FUN TIMES IN CHINA!

Ok, so I've been really busy the past couple of days having to pack up to come to Guangzhou for our last week in country so I haven't had to chance to really update you guys. SOOOO first let me talk about our sweet little man. He does NOT like to be in a seat belt .. found that out on the whole air ride to GZ. Yes we had the screaming kid almost all  the way there. He does not like high chairs, strollers or anything that would strap him in. NOt that he's scared.. he gets mad. I've learned when he gets mad there is not bargaining with him. Can't tempt him with candy, juice, toys nothing.. he's very stubborn. Kind of like he's stubborn with the whole i'm drinking only from a spoon deal. :)  I don't mind it though. I know he will have to learn to drink from a cup but for now i'm fine spoon feeding him...... because he lets me do it. :)  He's still very quiet. He  has come such a long long way in the last week. He's starting to be that little kid that grabs everything off shelves.. dig in all the drawers but usually only when we have him inside with us. But TODAY he had to go for his medical. He zoned out on the way there like he normally does. He just shuts down. But after being there a while and seeing the other kids he came to life. He was walking up to everyone he saw with food!!! Then i'm apologizing ten million times to families I don't even know. And yes he had his own snacks.. he just wanted theirs too. He doesn't know when to stop shoving food in his mouth so that's interesting a times when he gets choked and you have to catch it all in the restaurant at dinner. lol  He's a precious precious boy. We've seen that he's had NO structure what so ever and that will probably be our most challenging thing to deal with especially since he does have a stubborn side. He will learn. ;) I love him already so much that I just can't imagine us without him! He's going potty pretty good today! I have to tell him what sounds like NOW NOW to go but he's doing great. He does go in his pull up at times and we just dismiss it and keep on going. Not stressing over it at all. No melt downs today so far which is awesome. He did not cry when he had his blood drawn today which was surprising to me. But sweet boy is making great progress! He's a little trooper!

As far as adventures in China... new stuff that I've tried since the last time I updated the food.... congee ..... it's like watered down mushy rice. That's the only way I know how to describe it. Reece loves eating it and it stinks really but not horrible taste.
Pork biscuit.. it's like a steamed roll with meat inside.. actually pretty tasty
ok ready for this one?? I had to try it.. where else would I try??? The sign read PORK EAR... yeap I decided to try it... lol  While it's not something I'd eat at home.. it was not nasty. It was seasoned heavy but it was very fatty tasting and like cartilage so a little hard to chew . But over all, it wasn't bad. Would I eat it again? NAAAA  not for me. ;)
Today , we eat mcdonalds and starbucks!! Can I get a AMEN!! yes!!!!

SO our airplane ride... we left our hotel and boarded our plane. As soon as I buckled Reece in he was mad.. bucking like a little bull because he didn't want to be strapped in. Yeap that was fun. He cried almost the whole time. He DID be quiet long enough to eat his dinner they gave him. I know the people on the plane were glad he was eating. I then made MENTAL NOTE TO SELF:  bring the sleeping meds out of suitcase on the airplane!!! We leave at night this go around so hopefully that will help him. We arrive in GZ and we all had to pack into a bus with the little things hanging from ceiling to hang on to. I could see before I ever got on it was PACKED FULL! Oh that was fun. If Wes had a butt, it probably would've been sticking out the door....LOL Hanging on to those straps with a kid in hand.. yeah it was great on top of it feeling like it was 100 degrees!!! Was so glad to get off that thing. We met our new guide, Grace... we had to wait on our bus. It was kinda late. It was very humid especially so late at night. I mean sweat pouring and for those of you who know me.. i'm usually cold so when I say it's hot, it is very hot. We got on the bus which had air. YAY!! We're on the interstate and all of a sudden our bus driver starts slowing down (our guide was not with us) he slowly pulls off the side of the road. At that moment my heart fell to my feet. It scared me. We are in the middle of China in the middle of a night with a Chinese bus driver who speaks not one word of English. OH LAWD!! However we had a flat tire. So guy gets out... we hear him KICKING the tires.. we started laughing because honestly, what's that going to do.. make your rounds kicking all the tires.. lol Yes it was funny. He put up this little bitty make shift caution thing behind the bus.. don't think anyone would have seen it for real. He's been talking on his phone...he comes on bus and say the only English words.. Flat tire. So the guys get out to see if they can help. We look out the window and they're all lined up staring at the flat tire. bwah ha ha ha.. just like men!!  Wes said he had this little bitty thing that we was trying to use as a jack on that big ole bus but the guy didn't know how to change it.. but we never saw a spare tire either. WE all  did get a good laugh out of it all. After over an hour stranded, his buddy brought another bus so we made it safe and sound to our hotel! Fun times fun times! GZ is different from our first province. It's like a large city with really big buildings. We went from a very poor area to what seems like a more well off area. Or so it seems. People don't stare AS hard here at us but yeah they still stare. I mean we've had people turn around and walk backwards to stare us down. We are def. the outsiders here. But we care not. We have our baby so they can stare all they want.

