Day 14: Flight Home & Reunited

Our flight home was nice...some of the best advice we were ever given was this: When you fly with kids, go to the dollar store and purchase something that they can open each hour. Gui Yu did awesome! Nothing like coming home!!! 

What a journey! As we were flying in I looked out the window wondered to myself how God does it--out of all billlions of people in the world, how does He cause these sweet little miracles to occur. Out of all the little girls in the world we could have adopted, we adopted the one that was ours--she fits perfectly! It is an absolute testimony that God is real and He is in the details of our lives! His 'tender mercies' are everywhere-and we have surely felt them over this journey to adopt!

After 16 plus plane hours, we are so happy to be home!

Day 13: Visa & Begin travel home

Today we started our first leg of our return journey home...our driver picked us up and drove us to the US Consolate, where our guide had Gui Yu's Visa ready for us, and then a 3 hour drive to Hong Kong. We are ready to come home!! Though the 15 hour flight tomorrow is a little daunting. But how can we complain--we are bringing home the dream!! 

It's pretty miraculous to think we have come from this...

To this...

Day 12: Oath and Consolate

THis Today we went to the US Consolate and did the oath (it wasn't as I expected--they have everyone in the room stand up and with your arm to the square and repeat some words). Then we turned her in paperwork and tomorrow we get her visa and travel to Hong Kong. It's been a good day though, Gui Yu is doing so good and she sure loves her moma!

Here is a video:

And here are some pictures:

This was a 'mall' of only jewelry. 

She got a little tired...

We found some 'jade's' part of her name 'yu' means jade: 

Day 11: Still Waiting

We are still waiting for her Visa...we go tomorrow to get her results and turn in all the paperwork. Today we visited a zoo and just hung out. She gave both of us a kiss on the cheek today. SHe is doing so good!!! Here are some videos:
She loves to get a piece of paper and practice writing??

So we picked up a couple of Dora the Explorer videos that are in Chinese/English. SHe loves the first part and will watch it over and over...she has yet to watch more than 5 minutes of an episode...

We put on some 'Dance, Baby Dance' music and she is in heaven...

Day 10: Waiting for Test Results

We basically have to wait for her medical test results to come back (two days).

Today we opted out of going on the shopping and worship service. It was for most of the day and Gui Yu's got a pretty bad diaper rash from pooping so much. So we are staying close today to try and get her healed up.

They have an 'american section' at breakfast where they sit all the people who are adopting. It's pretty cool as there are like 15-20 families. It's amazing how small the world can become. We met last night a couple who have adopted a boy with IA and so we were able to talk 'poop' for some time. This morning we met another couple from Louisville. 

Gui Yu seems to be doing really well. Last night when we met the couple with the IA boy she immediately clammed up and just layed her head on Marsjon's shoulder and would not look at anyone.  Finally, after 15 minutes I took her away from everyone and got her playing, we eventually came back by everyone else and before we were done she was her nomal bubbly self again :) 

Watching this little girl eat is the cutest thing, here are some videos (I'm trying to get some of her eating noodles, but haven't yet--I laugh every time). SHe is like a machine...: 

 On this one we asked her if she was all done and she all the sudden ate like mad (as you will see in the video) and then send 'all done' in chinese. It was cute. 

Day 9: Medical examination day

We are staying in the China Hotel Marriott in Goungzhou, it is AMAZING! Five star hotel and five star breakfast for us. What..... Heinz ketchup? I think Andy will survive the rest of the our journey! I got a homemade omelette made to order and they had freshly squeezed watermelon juice and celery juice (I threw the celery juice in there for you Sami :). Andy got french toast, hash browns and maybe even waffles. We were in heaven after having noodles and rice and stale cold cereal for the past 5 days.

