Day 4 With Iris

The day started with seeing Ansley and Elliot via Skype.  We miss them both a lot and can not wait to get back to KC and see them,  Skype does help and it would be much harder if we could not see them.  We love you Ansley and Elliot. We also skyped my sister Jennifer, Jessica, and Big Will.  Iris was showing off for them and they loved seeing her for the first time. Today we went to the Yellow Crane Tower which is famous for several well recognized poets who have visited the Tower over thousands of years.  There are many tablets with Chinese poetry throughout the grounds.  Attached are some pictures.  We thought this visit looked like what we had originally thought China would look like. We have decided that Iris does not do well in the car.  She always gets cranky when we are in the taxi.  As I mentioned before, they are hot, bumpy, and have lots of exhaust fumes. The traffic hear is unbelievable.  It is every man or woman for themselves.  You see scooters with multiple people on them.   There are people walking in the streets, people pushing carts, buses, trucks, cars and none of them follow any type of rules.  Melissa is scared everytime we get in a car. Today the smog was extremely heavy.  It is like a foggy morning in Kansas City only it stays all day long.  Reminds me of pictures of California back in the 1970s.  This town, Wuhan, has over 9 million people in it and they make a lot of vehicles in this town. In the afternoon we walked back down to the shopping district which is about a mile or so away.  We ate lunch at KFC and Iris loves spicy chicken,  We also borrowed a stroller from the hotel and Iris liked that (so did mom and dad).  We continued to have a lot of people stare at us.  One lady stopped and tried to get Iris to talk to her.  She then looked at me, smiled, and gave me a thumbs up.  Again, it is like they see her and are thankful we are taking her.  We would like to just tell all of the people she is awesome and we are the lucky ones. Melissa went into a store and the young girls working there took turns holding Iris.  Of course she hammed it up for them also. Later we went to the swimming pool and Iris is crazy.  She loves the water and is not afraid at all.  She puts her face in the water, coughs, wipes her face, and then just laughs.  She pours water over her head as if it is nothing.  Ansley and Elliot need to be prepared because Iris may be swimming before them at this pace. The time we have with Iris is great and we are trying to enjoy every moment.  She continues to bond and trust us. She is also bonding more with Melissa which is nice to see.  We hope you enjoy some more pictures.

She Is Such A Blessing

Iris is such a blessing and we can not stop spoiling her.  She is so Innocent and beautiful that is is hard to imagine how anyone could not love her.  It seems like she is starting to realize that we are not going away.    Last night she decided she was not ready to go to sleep so she tested us a little.  Melissa and I acted like we were going to bed and turned down the lights and crawled in.  She came to the edge of the bed and so we put her between us.  That is when she started talking and singing and laughing.  It was like to she knew she was testing us a little.  She eventually went to sleep and it was still only 8:00pm.  About 15 minutes after Melissa fell asleep.   As we walk around with her in the streets we get a lot of stares but we also get a lot of smiles.  The people here are not afraid to stare and get a closer look at the child we have.  It seems like most people are thankful that we are helping their people.  The Pierce family told us they had someone stop them and ask if they are Christians.  The person told them "the Christian people come over and take the babies that they disregard".   That is amazing in both good and bad.  It is god that they recognize Christians as people who care for those in need.  It is bad that they openly disregard children that do not fit their needs.  Maybe this is planting seeds for Christianity in the coming years in China.   Melissa took Iris to the restroom yesterday in the shopping area and she had to us a "squatty potty".  These are not western toilets as we know them.  They are basically just a hole in the floor and you stand over them to potty.  The Pierce family told us that their son Ben thinks the drain in the shower is a squatty potty and tries to go in there.   As we walked around yesterday (and the day before at WalMart) we noticed several children relieving themselves right in the street or on the sidewalk.  The parents or grandparents just stood there and watched.  We also see a lot of children with there bums open to the world.  Their clothes are open between the legs and in the back so they can just go whenever and where ever they want.   Iris is getting used to the western toilet and does a very good job.  Each morning she wakes up with a dry diaper and uses the toilet.  The only accidents she has is when we are out and do not have a place to go.   We had one crazy lady follow us and yell at us.  This was the first day, before we had Iris.  She was standing in front of a government building that is very close to our hotel.  As we walked by she stared at us.,  As we passed she started yelling.  We turned to see her following us with her cane.  She followed us until she came to the end of the block.  A while later we walked back by and she came towards us yelling so we walked out and away from her.  She followed us to the other end of the block yelling the entire time.  We have no idea if we offended her or if she was just crazy.   Melissa and I both slept until 5:00am this morning which is great compared to the first few nights.  Hopefully we are getting adjusted. Iris is still sleeping.   I know this posting is just a lot of various little things but I wanted to post them so we can someday remember our trip.  I continue to think about Mr. Yang and how emotional he got when we last saw him.  He told us how important Iris was at the orphanage and she was the leader.  We noticed that yesterday when Ben would get upset.  Iris would walk over to him and see what was wrong (I think this may have frustrated Ben because Iris gets very close so she can see better).  She is not afraid of approaching anyone and loves the attention.    Iris also like to tear things up and throwing things.  She loves ripping paper apart and throwing her toys.  She does not throw them in anger but throws them and just laughs about it.  This must have been how she learned to play.   Thanks for all of the responses and emails we have received.  We know everyone likes seeing updates and photos but we also love getting kind words from our friends and family.    Attached are a few misc photos and a few from Gotcha Day.  One photo is looking from our hotel window.  It is very hot here but we are yet to actually see the sun.  It looks overcast everyday but it is smog.