Oh and one more story for you so you can laugh along with us. Wes and I laughed so hard. You guys know I don't have boys so this is a first for us. hee hee So I took Reece to potty .. a little while later, wes was like.. Heather I think he peed down his pants. I looked and was like.. what? I just put a clean pull up on him. So I go to take his pants off to inspect and yall I had his little thingy trapped outside his pull up. bwah ha ha ha ha ha.. Wes busted out laughing and I did too as Reece looked at us like we were crazy. Wes was like.. uh Heather you gotta make sure it's in the pull up. lol I don't think I"ve laughed so hard since we've been here. I'm sure that's one of many many things retarded I"ll do with our boy. But it was funny as all get out!! HA!!!
Love you guys!! Keep praying for us and for Reece's transition. He's doing great!

Long Day

We've had a couple of great days with  Reece. His little personality is shining more and more with us. He's still very quiet and seems to shut down when we are outside of of our hotel room. I know that he's just way more comfortable in our room without all the confusion and lots of people around. Today we went to the zoo. While it was a great treat, Reece really didn't care to see the animals too much. He hit his shut down mode on us. The only thing that really got his attention was the seals and some of the fish. Oh and the big gorilla sitting right in front of the glass. Besides that he really didn't care. We did see a few grins out of him just walking around with him and he looking at all the trees. We were also able to get some smiles just from talking to him and playing a little. Once we got to the little play area, he didn't want to play. Still in the shut down mode. So we sat as he watched the others play. Bless his heart. We came back to hotel, he played for a good while in here and then I layed him down for a nap. Thankfully this baby lays down to sleep with   no issues what so ever. But when he woke up, he was in complete melt down mode. He cried and cried for almost two hours. 80 percent of it was no tears.. he just kept going. So I just let him cry it out. Held him, rocked him, waited. He finally perked up when he got his bath. I know this whole adjustment is so hard on him and i'm sure it's very frustrating considering he can't understand a word we are saying. Please pray for peace and comfort for his heart. He's hurting and confused. We leave out today for GZ for our final week. Will update you as soon as we can. Love you all!

Behind Closed Doors

Reece has been very very quiet since we got him yesterday. He slept all night long with me in the bed. I actually had to wake him up this morning to get him ready to go to the civil affairs office to finalize the adoption! So exciting !  We went and ate breakfast. He was really enjoying himself. He actually grunted at me a couple of times pointing. He then .... oh my goodness.. he's trying to talk to Wes as I'm typing!! SWEET BABY!!!! That's the first time I've heard him try!  (huge smiles) Ok breakfast.. he did well. We then went back to our room to get our stuff for civil affairs...Reece for the first time started crying. As soon as we walked in the room. It was so pitiful. He was not throwing a fit. He was grieving. All I could do was hold him on the bed to try to comfort him. I think at that moment he knew he was stuck with us. Bless his heart. He's  not loud or he doesn't scream when he cries.. you could tell it was a genuine upset cry. My heart broke but at the same time I knew he had been bottling it all up since yesterday and this would be good for him. It only lasted 10 minutes. We headed to do our legal stuff and once again Reece was very quiet and to himself. It's as if we went backwards a bit. Then this afternoon, I claimed he was going to take a nap.. that hasn't happened. Instead we talked to my parents on Skype.. the little booger started feeding himself some cheesy sticks after I said he won't really do it. Kids always have a way of making you look like a liar. lol He then proceed to drink juice from his sippy cup  which he had not done at all!  After Mom and Dad got off, Wes headed to get lunch and Reece and I played. No one see's this side of him but us. Everyone around us see his distress and very quiet self but when he settles in we start seeing his beautiful personality starting to shine as he is starting to trust us a little more. We see the smiles, the giggles, the playfulness inside. I know with more time he will show others his real side but for now I'm so humbled and thankful that he IS showing them to us. Even if it is behind the closed door of our hotel room. I'm perfectly content with that!