Gui Yu's medical exam went really well. It started a little rough when they had to take her picture. She is not big on getting her picture taken and she would not look at the man trying to take her photo, but eventually we got it by Andy showing her a video of her dancing on his phone. After that it was just regular stuff like hight, weight, ear check, temp. etc. and we were able to stay with her for all of that. The only time I got upset and she got upset is when they took her out of my arms to get a blood draw, they do not let the parents come with them and as soon as the nurse took her she started to cry and reach for me and call out momma, and then they closed the door. It broke my heart and got my blood boiling a little that they wouldn't let me hold her while they took her blood, and I was close to tears myself. But...that was the first time she has called me momma. So I guess, in the end... that was a big victory for me and I was the one who got to comfort her as soon as they opened that door back up again!

All in all things went really smoothly this morning. Now we are just waiting for her TB test and then her visa so that we can bring this sweet little girl home!

As a cute side note: we've told you what a girly girl Gui Yu is (she'll fit in nicely with my other girls), but she has a little backpack with Minnie Mouse on in, she calls her Mickey and she always points to "Mickey's" bow and says something. We finally got a chance to ask the guide what she was saying and she says "Mickey's bow is like my bow." Then for her nap, we always take her bow out, and today as soon as she woke up she grabbed her bow and showed it to me so that I would put it back in as soon as possible :).

 A police bike...

This guy hand makes these bikes with wires...

She loves her 'bowes'

Day 8: Fly to Guangzhou

 We Today we went for a walk to the "peoples park." In order to ride rides, we had to pay first to get some tickets. But each ride is different. I tried explaining to him which rides we wanted, I finally ended up taking a picture of the ride and showing him. The rides we less than a buck each. Gui Yu seems to be doing well today--back to her original bubbly self--though she is attaching more to Marsjon than to me. That is great!

At the park there were people dancing--it would be like group exercise outside at the park. We even saw some 'salsa' dancing. 

We recieved her notary papers last night and today we will recieve her passport. We fly this evening to Guangzhou where the US Consolate is--I guess everyone who adopts in China has to funnel through here. 

Day 7: Building Trust (Waiting for Docs)

Today has been nice...we are just waiting around for the notary papers to come so we can verify that the are correct (which is not until late afternoon). It's nice! Today when I got out of the Taxi she called me 'ba ba' which is daddy. She is so outgoing that at first we thought she was attaching to us extremely well, but then we started to wonder if she is just that way to everyone. So we were happy when she would not go to the guide that has been with us all week nor her friend. That made us feel like we are at least making progress. She can even do a backbend! I showed her my handstand and she laughed. She showed me how she can pull her legs straight up and lay them across her stomack and basically lick her shins--I'm not even going to try that one.

Here are a few videos so you can get to know her personality:

Everyone over here has a cell phone and if it wasn't crazy enough all the mopeds...add to that distracted driving: 

All the women over here are always dressed up like they are going to the prom and are wearing high heels...like all the time. 

This guy has set up a 'tire' shop right on the side of the road to fix flats...smart guy...lot's of business: 

Tonight we had a moment. Marsjon left to go to a pharmacy and I was looking at some kid apps and playing games with her. We got to a 'princess' coloring book app and not 5 seconds into it she all the sudden pushed the book away and immediately left me and went to the other bed and her eyes welled up with tears and she started crying--it wasn't an all out cry, but she just sat there and looked out the window and cried. I located the picture we have of her with her foster mom and foster sisters and gave it to her. It was a really tender moment, about every 10 seconds she would wipe her eyes and nose. She just sat there and looked at the picture and touched the faces of each one and would look out the window, look at the picture, look over towards the door and me. She wouldn't let me comfort her, though she would let me wipe her tears and nose with a Kleenex. Marsjon came back after about 10 minutes and we both tried to comfort her. After about 10 more minutes she was ready and we saw her smile again. It was bedtime and sadly she would not let me 'tuck' her in and sing to her, but it's ok, she needs to grieve--that is important. It just breaks your heart! Marsjon was able to sing her to sleep. Moment's like that, though important, really touch your soul as I can't imagine what she must be feeling! 

