We're on the final part of the trip

Almost home, we left Zhengzhou this am. We are in Guangzhou. Lulu did great, and slept the whole trip and woke up to the plane landing and all she said was WHAAAAA? (what?) When she looked outside and saw the plane land. Will try to post again soon! We're starving. Thanks for all your prayers. Love you all

Visit to KAIFENG orphanage

Check our previous posts for added pics and new info if you like, we almost didn't visit the orphanage today for fear that the foster family may show up and try to see Lulu which is exactly what happened. The spirit gave me a peace about it though when I saw them. The foster mom watched as we visited the director and staff, and when I saw her I just felt the spirit leading me to let her say goodbye. I waved her over and let her speak to her she kissed her and cried, I cried and patted her on the leg and told her it was ok, and hugged her and her husband led her out as they cried. Lulu was ok though, and we went on to see the room the babies are kept in. We later let the family hold her breifly and took a quick picture, then took her back. The other pic is of Pat and the orphanage director holding Lulu. Everyone loved her very much there, and the gave us a precious glimpse into her life. We left quicky after because Lulu started to cry when we got close to the van and she saw the foster family was stil there. She is a trooper. We then visited her finding place, where she was left at the entrance to the children's hospital and that is the other pic. It is bedtime. Have a good day, moving on to Guangzhou after tomorrow!

Lulu loves all things water

We found out today that Lulu loves the bath, the swimming pool and the aquarium. We have some great pictures, but still having trouble posting them from China. We took her to the local aquarium and she really came out of her shell. We also found out she can walk, although I was busy doing laundry in the bathroom sink when she did. Pat saw and was excited, but didn't say anything in time for me to see. She is really fighting eating and sleeping with us still, but she is getting what she needs, so we'll just take it one day at a time.
Tomorrow we visit the orphanage, and it will be a long, probably difficult day for her but we think it's important to get answers for the questions she may have in the future.
Good night, we are exhausted and it is only 7:30.

Side story: we were walking the streets and passed a family when the mother looked at us and then doubled over in hysterical tears and couldn't go on...I watched them for a while and the husband sat and cried with her too right there on the sidewalk! We are unsure, but can't help but wonder if she was one of the many mother who had abandoned a baby of her own one day. We have heard of similar things happening to other families. It was a deeply sad moment for all of us. We were with one other family when this happened, and could not say much, but we feel the sorrow very, very much over this sad reality.

More info...

I cannot visit the very special family here in Zhengzhou that we had hoped to spend time with. They are sick. We are very sad about this. But, God must have other plans for our time here. We will sight see here tomorrow and visit the orphanage the next day. Lulu went down for the night and I am so thankful. The most difficult times are bedtime and meals. She cried so hard earlier for her mama, I just cried right along with her, for her sorrow feels just as deep to me. We went to the Chinese equivalent to Wamart today! What a crazy place......I think we got quite a few stares but we just smiled!

The good thing about her grieving though is that she finds comfort in us. That is, when she is grieving she want us the hold her, and hugs me very tightly while she screams for MAMA! at the top of her lungs! Pat has not gotten to hold her as much, as I have her in the Ergo constantly! She loves being out, and screams everytime we get close to the hotel room door! Probably brings back terrible memories of just yesterday! Wow! seems like we've had her longer!

Thanks for you comments! They have been oh so encouraging. Love you all, oh yeah the lady in the rickshaw with Pat is a family member of one of the other families travelling with us, I was sick this day! Poor Pat....He wanted me to be there.

Lulu is officially our daughter

We got the adoption certificate today! She is still grieving very hard & not sleeping well. Today has been tough. Tomorow is a free day, so maybe we can get her on a schedule. Here's a few pictures another family took for us!

We're parents!

There is no way I can describe today! I am so sorry not to have pictures yet! Hopefully tomorrow! We are having trouble with download. But will have a less hectic schedule tomorrow to have time to try to fix. We received Lulu at about 11:30, much later than expected! She came to me easily and did not cry at first. Another couple we have made good friends with, was 2 doors down and we heard their baby cry and knew the babies were hear! Both our babies are from the same orphanage. They were actually friends and in pictures together. So we heard the cry and I ran into the hallway! I reached for Lulu in the hallway of the hotel and she came to me fine. When we went into the room she started to cry and kept calling for her Mama and Baba (daddy) and looking around. It was very difficult! She was very, very hungry and wanted a bottle, but they did not bring the formula they were supposed to! So Pat had to immediately run out to get formula! He had to miss the whole thing!
We did the money exchange, the gift exchange and they gave me all of the items we sent her back. They gave me a photo album with pictures they took of her until now! I started to cry for the first time when I saw this, and said Xie Xie (thank you) will deep thanks. I know they understood because the man got tears in his eyes too when I look at him and said this! It was a precious moment. I knew for sure they cared deeply about her and they knew for sure I did too, even though no more words were said, it was all in the eyes!
They left and I was alone! An unconsolable child with 3 layers of clothes, sick with a cold, in a room 82 degrees because the A/C is not working, and covered in poo because they gave her to me with split pants and she also had diarrhea from sickness. It had been a long time and Pat was still not back! I started to worry; he was only supposed to go the corner store. Another hour or so later, comes Pat and I find out he had to hail a taxi to go to another store and get formula, because that is the only place they sell it. He did amazing! He actually found it, and made it back without speaking a lick of Mandarin.

Pat quickly became the daddy! Lulu would not let me put her down and he had to make all the snacks, the bottles, handle the money, signature, all transactions! Lulu finally calmed down at 1:50 and fell asleep. But only 20 mins later we had to trekk all over on foot to complete all the documents! She has had a rough day! Missed both naps, totally off schedule for food/bottles, and still cries for Mama and Baba (her foster family). She fell asleep at 7 pm and is sound asleep in the crib back at the room with Pat, while I post our news to you all.

We are going to sleep now, while we can. Thanks for your prayers, she is getting better already. We never even had time for lunch, but today was the best day we could ask for even amongst all the beautiful choas. Every one of the 5 babies is so precious! We are so thankful to God for this journey!

1 hour til Lulu

We arrived in Zhengzhou yesterday, long day! Lulu is sick they told us. She went to hospital last night and just has cold from the weather change. It's okay. They will be here in half hour or so. We will post soon. We are all so excited here. 5 babies are coming in less than the hour! We love you all! Pray for us...It is absolutely surreal to walk into the hotel room with an empty crib waiting for us....Praise God!