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!!

China Itinerary...

We board our plane heading to China Tomorrow!!!


Here's our Itinerary:

September 12,  7:00am be board our first flight

September 13,  Arrive in Beijing @ 2:40pm China time

September 14,  Visit the Great Wall, Cloisonne Factory, Bird's Nest. Lunch

September 15,  Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Hutong Tour. Orientation meeting
                           at 4:00 p.m.

September 16,   Go to Shijiazhuang by train D4527 (13:27-15:44) Stay at Shijiazhuang Century Hotel

September 17,   Travel 2 1/2 hours by van to "Colin Day" at his Orphanage. CAN'T WAIT!!
                           Please pray with us as our sweet boy leaves the life he has known for 2 years.

September 18,   Adoption registration and notarization   (granddaughter Emma's 4th b-day)

September 19,   Visit Century Park   (Uncle Steve's b-day)

September 20,   Visit Long Xing Temple

September 21,   Receive all the documents. Flight CZ3200 (20:40-23:40) to Guangzhou. Stay at
                             China Hotel-Marriott airport pickup.

September 22,   Medical exam in te morning.

September 23,   Visit Guangzhou Folk Art Museum.

September 24,   Go back to the clinic to check skin test result (TB)

September 25,   Visa Appointment

September 26,   Pick your childs Visa in the afternoon. Go directly from Marriott Hotel to
                           Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel by van

September 27,   Fly out of Hong Kong airport and head HOME!! (Miss Kati's 6th birthday)
                           Special way to celebrate her 6th birthday!!!

Please pray with us as we travel ALL day tomorrow, that Kati will "SLEEP", that we all stay healthy and that Colin will accept us. We appreciate ALL your prayers!!!