Where We're At With The Boys

So, yes, we're still here ... sorry for the delay in updating how we're doing.  Having two more children really does require more energy and more time.  What an adjustment!

We having been taking multiple trips to the grocery stores because our  two boys like to have enough food on hand and they can eat quite a bit, given the opportunity.

The kids like to all hold hands ... AWE !!!

This was a spot near our hotel in Jinan.  We had to walk over this canal each time we went to the store.  Very pretty ... 

On one of our shopping trips, we went to the toy section and we bought the boys a few toys.  There is a cartoon that is here in China that I am convinced is the only TV program that the boys watched in the orphanage.  Another adoptive mom said it is called "Boonie Bears".  

The toys we bought are of the theme of this cartoon. 

The boys were VERY excited ... Jonah more than Rees (he takes everything so much more seriously and these toys were no exception). 

Here's Jonah mimicking the character of the cartoon.  It is quite entertaining! 

We had to make-believe a playground in the center of the city! 

Things are definitely improving with Jonah.  He takes my hand now, asks me to carry him, and even snuggle him ... HUGE improvement.  He struggles, though, with being told "no" and sometimes we have to say "no".  His reaction is (getting old) but I know it will pass.  It's difficult to help him understand the "why" to our "no" at this point and it's difficult to deal with his reaction but at least the length and intensity of the reaction is getting shorter and weaker.

I know the LORD is with us and helping us through all of this.

We will keep looking to Him as we meander through this process and grow our family stronger and stronger each day.

Day #2 with Bei Bei and Huang Huang

Our second day was VERY LONG, exhausting and emotional.  The plan was that we would go to the Civil Affairs Office to complete the adoption if we were willing (are you kidding me?).  They actually asked us this question three times.  "Are you certain that you want to adopt both boys?"  "Is it your desire to adopt these boys?"  "Do you want to go ahead to adopt both boys?"  

  At the first office, we officially signed the adoption paperwork and certificates.  Both boys handprints were taken and stamped on the paperwork as well.

We had some moments of waiting so we took that opportunity to play a bit.

Rees is pretty easy-going and compliant and just went along with whatever we were doing.

He takes pretty good photos of me too!!  

Jonah wanted Rees to take his photo with me which put me over the moon because it meant he had to sit on my lap (so I snuck in a smooch)!!  He immediately got down afterwards but did want to view the photo first.

The boys really enjoy playing with Molly.  It's so great... because of them she is using the Chinese that she knows and also asks how to say other things that she wants to say to her little brothers. 

Our four Chinese dumplings ...

We had to go to several offices and drive a long way to the city where the boys came from to file necessary paperwork.  Each office required photos, documents from us or paperwork to be filled out.  We went from one place to the next and each time Jonah seemed to become a bit more anxious.  His caretakers arrived during the day to assist with the completion of the paperwork.  When they arrived, I believe that Jonah felt that he would be departing us soon and so at each place, he would look at me and say "bye-bye".

Our intent was to visit the orphanage where the boys came from.  I really did want to go there but our guide and the caretakers highly discouraged it, ... even though we said that we would not take them in.  Molly said that she would go with me but the caretakers said that the boys would know when we were close to the location of the orphanage and they would surely recognize the building.  They did not feel that it would be good for them.  

At first, I was upset about this as I REALLY wanted to make the visit to the orphanage.  However, when it came time for us to depart from the caretakers and they tried to say 'good-bye' to the boys, Rees DID wave to them but then for the entire ride back to our hotel (3 hours) he was very despondent and it actually became sort of scary because he would not move or make a sound.  He barely even blinked and then he went to sleep.  When he woke, he just put his head down in his hands and stayed that way until we got to the hotel.

Jonah started breathing very hard when the caretakers parted and tried to follow them.  He began to cry and I had to pick him up quickly and rush to the vehicle.  He was very upset and I had to hold him in his seat to keep him from trying to get out. He cried for quite a long time until he fell asleep.  When he woke up he seemed to be better.  He is more cautious and seems to be processing everything in slow motion and taking everything in stride.  

When we got back to the hotel, we had a surprise waiting for us. We're not sure where this cake came from but it was so pretty!!!  

I had also ordered a cake and went to pick it up when we got back because yesterday, Adoption Day, was also Baba's birthday!!!

So we sang Happy Birthday in Chinese and had cake for dinner!!

It's always good to eat dessert first anyway, right?? 

First 24 hours with Jonah and Rees

What an amazing, exhilarating, adventurous and exhausting first 24 hours with our newest sons, Jonah and Rees.  I wish I could say that it was perfect right from the start .... but it was not ... and it still isn't BUT it is definitely MUCH BETTER!!

We were told that the boys would be brought to our hotel room at 2pm.  Well, that time came and went and we waited another 45 minutes out in the hallway looking down over the 'indoor courtyard' hoping to see them when they arrived.

I would love to upload the video that Molly took of their arrival.  But it seems to take far too long to upload.  I may keep trying ... I'm sure some of you are interested.  Like I said, we were waiting and could look out the windows down below and we were able to see them as they entered the lobby area.  They looked up at us and we waved to them.  They were brought by three caretakers and our guide, Missy.

Oh how I wish you could see this photo!!  This was when Rees ran right up to me and said, "Mama!"  He got really close and he let me hug him.

In the background, you can see Jonah who was breathing very heavily and beginning to cry.

