want her to say please or thank you.  We are working on that slowly.

We love you all...

 

One Really Difficult Day

I don't really know how to start this post.  I guess I will say that I have read many many adoption blogs and never read one like our gotcha day.  We arrived only minutes prior to YiLin.  When they walked in she took one look at us and burst into tears.  I told my children that this could be a good thing.....however, she cried frantically for a very long time and the master nanny tried to get her to me but she screamed and kicked and would not let go of her.  We went over the paperwork and they told us all about her.  I asked all my questions and finally after an hour and half, the nanny had to just drop her into Lily ( our guide/translator's) arms.  She screammed bloody murder and kicked and managed to break free of her.   By that time, the nanny was long gone.  Jeremy was on one knee pretty close to the exit door and I just knew she was gone after the nanny.  She ran toward the door but flew into Jeremy's arms instead.  She clung to him and immediately stopped crying.  We all sat there praying and I looked over to Lily and she was crying too.  I started crying and pulled out the camera to capture the moment.  It was amazing.  He comforted her so well.  He is her friend for life now.  I sat there thanking God that Jeremy was able to comfort her.  We all just watched in amazement.

 

That was yesterday......it was a very long evening.  Yi Lin is very sick right now.  Her chest rattles and she sounds like whistles are in her lungs.  Her nose is a mess....and her eyes continue to run green.  Jeremy is tring to get her to take the antibiotic right now.  I pray she takes it.  If she has fluid on her ears, the plane ride could be very painful for her.

 

She has not spoke a word since we left the Civil Affairs Office.  She nods yes and no.  She finally let me take her last night long enough for Jeremy to go to McDonalds and pick us up supper and to the supermarket to get her a bottle and milk.  She didn't want it.  She did eat 3 nuggets and some fries and drank some hot water.  I was afraid she might dehydrate because she refused to drink until after she ate.  I thought we were going to have to put her to bed without a bath or changing her.....but when I ran the bath water, she started undressing and seemed content with it.  I washed her hair too....she didn't even fuss.  I put her pj's on and Jeremy and I sat on the bed beside her crib with her.  She let me rock her to sleep.  She rested well last night, but coughed terribly.  She has alot of congestion in her chest and head.  She woke this morning content and let Marshall hold her and watch a short dvd.  I changed her and combed her hair.  We are staying on her schedule so breakfast was at 7.  She ate 3 bowls of congee but didn't want anything else.  She is coloring now and using the stickers.  She is very smart and colors like an 8 or 9 year old.

 

She will look at us in the eyes, it doesn't seem to bother her.  Although, she won't look at our eyes for more than 5 seconds or so.  She has not smiled, but maybe given us 1 or 2 half grins.  She can wear the clothes I brought and seems to be the exact size of my great niece Kaylee.  The nanny was very satisfied that Emery Min, Yan and Annabell will be able to communicate with Yi Lin.  She was so happy when I pulled out their photos with their families.  I told them that Yan's family is coming soon.  She was happy.

 

YiLin stashes all kinds of stuff in her pockets.  The nanny said she does it all the time and maybe she is not secure.  I definately believe this to be true.  We will really have to work on making her feel safe.  We have given her little bags of fruit snacks to carry around and she will not let them go.  She also clings to the flashlight I brought, she even slept with it.  I asked the nanny if she had someone with her during her long 3 hospital stays and she said no.  I felt like someone ripped my heart out.  That will never happen again.....and it will take a very long time to make up for the harm that has done to her.

 

Pray that she takes the medicine.  Pray that adventually she will be happy and smile.  She is alot like her baba.  The nanny said she supresses her emotions and doesn't let them show.  He does too.

 

Ian has a virus on his IPod and we can't use the Chinese apps we downloaded or he can not text either.  I will do my best to post later, and pray that I don't get a virus on my laptop.  I am going shopping for the orphanage now.  They really need diapers......lots of diapers in many sizes she said.

 

I am thankful for the improvements I have seen in Yi Lin since yesterday.  I am thankful for Lily.  I am thankful for my family being so loving and patient with her.  I am most thankful to God for loving Yi Lin more than I do and knowing what is best for her.  We will do whatever it takes to give her a good life and come to know the Lord as her Savior and with Him, it is possible.

With all our love........

Bye Bye Beijing, Hello Chengdu!

****My thoughts of meditation today have been: "If the Lord be God, follow Him",  and "Who do I fear most, God, or the unknown?"  Make up your mind Mary......who you are going to serve?****

 

Our morning started off very early.  Our jet lag had us in bed by 7pm and wide awake at 4am.  I had woke up at 12:30 and it took me another hour to go back to sleep.  Our flight to Chengdu was uneventful....thank God no one threw up!  We hated to say goodbye to Alison and the other families, but we will meet them in 5 days.  We all prayed together this morning and tears were flowing.  Alison pushed her way right up to the counter at the airport and got us checked in asap and off for our flights....she is a God sent.  A Helping Hand is very blessed to have her working with them.

 

Lily met us right at the exit and she is a cute little thing.  She is very kind and really seems to know what she is doing.  I could see all kinds of notes that she had been taking on our schedule.  So far, we are very pleased with her.  She loves to talk and seems to respect what we are doing and wants to help us in any way she can.  We meet her tomorrow at 2pm to go meet Yi Lin.  Just thinking about it makes me tear up....I gotta get it together!

