LOVE BRINGS HUGE SMILES!!!

I had this blog created so that family and friends could follow our journey to our precious son "Colin"! Since we have returned home in September I have been slacking "Big Time". Those of you that know me very well, know I pride myself on being extremely "organized". Well, since returning from China, I'm still searching for what use to be "normal"...whatever that was! We are now searching for our "new normal"!! We are ALL finally settling into life at the "Borah House"!!

What's been on my heart after returning from China! I have thought about this post since September. This trip to China to adopt our precious son "Colin" was SO different than when we traveled in 2007 to adopt our daughter "Kati". What I mean by different is Kati was considered a "Healthy" child and Colin a "Special Needs" child. Not only that, we were older parents as well. Every family in this travel group were adopting minor to severe "Special Needs" children. After adopting Kati in 2007, I knew I wanted to adopt another child from China. My husband initially didn't feel the same way. He felt we were older parents and our family was complete. I continued to pray about God allowing us to adopt again and bringing my husband's heart to the same place mine had been for years. God answered my prayers and my husband came to me and said, let make the call to Bethany Christian Services. The same agency we used in TN to adopt Kati. Well, I made the call and then we went through alot of ups and downs because I was over the age of 50 and China had changed SO many rules since 2007. We were approved to adopt a special needs child. We started the paper work and more ups and downs, such is the life of adoption.
We traveled in September 2012 to adopt Colin from China. This was an entire different experience for me. We were allowed to travel to Colin's orphanage. The conditions of his orphanage we SO hard to see, yet helped me to understand what his life had been like for the past 2 years. Although he had a HUGE smile on his face when he was handed to us at the orphanage, it broke my heart to see his surroundings. Once we left the orphanage, Colin had a very difficult time adjusting to us. It took him until days before we returned home to accept anyone but me.

While in China with all the other families I watched these precious go from being sad to "HUGE SMILES" on their faces!!! What a JOY it was to see these children with so many differnt Special Needs "SMILE" because they had expeienced the "LOVE" of their "FOREVER FAMILIES"!!



First Day





Look at his precious "SMILE" now!!!

Precious Blessings From God

Sam with his Mama!!!

Sam is 4 years old adopted by a single mom from Tennessee. This is the "Smile" I'm referring to...this is what "LOVE" can do. Sam has one leg amputated just below the knee and his other leg has a very small foot with some fused toes. He walks using the stump on one leg and the small foot on the other leg. He will get prosthetics soon. This little boy has the sweetest personality and loves life and his new mama!!!

 

 

I realize that not everyone is called to adopt, yet we are ALL called to care for God's children all over the world. James 1:27. I have met SO many WONDERFUL families through our LOVE for adoption!

My heart will always have a special place in China! We know in our hearts we won't be brining another child home. We can make a difference from our home! I have a special friend Diana Rouse who represents an organization called "Pearl River Outreach"! Right now she's raising funds to help these precious children through the next year 2013! We can ALL help by giving a donation. Please help these precious children and you can also have a chance to win some "WONDERFUL" prizes!! Please take a few moments and check out "FILL THEIR STOCKINGS"! http://1diamond1ruby1pearl.blogspot.com/
http://pearlriveroutreach.blogspot.com/

You can donate as little as $ 5.00.

 

 

 

I know this post was exteremly long...I've had alot on my heart!!

 

Merry Christmas!

Blessings, Lori

 

 



Happy Anniversary!!!

 

Happy Anniversary to the BEST Husband and Father!!

I LOVE YOU DAN BORAH!!!



Kati Day!!



 

 

Five years ago today we met Miss Kati!! 

 

 

We waited in a large conference room at Galactic Hotel in Nanchang.

In came our beautiful, brown eyed little girl!!

Look at those beautiful brown eyes!!

We couldn't wait to hold Kati for the first time!

 

Kati wasn't happy for the first 30 minutes.

From that day on she's been a happy girl!!

Kati is a SWEET and LOVING little girl!!

Kati has brought SO much JOY to our home and Family!!

God had the perfect little girl picked out for our family!

PRECIOUS gift from GOD!!

One of my favorites!!!

 

Kati's holding the first picture we saw of her!

Love those cheecks!!

Kati is now 6 and started Kindergarten this year!!

 

Kati you are still that fun, loving crazy girl!