Day Three With Beautiful Iris

Today was a nothing day for us.  It started early once again for Melissa and I.  For some reason we can not quite getting fully on the schedule here.  We keep going to bed early and getting up about 3:00am.  Tonight we will try to stay up a little later.  Iris went to bed easily last night as she did not have a nap.  She slept until about 6:30am and only woke up when our door bell rang.  Yes our hotel room has a door bell.  I requested an extra towel and they rang the bell when they brought it.   Iris ate a good breakfast again and seems to really like eating and trying new foods.  She demands food as soon as she wakes up.   We made plans to spend the day with the Pierce family from Texas who adopted Ben.  Their schedule is the same as ours.  They planned on being at our hotel at 10:30am.  Right after breakfast we needed to find Iris some shoes as hers are too small and she has a blister on one of her toes.   We decided to walk to a shopping district and only had a general idea where it was.  After asking several people (via pointing to Iris small feet) where a shoe store is we finally found the market.  We went into a six story department store and purchased a pair of ugly white sandals.  As we were walking through the store we found a much more stylish pair and purchase them also.  Yes, she is going to be spoiled.  She loves her new shoes.  Melissa and I talked about this and these two pair are probably her first two pair that are all hers.   As soon as we got back we met up with the Pierces and walked over to the park.  Poor little Ben did not have a good day.  Iris tried to cheer him up but he was having nothing to do with her.  After the park we walked back to the shopping market and ate lunch (at Pizza Hut).  We have decided to wait and purchase most gifts and gadgets when we get to Quangzhou next week.   This took up most of the day and we returned to the hotel around 4:00 pm.  Tomorrow we will visit the Yellow Crane which is a famous landmark.  Our guide is taking us but I think the Pierce's are also going to be there.   Attached are a few photos or Iris and Ben.  Also attached is a photo of the corner market that I have been purchasing Cokes and bananas from.  The lady laughs at me each time as she has to write down the total because we can not communicate at all.  Enjoy.

Day Two With Iris

Day two started very early for mom and dad.  We both fell asleep with Iris last night about 8:00.  We both woke up about 2:00am wide awake so we just watched her sleep,  She is a very good sleeper and did not wake up until 7:30am.  When we put her to bed she cried very hard for about 30 minutes and finally she gave in and went to sleep.  It was a very long and uncertain day for her.  She did great. Once awake we went to eat breakfast and she is also a very good eater.  Many of the foods she had were new to her and she loved it. At 9:20am our guide, Jane, picked us up and we headed for the adoption office.  There we signed some papers, had a short interview, and was asked if we still wanted her?  I can not imagine why they would ask this question but sadly to say our guide told us later there have been people who decided against adopting a child after spending 24 hours with them. In the office we met the Pierce family from Texas.  They adopted a two year old boy, Ben, and they had their meeting at the same time as us.  We had been communicating with them on skype and email but had not met them.  This is their second child from China.  Tomorrow were are going to the park with them so the kids can play.  We also met a family in the office who have adopted several children and moved to Wuhan to teach school.  They are preparing to start a "home" for older orphans who need families.  I wish we would have had more time to visit with them. Now to the tough part.  At the meeting was Mr. Yang and Mr. Ma from Iris's orphanage were there again.  This would be the final time they see Iris before they go back to Jingmen City.  We asked many questions and Mr. Yang tried to tell us everything he could about Jin Yi.  It soon became obvious that Mr. Yang was very attached to her.  He told us she has been the "leader" of the orphanage and everyone knows who Jin Yi is.  As the time drew closer to ending the meeting he started to cry and so did we.  I asked him if we could come to the orphanage someday and he welcomed the thought. We all walked together to the parking lot and Mr. Yang asked us to hold up while he retrieved a treat for Jin Yi.  He brought out a bag of treats and he handed her one, she took it and began to whimper for another.  Immediately he gave her the entire bag. We next headed to WalMart to get a bottle and snacks for Iris.  This was a adventure as Iris was getting hungry and tired.  Melissa was also not feeling well - motion sickness from the hot,bumpy, stop-and-go driving.  The bottle for Iris was a huge hurdle for us as she can not drink from a straw or cup, so we thought.  We also bought liquid yogurt and she sucked it down for an afternoon snack. We spent most of the afternoon in the room playing with toys we purchased at WalMart.  Everyone was very tired and we did not feel like venturing out.  We discovered one of the restaurants in the hotel serves a hamburger and fries so that was an easy decision. It is now 7:30pm and Iris and Melissa are sound asleep.  Enjoy the pictures. FYI - Iris is definately a daddy's girl.

