Ups and Downs of China

It's been nine days since our family grew by FOUR feet!  

We've had our ups and downs both with acclimating to the boys and experiencing our days and nights in China.  We're getting close to ending our time here in China.  It has been long and eventful, full of experience, education and emotion.  Our boys have gone through a lot in the days leading up to joining us and in the days since being with us, it must feel like they're on one of those spinny-rides at the fair.  

Jonah started out in constant distress and every little thing was "too much" for him to handle.

As the days have gone by, though, he has at least allowed me to comfort him and hold him.

I still think they take good photos of me ... 

... even if they cut off Baba's head (in more than one photo)!!

"I want to be like my big sister!"

1st piggy-back ride ... major turning point for us!

Here was one of Rees' first temper tantrums.  It was pretty dramatic ... even Baba thought so as he mimicked his face.

What a goofball!

He makes the cutest noise when he is half-crying ... it's hard not to laugh, which, of course, is going to have to be contained; he probably won't appreciate us finding humor in his distress.

Here's Jonah's BEST "Cheese" Face!!

Brynn has had her highs and lows ... it's probably a bit difficult transitioning from the youngest to the older sister of not one, but two brothers.  She's done really well for the most part and we're really pleased that she has had this experience with us.

Molly has been an amazing TROOPER and we're SO PROUD of her and how she has handled this trip, her new brothers and her responsibilities.  She's had her moments, just like each of us, but for the most part, she has been amazing and such a blessing to us.

We get this face quite often, although, the number of times does decrease a little bit each day.  Jonah is easily offended.  He surprisingly, though somewhat understandably, seems very selfish and does not want to share or take turns.  This is something that will undoubtedly take time as his perspective on his life and his surroundings becomes more stable. 

Here is our oldest and youngest Chinese dumplings ... they are two peas in a pod!!  They look so much alike and Rees is so similar to how Molly was at this same age.

Today began with loads of temper-tantrums and testing turned into more tantrums.  Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed and built himself up into one mega-melt-down.  Maybe it's the shirt!!  He was wearing the same shirt for the previous (not the same day) fit!

Rees really made me giggle a lot at lunch earlier today as he was just too tired to eat due to all his morning fits and then, later, swimming like a fish. 

Jonah has some food issues wherein he shows that he is afraid that he won't get enough food. He starts to get upset when he sees that the platters of food are being eaten up by someone other than himself. This is a first for us to deal with. He also struggles to eat despite the helpful surgery that he had earlier this year. Food is constantly falling out of his mouth as does his saliva. Not sure who would approve but have a mind set to get him the large sized pullover bibs to wear over his clothes ... will look for ones that don't appear too baby-ish but he definitely needs something because he's soiling his clothes terribly.

Okay, so one of the very difficult things about being in China is the knowledge that there is criminal business and begging. It's hard to always differentiate between legitimate business and begging and criminal business and begging . Sometimes, we have to harden ourselves to our surroundings because we cannot tell the difference. But, tonight ... it is not possible for you to truly understand because I can't show you ... the sight of a man lying on the ground, practically naked (just a loin cloth basically) his hips contorted and twisted, left arm completely gone and his body rigid and shuddering as if with a palsy of some sort. In front of him just a foot or two, a metal bowl for dropping money into. The bowl is just like the one that lies only a few inches from the man with his head in his hands as he sits on the bridge and like the one next to the woman on the stairs who sits with her chin in her neck holding her infant child close while another lays at her feet wrapped in a blanket. These people are in the same locations each evening ... after the sun has set. At night, the street vendors come out illegally selling their wares and the beggars come out to seek pity from anyone willing to succumb. We've been approached by an old man with a cane holding out his hat, a woman asking for a few yuan ... another woman in tears, groping and pulling at Brian, begging for him to help her, to give her money. Always, of course, our children are with us. We have shielded them as best as we can ... but tonight, it just snuck up on us. In the massive crowd, as people made way, all of sudden, there he was. We will never be able to remove that sight from our children's minds. I will never forget the look on their faces, especially Molly's. I am so sad ... I wonder how the people can just walk by him night after night. I wonder how he gets there. I wonder if his deformity is by nature or by the inhumanity of others. Molly's face was so torn and confused. I am so sad ... for those who feel they have no other option, those who are forced to act out this option and for those who use others to promote this option. LORD, I want to ask why ... but I already know ...

Each day, we need Your strength, LORD.  Each day, we need You as we carry on through this world attempting to do Your work, to make a difference for You, to share YOU with a world that appears to be blind to You ... give us strength, LORD.