You are always kind, giving of yourself!

You have blessed us in so many ways! God has BIG plans for you!

We can't wait to see what God has planned for you Miss Kati!

 

KATI, our dinosaur loving girl...

Daddy and Mommy LOVE you to the moon and back!!!

 

 



Consulate Appointment

Yesterday, Sept 25th was our Consulate appointment. The last thing we are required as adoptive

parents to do before leaving China.The room is filled with other adoptive families. We are asked to stand and raise our right hand, promising to never abandon these children. To provide for and educate them to the best of our ability.  When we came in 2007 to adopt Kati we were told in advance

what a huge deal this was. Once again we were SO excited for this day to be here! A very special day to also spend my birthday! Birthday I will always remember!!

We are packed and waiting in our hotel room for all of Colin's official paper work from Consulate.

We leave this afternoon by van heading to Hong Kong. We will spend the night in Hong Kong and leave tomorrow at 11:00 am, one stop in Chicago and then onto Nashville, TN on Untied flight #5911 @ 5:54pm, Thursday, Sept 27th. Which is also Miss Kati's 6th birthday!!! We will be staying in Nashville until Monday, Oct 2nd. Colin will be seen in Nashville @ Vanderbilt Children's hosp.

Monday, Oct 1st by International specialist that viewed his referral.

We can't wait to get home and settled into our routine!! Kati is ready to get back to school and

gymnastics!!

Please pray for safe travels home and that the littles SLEEP!!

 

Consulate Appointment

Medical Exam & Folk Art Museum...

Yesterday was the Medical Exam, least that's what they call it. Every family that travels to China to adopt is required to have a medical exam. There are 3 stations set up. Your child must go to each one, plus TB test. We started off getting Visa pictures. Room #1 General Screening (Head measurement, listening to his heart and general check.Room #2 Then weight & tempature. #3 ENT (doctor says Colin has full hearing in his (L) ear and partial hearing in his (R) deformed ear (we were thrilled to hear this, we both teared up). Colin didn't appreciate any of them especially the last (TB test). There were babies screaming everywhere. Those of you have adopted here know just what I'm talking about (utter chaos). We were all happy to leave this building!!! We have to return there tomorrow, so they can check his TB test.

Colin is doing SO much better! He's finally letting Dan & Uncle Frank hold him!! He's walking holding our hands. He's been playing with his sissy and she LOVES it!!! She had him playing ring around the rosey...SO SWEET!!! We've also learned he has a HUGE temper! When he doesn't get his way, he just throws himself down on the floor lays back and starts screaming. Something we will definitely have to work on. He has the SWEETEST smile!! He's trying to say mama!

We are ALL ready to go home! Tuesday morning we have our CA. Wednesday we head to Hong Kong and Thursday we travel HOME!!! None of us are looking forward to the LONG flights.
Thank you for all your prayers!!!

Our Group

Kati's new friend Rose

 

Sweet Smile!!!

 

 

 

 

Civil Affairs Office & Notary

Colin is Officially Ours!!!

Yesterday morning "Bob" took us to the Civil Affairs Office & Notary building to sign all the official papers on Colin. We are thrilled to be finished with this part of our journey!!!

On Monday after we picked up Colin, we took the director, and asst directors to lunch. One of the asst directors is a lady. She took Colin from me several times trying to make him feel better and to eat. She had him for a few minutes each time and then I would walk over and take him back. The last time she tried, I looked at her and said "NO". Yesterday I kept Colin straped to me in the carrier. While at the Civil Affairs building she tried to take him from me, he looked at her and turned his head away. Made this Mama feel GREAT!!! Colin is doing better, yet still struggling with everything new. He still cries often, makes me sad. We realize this is good for his grieving.
Colin holds onto every and as many toys as he can at once. Fearing someone will take one from him. He's starting to smile more and even laughed once today. He has the sweetest smile! He's very tiny, yet tall. I brought size 18-24 months clothing for him. He would fit better into size 6-12 months in shorts/pants. Kati and Colin are trying to find there way. Kati tries to play with him and he's fearful she taking the toys. Weve had a couple times where he's hit and pinched not understanding she wants to play. We know everything takes time and they will work through it. Colin is eating and sleeping really well. I can lay him down in the crib around 8:00pm and he goes right to sleep, wakes up around 7:00am. He HATES getting a bath...
Tomorrow we fly to Guangzhou, last part of our journey!! We are ALL trilled to be moving onto Guangzhou knowing that after this we will be on our way HOME!!! W are all looking forward to a BIG juicy burger and HUGE Diet Coke with ice!!!