Day 6: Tour of a Park & Souvenir's

Today we went to tour a park that was beautiful. It was more than 1,400 years old, some of the trees were unbelievable, it dates back to the Ming dynasty. Gui Yu was in heaven, she had tons of room to run and play. I thought it was going to be a park to play at for Gui Yu, but I was wrong. They did have a few "contraptions" that at first I thought were toys to play on for kids, but as we went over to try them out, we quickly realized, they were exercise equipment meant for older people to get their exercise. I guess exercising in parks is big for them here, although I can't understand why, you sweat enough just standing outside here.

I want to hit a few of the highlights with Gui Yu today. She has warmed up to Andy and I rather quickly, not calling us mama or baba yet, I know that will come with time and trust. But, we did have some sweet moments. I can't help but believe it is due to the many prayers and help from the other side that we have seen her moving toward trusting us. I have had many blessings from Andy that confirm that her spirit can communicate with ours and that she can know and feel of our love, even so much that she has been being prepared for this time and for meeting us, because she is our daughter. 

Today as she was joyfully skipping and playing peek a boo with Andy, I was talking to our guide. All of the sudden I felt a little had grab onto the back of my shirt, I quickly realized it was Gui Yu and reached out my hand, she grabbed onto my hand, and we continued to walk and skip up "The Bridge of Friendship", no really... that is what the historical monument we were on was called. It was just one of those tender mercy's that I was so thankful for. 

Another sweet moment that demonstrated trust was as we were walking down a lot of stairs. at the bottom of each landing Andy would turn to her and say "tiao" which is jump, she would jump into his arms and laugh as he would swing her around. I thought this was another sweet tender mercy. Little glimpses that she is starting to trust us. 

Later, we stopped while Cara, our guide, took a phone call, all of the sudden Gui Yu started doing ballet dance moves. She was very into it and you can tell she has been taught poses and ways to move, I'm sure by her foster mother, it was awesome, here is the video. But at one point she did a little song and dance, it had actions and everything, she even bowed at the end, that was the best part! We recorded the whole thing and then let her watch it back, she loved that! After she was done we would clap and tell her "zoda how" which means very good or good job, and we would tell her she was very Piow liaung (prettty). 

She'll just chat with us all the time now, which I love, even though we don't know what she is saying.

After we got back for from the Garden Tour I was putting her down for a nap, I was laying by her and singing her songs. She put her little hand close to mine so I put a couple of fingers in her palm and she closed her hand around them, then she gave me one of the stuffed toys she was sleeping with. I can honestly say I am in love with her :).

Day 5: It's Official: Jenessa "Jeni"

[Note: now that it's official we posted pictures to yesterday's blog post about Gotcha Day] 

This is Andy writing today's. The food over here is brutal--it's a good way to lose some pounds. I was so excited for some orange chicken, only to find out it was nothing like American orange chicken. They have an American menu for breakfast and I ordered almost everything on it. I was pretty excited, but then again when the food showed up my 'shredded wheat' was literally strips of some kind of weird wheat and my 'french toast' was like some garlic bread with a kick. Why don't they have Americans plan and buy the American food?? Oh well. I'm learning. But on to the good stuff: 

Today has been awesome!! Gui Yu (we will call her that for the next 3 months or so as that is the name she knows and then we will tranition over to Jeni (pronounced just like Jenny--we have some pretty awesome sisters and sister in laws with that name) ). Anyway Gui Yu slept perfect--like clock work 8:30pm to 7:30am. I can't imagine what is was like for her when she woke up "Is this bad deam over" and honestly when she woke up she had the 'deer in a headlights' look for about the first 15 minutes. 

We got her dressed. 

We took her down to breakfast and we are still trying to figure out what she likes as she is not eating what they told us she likes. But it will come. She at least ate some eggs, yogurt, and fruit. 