It was very difficult to console Bei Bei (Jonah).  He was crying so hard that he was having trouble breathing and he nearly threw up several times.

Because of the way that Bei Bei was reacting, Huang Huang (Rees) began to cry too ... rather uncontrollably, so then we had two boys nearly hysterical!  

It was pretty awful for a while.  This caretaker didn't seem to bothered by it ... apparently, she is used to it.  I, on the other hand, was taking it rather hard.  When we adopted Molly and Brynn they barely cried at all; Molly was just quiet and shy at first.

They boys finally calmed down enough if their caretakers were near them.

They eventually allowed Brynn to sit with them too and they were playing with the stickers and coloring books that we brought for them.

Bei Bei decided he wanted to take photos so we let him use one of the cameras ... anything to make him calm down ... and he took this lovely photo of me.  I actually LIKE it!!

The caretakers wanted us to have some family photos taken.  The boys were obedient and seemed not to mind this at all.

They had us do several different photos.

When the caretakers left, the boys went into hysterics again ... seriously ... I was beside myself because I didn't know what to do for them and it really pained me to see them so upset.  After what seemed like a really long time, I have to confess, I couldn't take it anymore and I began praying and I know that a whole bunch of YOU were praying after I posted that it was not going well.  

I started to cry; I just couldn't keep it in anymore and I went and sat down on the ledge near the window and I covered my face and just quietly cried.  Molly and Brynn came over to me and put their arms around me; Brian was trying to calm the boys and within a minute or so, the room was completely quiet.  I looked up and the boys were just standing there looking at me and they had stopped crying!

After that, things were better for a while.  It was a much needed reprieve. 

We got them to eat, thankfully, ... Rees is a very good eater and he helps Jonah to eat, who has trouble getting the food to stay in his mouth.  

They are so sweet the way that they are so protective of one another.

Jonah eats very little and we are hoping that will change within a few days.  He is very skinny and in need of a little more flesh around his bones.

The boys are very comfortable around the girls and will hold their hands and stay close to them, even play some games.  We are so thankful that we have them with us.

Brynn showed the boys how to jump across from bed to bed, which they were very eager to try!!

I am going to end this post now since I have been having so many internet issues.  But I will post more.  Don't worry!!

Please keep praying for us and for the boys.  We have felt your prayers and we are grateful.  We know that it takes time but would like to feel that the boys will bond to us, the parents, and be comfortable with us.  They point to us and say "mama" and "baba" but they do not want to hold our hands or sit with us yet.  Rees is more comfortable and easy-going than Jonah.  I feel that God is going to teach me something very important through Jonah, which makes me both excited and fearful at the same time.

He acknowledges me but won't allow me to touch him ... maybe some M&M's will help to change that ... wink, wink ... 

Huitou jian, Wuxi!! (See you later)

I think it will take me some time to document all that we have experienced this week.  Truly, we are certain that what we have been blessed with here in China is very rare.  I do not know how or why it can be that God would give to us such precious gifts ... beyond what He has already given to us in His Grace.  But He has certainly given us life abundantly!

It seems that we have been in a time warp and now, painfully, we have been shaken back into reality.  We came to the point where "goodbye" gave us no choice and our tears could not be held back.  Goodbye is always so difficult and always seems harsh in the moment.  Yet, our tears and aching hearts are eager to give way to the anticipation of what is yet to come ... the moment we have spent the last eight months preparing for.  In less than 18 hours, we will take the hands of two little boys to join with ours and everything we know will instantly become smaller and we will begin to learn and experience "life" all over again.

China is an amazing place ... full of history, culture and tradition ... and people, ... beautiful people.  

We cannot and will not easily forget this place or these people.  God has ordained all that has been and all that will be.  We are so grateful and humbled to be a part of His Plan.

We have taken hundreds of photos ... but here are some to share as we finished up our time in Wuxi.

The family and extended family makes it a priority to spend time together ... on a regular basis.

Entering the visiting area for Taihu Lake in Wuxi.

There are many Buddhist temples and monuments in various areas; there are also some Taoist temples, as well.

Regardless, I think the architecture is stunning!!

Making the dumplings ... LOTS of dumplings! 

Having fun at the local "square".  There were many activities going on including four sections of different "Wu" dancing being conducted.

Brynn makes friends wherever she goes! 

Molly gave the "dancing" a try ...  

Molly's foster grandma and many of her neighbors 'farm' their own vegetables.  The photo below shows the harvested soybeans. 

They also grow potatoes and black sesame!! 

This man showed us what the sesame looks like before it is harvested.  There are little pods on the stalks; the pods are filled with the seeds. 

They wash, peel and cut the vegetables ... 

... and prepare the stove by making a fire.

They also have a small gas stove where they have two woks for cooking as well. 

The family members all work together to prepare the meals.  

It is a good time to converse with one another. 

Eating together is also very important to them.  

It is a very socially significant and family-bonding event. 

Here we have a snail-eating competition .... no, really ... the Prendergasts were not brave enough to eat snails (or the eel) so these two men picked up the slack for us and ate the most snails.   

This is Jie ... she and Molly were best friends when Molly lived in China.  

The two of them together was so sweet and, yet, so painful ... Jie cried several times knowing that Molly was going to be leaving.  

That, of course, caused a chain-reaction and at the end ... all of us were crying. 

WE love these people!!

WE hope to see them again ... one day soon!!