Today we went back to the Civil Affairs office and went through the process to finalize our adoption of Miss Olivia ZiJing. She is officially a Meighen poor thing!!! We decided to get some noodle cups and have lunch in the room, yesterdays adventure has me a bit wary of new experiences. No one has gotten sick yet though, however, Bern's sense of adventure is miles ahead of mine! The girls continue to bond and it is very sweet to see. To God be all the glory on this one. She is a smarty pants too, for someone who is the size of a four year old. She counts to 100+ in Mandarin and talks a mile a minute. She says Abigail like a pro and just repeats the heck out of everything. I keep waiting for the honeymoon to be over, but so far its been a cake walk. To see her work a bow with her bad hand is literally amazing. She has adapted VERY well. The hard part is to be out in public and see the stares her own people give her. Guess that explains why she was discarded as a baby...its disturbing and sad on so many levels.
ANYWAY, we go to the police station later to pick up some official papers and tomorrow is her TB test. Some touring is finally on the agenda, the Safari Park, a temple of some kind and also the pearl market to purchase Olivia a strand of pearls for her wedding some day. We did this back in '07 when we came for Abigail for all three kids so I need one more strand. We've done the standard purchases here on the island, dresses and such. Still need to pick up a tea set to add to my collection...but I SWORE I wouldn't buy up the place like last time...really....I promise...
More pics to come tonight, seriously.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Culinary Delights
My two guys have ventured "off the island a few times to get the real feel of China, like Anthony Bourdain. So today we ALL went across the big bridge for lunch in search of a noodle shop and found a little restaurant full of locals. You know the deal, when in Rome....so we went in hoping for some noodles. It was truly a Chinese restaurant. We picked our meal by the pictures and not a soul spoke our language. Ended up with some awesome green beans stir fried in some sauce, a bowl of noodles and the main dish, fish stew. We didn't realize that was what we ordered, but whatever. It really wasn't bad, if there were no bones...and for some reason, on a dare, Zach ate one of the eyeballs...yikes! All in all it was pretty tasty, but I have to say I was very nervous "over there".
Olivia continues to amaze us with how easily she is fitting in. There is that whole language barrier, but Bern is working hard to speak Mandarin to her and she just talks right back...its so cute because we have no real clue what she is saying. She is repeating our English and is very clear about what she does say. I expect she will be fluent in no time. She is eating well and sleeping well too. Prayers for this to continue are greatly appreciated! I know it will be hard for her once she is completely away from here and that makes me sad.
Abigail continues to be a good big little sister to her, even though jealousy is there at times and sleep comes way too early for all of us.
Tomorrow we go back to the Civil Affairs office to finalize our paperwork. We've sort of been on free time as the last few days were a holiday similar to our Memorial Day and we have a bit of cabin fever. It'll be good to get out a bit. We'll get some more pictures up soon, promise!
Olivia continues to amaze us with how easily she is fitting in. There is that whole language barrier, but Bern is working hard to speak Mandarin to her and she just talks right back...its so cute because we have no real clue what she is saying. She is repeating our English and is very clear about what she does say. I expect she will be fluent in no time. She is eating well and sleeping well too. Prayers for this to continue are greatly appreciated! I know it will be hard for her once she is completely away from here and that makes me sad.
Abigail continues to be a good big little sister to her, even though jealousy is there at times and sleep comes way too early for all of us.
Tomorrow we go back to the Civil Affairs office to finalize our paperwork. We've sort of been on free time as the last few days were a holiday similar to our Memorial Day and we have a bit of cabin fever. It'll be good to get out a bit. We'll get some more pictures up soon, promise!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Adjustment
Many of you have asked how Abigail is adjusting to her sister. She is actually doing better than I am! She has kind of taken on the role of big sister, especially since she is a head taller than ZiJing. She was very scared before we left home and when I asked her yesterday if she is still scared, she said no. She has been very helpful and plays great. ZiJing is catching on to our language very fast, not necessarily saying things but she is understanding. What she does say, she says well. She also has the high 5 down pat, thanks babe! My adjusting has been harder and I can't explain it very well. She's not a baby but she IS a baby in so many ways...tiny as can be, the language barrier makes it seem like she's a baby as well. She tries very hard to make us happy, and is cute as a bug...so, I wish I could explain how I feel. At the end of the day, I will say things are different but not THAT different and she is a doll. Can't wait to get her arm looked at, it will be an amazing change for her and what a difference that will be. Children are a gift from God and this one is no different...
p.s. We are so ready to go home :(
p.s. We are so ready to go home :(
Sunday, April 3, 2011
She's So Tiny
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we can't get picitures to upload through the portal :( I have a call out to Super Chris and hope to resolve my issues in the morning.