Gui Yu seems to like to color and while she was coloring with Marsjon she turned to her and said a sentence (it was the first time she talked to Marsjon). I think she said: "Wow, you are one beautiful Mom, my new daddy is lucky!'  

We then facetimed the other kids and while we were talking to them, Gui Yu picked up a baloon and hit it over to Marsjon. She spent the next 15 minutes playing that game while the kids watched her. THe cool thing was that about every 2-3 minutes she would look at the iPad with all the kids (she would only turn her eyes and not her whole head). But it was awesome--that is the most consistent interaction we have had from her so far and it was really cool for the kids to see her and it will be good for her to see them!

We then took off to the Civil Affairs office to finalize the adoption. They brought us in and asked us some questions like 'are you happy with her' and in my mind I'm thinking "serious after 2 years and tens of thousands of dollars you think I'm just going to 'return' her" but I guess someone might? 

While we were there she came out of her shell again. It is the coolest thing ever as we get a quick view into her real personality and it makes me so I can't wait to get all of her--she is funny and seems to have a great personality!! She all the sudden started talking (which is the sweetest thing ever) and then she started playing with Marsjon. She would take her finger puppet and they would play like they were talking. She laughed a few times and smiled a lot and then she started singing--it was awesome! Finally--a McArthur that can carry a tune! 

 She would say "I-YO" which is like saying "Oh No" as she was acting out what the elephant was doing. 

(personally I'm not a fan of putting the hair into a single striaght up poney tail thing--but oh well). 

And then she sat back into my arms and starting twirling her hair--EXACLTY LIKE MARSJON--no joke it was EXACT. We tried to quickly get a picture but she turned away. 

The spots on her legs are from Mosquito bites that look like she must have scratched them to so much that they may have left some scars--poor thing. 

We recieved a notice of her 'advertisement' that was put in the newspapers right after she was left at the orphanage (apparantly that is how they try to find the parents). The cool thing is that we now have a baby picture and we learned that she was born at 6:38am. We also learned that her mom left a note with her. The lady from the orphanage said that she will try and find it for us--that would be another miracle. 

 I know a financial 'transaction' takes place while we are here, but when they pulled out the money counter and dealt over the cash, it got a little wierd. 

After we left the Civil Affairs we went to the Notary and they asked us some of the same questions. We gave gifts to each of the people at both locations--I guess that is a cultural thing. 

Having a nice nap: 

She finally ate really good! 

She hasn't cried since we left yesterday (I know she will need to grieve because that is important--it will come)

We went to Walmart to get some stuff for her and as soon as we entered Walmart this girl just came alive and that is an understatement (I posted a short video on instagram becasue I can't do it from my iPad) but it was awesome. I won't lie when I saw how much this GIRLY GIRL got excited when we went shopping I started to get a little nervous--she may end up costing me more when we get home than it did to bring her home :)--it's either that or she is a true Redneck and just loves a good Walmart? 

I'm sure I looked like quite the spectacle in the Walmart as I was laughing and videoing her while we were walking down the packed isles. 

 The bow makes the hair doo much better :) 

And Dinner was great! 

Day 4: Gotcha Day

Our appointment wasn't until 2:30 so we tried to pass time this morning. We went to find walmart to get some supplies for her. 

Everything you read about Gotcha day tries to prepare you for just about any type of reaction. Some children don't cry, some scream forever, some come, some don't. They say it is best if you don't come with any expectations. So we tried to prepare that way---but you always hope for the best. Though I did not allow myself to think that she would all of the sudden see us and smile and run up and say 'mom' and 'daddy.' That just doesn't happen. 

We went into a room and filled out some papers and were able to ask some questions. Not really any answers. 

They then went to get her and opened the door and this was the first thing: 

[Updated: SHE IS OURS!!!] So here are some pics of Gotcha Day: 

This is when she first saw us (notice how optimistic her sweet face is---no idea of what is about to happen)

Here she is when who she call "Aunt Fran" she is grabbing her with all she's got. 