God's Gifts

God has once again given us a precious child. Reece is so precious and beautiful. My heart is so full for him to be OURS!  Meeting him to me was a lot like me laying my eyes on my kids for the first time when they were born. You already love them while you wait.. then that moment comes.. the day your eyes meet. OHHHHHH my heart. I was immediately taken by him just like with all my girls. I held it together better than with my girls though. ha ha  I did cry yes, but I was trying not to scare him . He was very quiet and just looked around. He stayed quiet most of the day. He was in complete shock. He didn't know how to act, what to do or anything. Very still. It was sad for me to know that he was that distressed. But he has been a true treasure. We gets smiles out of him with bubbles. He loves the bath. He came to life a little bit at dinner.. banging on the table..making a mess... you know the normal kid thing. He was quiet once again when we came back to the hotel.

God has truly opened our eyes to how beautiful adoption really is. I mean he already had  but now... wow!!! There were screaming babies all in that room, but you could see the beams shining off every single parent as they were holding their child. It was truly a beautiful moment. Time seemed to have stood still for a moment when Reece walked in that room. My eyes locked on him and I melted. God showed his love and mercy full force. Words can't quite say the feeling.

We are blessed to now have 5 beautiful children. Wow!!

WE ARE HERE!

We finally made it in! Whoooo HOOOO! Man, that was a long long long way to go. First flight out of b'ham to Atlanta. Most of you know I've never been on a plane. As  soon as the thing starts backing up.. I'm looking forward and the dizzy starts in. OH NO! I feel my stomach turning. The last thing I really want to do is barf on this little plane. NO idea what to expect, panic sinks in a bit... not only am I nauseated at the point, i'm scared. I had to sit there squeezing poor Wes' hand while I tried not to make noise while I cried like a baby. I knew there was a reason I didn't fly. Once we got in the air, I was fine.. then we had to descend.. here comes the dizzy again. Needless to say, by time it was time to board for the big plane, I was nervous. HOWEVER, I only had a couple dizzy moments and I just looked out the window. All was good!!  :)

Stuff we've experienced so far:  for some reason they served us dinner at breakfast time on the plane, then served breakfast for dinner.. though it was strange... then again this morning on the way to China from Korea, they serve us dinner again and it's like 8:30 in the morning. ODD

Listening to the sweet girls on the Korean Air flights talk in English was fun. We'd have to ask them a few times what they were asking and then just going with part of what we understood.  They WERE very friendly to everyone. Very well put together. Korean has a great thing going.

Coffee shop in Korea airport had the best white mocha coffee I've ever had!

The traffic is horrific!! Imagine if you will... 3 lanes of traffic.. very busy and I mean VERY busy... now you have your 3 lanes but people decide to make up 2 more lanes on their own. Yes! You can probably stick your tongue out the window and touch them, they are that close. If that's not bad enough, they are weaving in and out of each other and cutting each other off! I thought for sure we were gonna get hit. Our van driver was a little nutty with the driving and people just honking like crazy.

When people have weddings, they tie red ribbons to the mirrors on their cars, the groom and bride have big pink bow and on front a big flower wreath. We saw that on the way in. Very cool.

In the hotel, to turn on the lights, you have to put your room key in a slot in box on wall... the guy kinda looked at us weird when we asked. (guess we should know that)

The knobs in the bathroom.. you push down to turn on not up like in US.

Wes and I both ate some type of fish (we think) maybe salmon in a salad thing this morning with our breakfast.. I mean dinner ?  Couldn't identify but it wasn't bad. We chose not to question it.