On to little Miss Olivia...she is the most petite little thing! And we got kisses today! She has the sweetest disposition, its very hard to believe she is almost 8. But the girl is smart...she repeats us constantly which our guide says is a great sign and we have been able to communicate fairly easily....and then there's the giggle, did Bernie mention that? She has this nervous energy and giggles through everything! It often becomes a full belly laugh that is very contagious. So all in all, things are progressing very well and if I wasn't so tired, I'd keep talking...more tomorrow.
On to little Miss Olivia...she is the most petite little thing! And we got kisses today! She has the sweetest disposition, its very hard to believe she is almost 8. But the girl is smart...she repeats us constantly which our guide says is a great sign and we have been able to communicate fairly easily....and then there's the giggle, did Bernie mention that? She has this nervous energy and giggles through everything! It often becomes a full belly laugh that is very contagious. So all in all, things are progressing very well and if I wasn't so tired, I'd keep talking...more tomorrow.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Gotcha Day
After the whirl wind race we were off to meet our new daughter. That is if the driver doesn't run over a couple hundred pedestrians on the way to the Civil Affairs office. Before I go further I have to go backwards. When we decided to adopt an older child we had a lot of preconceived notions in our heads based on all the reading and studying we had done. We did not have real high expectations for our initial meeting. But once again our God proved how little faith those of us professing believers have. Our family has seen more than our share of answered prayers but we go in expecting the worst. Before we left we laid out our prayer requests (same as they had been for the past 9 months), we prayed with many of your over the last week. Gotcha Days all look different and I really did not expect this one to be filled with hugs and smiles. I just wanted prayer for a short grieving period, the ability to communicate on some level and for God to prepare Olivia's heart. Our brothers and sisters in Christ responded with continued prayer and again God showed me why I believe and why I try so hard to be obedient (failing often). He knocked this one out of the park.
We had our game plan, get to the office, do some paper work and wait for the coordinated hand off. We entered the room (where we would meet her} and sat down on the couch. Everyone was very nervous and more than anxious. We all sat down and began making small talk. I got up to go across the room to take a picture and out of a side room runs Olivia Zijing yelling Baba, Baba. I bend down on my knees and before the cameras were rolling or the paper work started she jumps into my arms and begins to hug me while she was smiling from ear to ear. UNBELIEVABLE. Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined.
I sit before this computer humbled at how He shows us his faithfulness. Yes Olivia has been with us less than 24 hours, and yes Abigail's gears are grinding to see how this whole family thing is going to play out with a new competing sibling and yes we are in this way too early to call victory and adjustment. But WOW I am speechless. We got through the last 5 hours with out an interpreter and got the potty thing down. Abigail wishes Zijing spoke English and she will repeat anything you say to her. Olivia is very nervous and giggles at everything. We suspect the giggling is a nervous system overload (poor thing).
The girls (including Wendy) are in bed, Zachary is in bed and I should be. I am running on fumes based on that travel schedule but I had to get this out there for you good and faithful servants who needed to know. Keep praying for adjustment, bonding and that Abigail adjusts as well. This is so much for two little girls to go through and I think Abby got a look back into her past today which will help her better understand her story. Enough for now
Post from Baba - (photos and more tomorrow but from Wendy)
We had our game plan, get to the office, do some paper work and wait for the coordinated hand off. We entered the room (where we would meet her} and sat down on the couch. Everyone was very nervous and more than anxious. We all sat down and began making small talk. I got up to go across the room to take a picture and out of a side room runs Olivia Zijing yelling Baba, Baba. I bend down on my knees and before the cameras were rolling or the paper work started she jumps into my arms and begins to hug me while she was smiling from ear to ear. UNBELIEVABLE. Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined.
I sit before this computer humbled at how He shows us his faithfulness. Yes Olivia has been with us less than 24 hours, and yes Abigail's gears are grinding to see how this whole family thing is going to play out with a new competing sibling and yes we are in this way too early to call victory and adjustment. But WOW I am speechless. We got through the last 5 hours with out an interpreter and got the potty thing down. Abigail wishes Zijing spoke English and she will repeat anything you say to her. Olivia is very nervous and giggles at everything. We suspect the giggling is a nervous system overload (poor thing).
The girls (including Wendy) are in bed, Zachary is in bed and I should be. I am running on fumes based on that travel schedule but I had to get this out there for you good and faithful servants who needed to know. Keep praying for adjustment, bonding and that Abigail adjusts as well. This is so much for two little girls to go through and I think Abby got a look back into her past today which will help her better understand her story. Enough for now
Post from Baba - (photos and more tomorrow but from Wendy)
The Amazing Race
Well we made it to Hong Kong with only a two hour delay which is a big success. All travels went well, had dinner with some old friends and took the express tour of Kowloon Firday night after arrival. A jet lag night with little sleep and it was off to the train for Guangzhou. How we covered so much ground in such a short period of time is nothing less than remarkable. We no more got checked into the Victory Hotel and we left to go meet Olivia Zijing.
Travel Prayers answered (check)
Travel Prayers answered (check)