 

Lily got us checked in at the Yin He Dynasty in no time at all and we sat in the lobby for about 15 minutes and she explained what would unfold tomorrow.  Our rooms are side by side.  They are small and will work just fine.  I've stayed in worse, that's for sure, and I have stayed in better.  I will be grateful for what we have.  Ian will stay in my room tonight, and tomorrow night, Marshall wants to stay with Yi Lin and I.  I think I will have a crib brought up for her and we will see how she feels about it.  If not, Marshall will have to stay in Jeremy's room. 

 

We walked to the Pizza Hut after Lily left and wow!!!! what an experience.  Everything I've read on the other blogs just didn't prepare me for the task of Sunday afternoon in downtown Chengdu.  It is packed.  The streets and the sidewalks are full of people and cars and everyone pushes past you.  We found the Pizza Hut with no problems and it was even better than home.  We then tried to ignore our bodies need for sleep and tried to find a grocery store.  It didn't go over very well, but finally, we stumbled in one by accident.  We had to have bottled water (and coke) but didn't want to pay $4 a bottle for it at the hotel.  I have a new appreciation for drinkable water....I'll never take it for granted again.  Chengdu is very foggy, or smokey...no sure which one.  I can't say that it is beautiful, because all I see are older tall buildings, lots of cars and people, mopeds, and bicycles.  I am sure there is more to it than that, but I haven't seen it yet.  Most of the ladies here do not dress modestly...and how do they wear such high heels?  We are not the only red heads, alot of the ladies here dye their hair red.  I still can't get use to the smells.  Even in Chengdu, it smells funny....and not funny good either.  Lily told us today that the children here study very hard...14 hours a day to try and get into the university.  She said her son who is 2 is in kindergarten already.  That was a very random thought and totally off the subject...sorry.

 

Jeremy is having withdrawals from lack of Mountain Dew...there is none here, only Coke and Sprite, and Pepsi in some spots.  The boys are doing well.  We really need to do some math and Language, but we are so tired by the time we settle down.  We will give it a try in the morning after breakfast.

 

I hope to post tomorrow evening about this time....so hopefully when you all get up Monday morning, you can see Yi Lin too.  We don't have internet in the room, but I can get it in the lobby with my lap top.  However, I can't use my VPN, so I can only access Yahoo and am having to post via my email....I am grateful that I can still do that or else the blog would be a no go.  Keep the prayers and emails coming.  They are encouraging us and lifting us up.  I need to wash some clothes in the sink and take a shower so I will say goodbye for now.......

Oh yes, Ian and Marshall wanted to say hello to their classmates, teachers, and their "special" friends....you know who you are!

 

 

 

 

 

A few photos of our day....

 

PRAISES FOR MY LORD

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all ye creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

 

I will start my post today by being totaly honest with you.  Last night when I wrote to our blog, I was fighting back the tears.  I wanted to go home so badly.  The day had been so hard and I was so sick at my stomach.  Marshall was not doing well, and I was thinking very negative thoughts.  After I was finally able to take a quick shower and crawl into bed, I lay there praying that God would touch me.  I didn't sleep for a couple of hours.  The bed was very comfortable and worm and the longer I lay there, the better I began to feel.  I prayed that I would be able to fall asleep and awake refreshed and that Marshall would be touched also.

 

When I awoke and looked at the clock, it was 5 minutes before I was suppose to get up and I felt so very good.  I just couldn't stop thanking God.  Marshall felt better this morning too.  He did have a head ache from being dehydrated, but after drinking a bottle of water, having a shower, and eating an amazing breakfast,  he was completely well.  We had a wonderful day sight seeing in Beijing.  Our A Helping Hand agent, Alison, did a great job taking us around the city.  She is a Christian and a blessing to be around.  I also want to thank God for the other 2 families that we have been placed with on this trip.  They are such true followers of Christ and they are great examples for our family.

It is very interesting to travel on the streets here.  There aren't many rules to follow and everyone hunks their horns as they aggresively dart in and out of traffic.  Thankfully, we have a great driver. 

 

The boys are out and have been for some time now.  They both had a hard time staying awake after we left the Great Wall.  We even skipped supper to let them sleep.  Tomorrow, we eat breakfast at 6am and head to the airport for our daughter's province Sichuan.  We will be staying in Chengdu.  Keep the prayers coming and thanks for the ones you've already prayed.

 

 

Red Necks Have Arrived in Red China!

We are finally in Beijing and it was a very long flight.  We ended up making an emergency stop in Cookeville so I could see Dr. Kevin at Hayes Family Denistry.  Somehow I have a bacterial infection in my gum and had to start antibiotics.  We carried way too much on the plane.  We will not make that mistake coming home.  We did luck out and get to sit together, mostly, and the movies were great....so many we couldn't have watched them all in a whole week.  The food seemed ok.....until hours later and then it wasn't so nice.  Marshall puked just as we landed and barely made it to the bathroom.  I think it was a combo of turbulance and the food :-(  Alison picked us up at the airport and there were no problems there.  We are at our hotel and it is nice, but the smell is not so nice.....we are not sure what the smell is but it is different.  It is 1am and we need to be up and bright eyed and bushy tailed at 6:45 am.  We will write more later and will have some pictures too....Lord willing.

 

Pray for us....and YiLin