TIME TO GO MEET REECE

We are finally at that moment!! We have 3 1/2 hours before we leave to meet Reece! I'm so stinking excited but also a little on the nervous side. Please continue to pray for us. Will post our pictures as soon as we can this evening. I seem to be posting more on facebook than on our blog. It's easier for me I guess. :)  Love you all.. will update as soon as I can.

WE LEAVE TOMORROW!

Oh yes my friends! Tomorrow is the day. We have waited.. not always as patiently as we should...none the less, we've waited for this day to arrive. I woke up this morning to Wes' alarm as usual and was just so overwhelmed with emotions for what tomorrow is. I cried all morning. I'm an emotional wreck and all i can think is I better get myself together before I go get Reece!!  Wes even popped his eyes open and looked at me, "ONE MORE DAY"  with a smile on his face. Then of course my tears came back, along with tears from Wes. It's so hard to explain the excitement of it all into the right words. We know in our hearts we are fixing to change Reece's life forever. Teach him that he IS loved, he DOES matter, he DOES belong to a family, and OUR GOD LOVES HIM MORE THAN HE CAN EVEN WRAP HIS MIND AROUND. Our lives have changed in huge ways over this past year and I know bringing Reece in will change even more. So ready for God has planned for us!

I wanted to take a minute to say THANK YOU!!! To all of you who have prayed for us, came to our events, let me harass the mess out of facebook with our adoption, who gave to our cause without batting an eye, for the words of encouragement, the smiles, the people who allowed us to share with them how God moves, for the ones who let me talk their ears off about Reece cause I'm so stinkin excited,  thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Each and everyone of you have played such a special part in our lives and we are forever changed and forever grateful for you!!!

Continue praying for us these next couple weeks. Got cha day is coming really soon! Pray for Reece for his change. Also please pray for our kiddos at home. they have to wait even longer to meet their brother they've prayed so hard for!

WE'RE GOING TO CHINA!!

Since my last update we have received our Travel Approval AND our Consulate appointment for Reece. Oh yes we are headed to China my friend!! There were some hiccups in the road from TA to CA but God worked them out and we received our consulate appointment yesterday!! Oh glory day!!!  We leave on Thursday! Yeap you read it right! THURSDAY! I'm not believing it's here already. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that we are REALLY going to get our son! IN CHINA!!! It's been 11 months since I stepped foot into our agency to give them our application. I was so nervous that day! We've come so far. God has proven his goodness over and over again. He has completely changed my life in this whole process. I wouldn't change this experience for the world!  My emotions have been wild, I've had melt downs , I've worked till I'm just plain tired but I keep looking at what is at the end of this small chapter. Reece. In 9 days our lives will open up to a new chapter. May 27th, is our got cha day. The day we meet our Reece face to face. The day we've longed for. We fully expect melt down mode from him considering he's only 2 years old and no he's not going to understand right now. In all the confusion, I'm sure it will be one of the most precious moments of our lives. I  think back to the times I have birth to our 4 kiddos now, they came screaming too! It took time to comfort them, to hold them and love them and teach them, it's ok. I'm sure Reece will take quite a bit  more time for that but that's how  view it . Baby steps.Another happy moment for me is coming... we will still be in China June5th. However, it's a special day. It's Reece's birthday!! He will have his mama and daddy in time for his 3rd birthday. Can I say that there will be some partying going on in China on June 5th!! I'm sure I can locate a cake of some sort at the local Chinese Walmart, right? I have prayed so many times to be with Reece for his 3rd birthday. I was so heart broke during Thanksgiving and Christmas not having him here with us.  I'm thrilled!! Yea I know Reece has no clue what his birthday is but WE do!! I'll try my best to keep this blog updated as much as possible while we are in gone. If I can't, we have family here holding down our fort till we return and they can post for us if we can't. Please continue to pray for us and for Reece. He is about to face HUGE change. He's going to need lots of peace and comfort outside of Wes and I  that we know only God can provide.

SO CLOSE

We are currently waiting for our Travel Approval! OH my goodness!! I simply can't wait! It's all so exciting! We are just to the point of we are READY TO GO!!  We are so close!! Will update you as soon as we hear!  Please continue to be in prayer for our familyand for Reece. Lot's of change heading our way! Thank you all!!