Sorry it has taken me so long to blog. Were all exhausted at the end of the day and just want to relax.

 

Civil Affairs Office

 



Notary Building

Uncle Frank with us in picture

Colin & Uncle Frank playing with stacking cups

 

Touring in Shijiazhuang Province

Sweet little girl we met today!!!

Kati and our guide Sharon

 

 

Thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts!!!

 

 

Day 2...

Yesterday was really difficult to watch Colin grieve for everything he's known for the past 2 years of his life. This mama's heart ached for him. Yet we know the grieving is what he needs to move on with us. He has the sweetest smile!!!
Kati was a little overwhelmed by everything that went on yesterday. We tried to explain to her why he was crying so much? Kati is in LOVE with her little brother! She's watching Happy Feet on IPAD with him.

Colin slept from 6:30pm to 7:30am, he woke up twice during the night and whimpered just a little. I woke up at 2:00am. Laid in bed listening to him breath and thanking God for our sweet boy! Praying that today would be a better day for Colin.
He let me clip his fingernails/toenails, they were full of dirt. We were able to give him a bath this morning, he cried just a little until he realized it was fun with the bath toys. We went down for breakfast and he LOVED everything!! We have a free day today, going to stay inside and play! He's doing much better today!!
Please continue to pray with us as he grieves and we bond...

Thank you
Dan, Lori, Kati & Colin

Forever Family Day!!

We left our hotel around 8:30am and headed to Colin's SWI. It was 2 1/2 hour drive each way.
When we arrived at the gate, there were children playing. The director and assistant came out to greet us. All the little children wanted to shake our hands! His orphanage is really run down.  We were then taken upstairs to were the babies were and Colin. When we walked into the room there was our sweet Colin being by his nanny. I put my arms out to him and he came right to me. He's such a sweet little boy!! We are in LOVE!!!
Colin did great until we got into the van. He started crying and them screaming. Our heart aches for him. He cried most of the 2 1/2 hour ride back to our hotel. He continued to cry in our hotel room. After trying 3 times, he's finally sleeping. He has a death grip still on a balloon and rubber bathtub truck. Please pray he sleeps well tonight and wakes up happy! We realize this is good for him to grieve. We are exhausted, I will add pics and post more tomorrow.

Colin with his nanny

 





















Colin's finding spot

We Made It To Hebei Province...

Our train ride was quite an adventure!!!
Trying to get 4 people plus 4 suitcase's, 4 carry-on and 4 backpacks on/off a train was crazy!!
We had 2 minutes to get all of these items off the train before the doors closed.  We had to push and shove to get on and off  the train.

We will be leaving our hotel at 8:00 am to travel 2 1/2 hours by van to Colin's orphanage. I promise I will post pics as soon as we return from his orphange.
Please continue to pray with us as we travel there and that Colin will feel comfortable with us.
Can't wait to hold/kiss our sweet little boy!!!!

The Great Wall...

Today we toured the Great Wall, Cloisonne Factory and Bird's Nest...

The Great Wall

 

 



Cloisonne Factory

 

 

The Bird's Nest from the Olympics



Miss Kati Was Pooped



We Made It To Beijing...

This post will be brief since we are all exhausted. Just wanted to let family and frirnds know we survived the 15 hour flight to Beijing!!

We started Wednesday morning at 4:00am, heading for the airport. Our 15 hour flight to Beijing was very smooth, yet LONG.  Kati did Awesome on this flight! She watched movies, ate & slept.
We arrived in Beijing, Thursday 1:30 pm. Our guide "Tom" met us at the airport and drove us and 2 other familes to our hotel. We are all extremely exhausted and trying to stay awake until its night time here in Beijing. Tomorrow we will tour the Great Wall. More pictures tomorrow.

Dan, Lori, Kati and Uncle Frank

packed and ready to go!!

 



Kati and Uncle Frank

 



On our way to Hotel

 

Thank you for all your prayers today!!!

We are all heading to bed...good night from Beijing!!