Gotcha

We picked up Iris today and what a joy it was.  As we walked into the building and turned the corner there she was.  Laughing and playing and she had no idea these new people would be taking her.  She was so full of energy and we soon learned that she is very determined little girl.  The two men that delivered her from Jingmen City were very nice and provide us with good information.  They also provided us with a photo album of Iris.    Mr. Ma is the head of the orphanage and he informed us that Iris spent a lot of time with his family.  She did not live with a foster family as we had thought.    It took a while for her to warm up to us but eventually she started to give in.  After about 30 minutes Mr. Ma took Iris to potty and when she came back he left the building (so she would not know he had left).  We signed some papers and headed back to the hotel.   She took to me (Joel) and I had to hold her on the way home.  She fell asleep in the car as I softly rubbed her arms (she will fit right into this family).  It was a great ride home as Melissa and I watched her sleep (and tried not to fear for our lives in the car - they are crazy drivers).   Melissa was so happy because Jane (our guide) and I had to speak to the front desk about our bill so she took Iris up to the room.  Iris held her hand all the way up to the 29th floor.  It was her initial bonding moment.  Iris seems to be adjusting well in the few hours we've had.  She cried a little when we walked down to get some take-out food but as soon as we arrived back to the room she was fine.  She ate well and drank a lot of water.  She is now taking a bath with Melissa.   While we were at the restaurant there were several young girls working there watching Iris run around and us chase her.  One of the girls told us (via our guide) that she is a very lucky little girl.    She is awesome!  She has a strong will and is very active.  I think she is going to be a hand full!  She may be getting tired from all of the love we have been giving to her in the first few hours!   Tomorrow morning we have to go back to the adoption building and sign the final papers on the China side of things.  Mr. Ma will be there and it will be interesting how she reacts to seeing him again?   Attached are a few photos from Gotcha Day.  We will post more each day.

We Made It To China - Finally

We made it to Wuhan, China last night just before midnight here (or approximately 31 hours after leaving for airport in Kansas City).  We were delayed in Chicago for several hours and missed our flight to Wuhan.  We were able to catch a later flight to Wuhan.  The flight from Chicago to Beijing was very long and we both struggled to sleep.  Luckily we were able to switch a seat with someone and get the isle and window together. We are both worried about the long trip home with Iris.   While in Chicago we met a group of ladies traveling to middle east for a tour.  We told them about our trip and then they wanted to hear everything and see pictures.  They were excited we were going on a "mission" to China.   It is currently 7:40am and we are getting ready to venture out.  Iris is traveling 5 hours in a car this morning and we will get her at 2:30pm.  We are excited, nervous, scared, and anxious.  We are going to find a store to buy her some snacks and candy (candy is so she will like us when we meet).  Later today we will try to post some pictures with her.

WE ARE GOING TO CHINA

Hold on to your socks everyone, we are going to China!  We got our TA last night, June 3rd and will leave on June 9th.  How do you like that!  I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  We will leave Kansas City on Wed. June 9th , get into Wuhan late on the 10th.  We will be in Wuhan  the 10th through the 18th. Gotcha day should  be the 11th.  Then on to Guangzhou on the 18th through 25th.  CA appointment should be the 21st or 22nd  Then back home a complete family. 
Please continue to pray for us and Iris.