Gui Yu was carried into the room, wearing a beautiful pink, frilly, chiffon dress. She looked very "piow liaung" (pretty). She was scared right from the beginning. She knew we were the "mommy and daddy" coming to take her. She clung to her Nanny, she calls her Aunt Fan, and she kept saying "I want aunt Fan, I want mom". I tried to put a brave face on and not think too much about how scary and hard it is for her to be taken from the only mommy she's ever know, because if I did that I knew that I would start crying and that would only make matters worse. So I smiled and tried to bribe her with candy and toys, but of coarse that didn't work. She wasn't crying at this point, just clinging to her "aunt". But eventually they told us to just come and take her and let her cry. 

As I took her from her nanny's arms, she just started screaming and she grabed on to her nanny's shirt with all of her might and wouldn't let go. After they pried her fingers off of her nanny she just continued to cry and cry. We had a little stuffed Minnie Mouse with us because we were told that she sleeps with a Mickey Mouse every night (which to my frustration, they did not bring. In fact all they gave us were the operation notes We were eventulally able to get her to hold the Minnie Mouse, and then she just clung to it and to my shirt. The only good thing about this very dramatic and difficult scene was that she still was needing and wanting comfort. She laid her head on my shoulder almost from the start and just continued to cry. We kept saying "boo coo, boo coo", that is what they say to try to comfort a child, and I kept rubbing her back. I remembered from one of my questions that had been answered by the foster mom, that she likes her back patted and to be sung to when she is sad. So I started singing I am a child of God and I love to see the temple and A Child's Prayer. When I started singing these songs it was the first little reprieve from her crying. She still continued to cry, but stopped enought to catch her breath and take a few short fast breaths. I really felt like as I sang, the spirit communicated with her spirit, and she began to feel not as affraid. The comforting and crying and singing continued for probably a total of 30 minutes, but it felt like at least twice that long!! Finally she stopped and we were able to get a picture so that we could leave and come back to our hotel room. 

They finally just had us take her from "Aunt Fran" and Aunt Fran left. 

It was emotional for all. 

She finally just burried her head into Marsjon's arm and stayed that way for the next 20 minutes. She still continued to cry, but settled down to rythmic sobs when Marsjon started to sing. 

Any guesses on what she is thinking in this pic? 

After we got back to our hotel room, things started to go so much better. It was slow progress, but we were so happy to see her start to trust us. She layed on me for a long time and we just watched a couple of Dora shows in Chinese. Then we were able to get her to drink and eat a little bit of food, which I think did a lot of wonders for her. She was still wary of Andy, but when I had to go to the bathroom, I had to hand her over to Andy :). After that it didn't take long for her to warm up to goofy, silly Andy. He took her for a walk and by the time they came back, she had given him some smiles and even played with him and talked to him. I still haven't gotten her to do that for me. But I did get a high five from her little Minnie Mouse :). She is so sweet, and it's been fun to see little glimpses into her fun, playful personality. She is still a little wary of us, especially when we're both together, but one-on-one has been good. [Andy: So when Marsjon handed her to me, I took her for a walk to the elevator and showed her how to push the buttons and we went downstairs to the foyer and then all of the sudden she reached up with her little stuffed Minnie Mouse and popped me of the nose and smiled, she did it two more times, and as soon as our eyes met she stopped. It was a great moment--as the day went on she would all of the sudden do things like that--it is going to be fun to disover her personality! I can't imagine what it must be like for her right now!]

Seeing if she will go to Andy...it was right after this that Andy went for a walk and she teased him. 

This was the best 'partial' smile we could catch on camera. We got about 5-6 by the time the day was over. 

Just after her bath.

After an exausting, yet incredible day!!

We also gave her a bath tonight, which she did great with, and she even sat on the potty and went pee pee (whoah, that was a shocker to us), but we did learn a little more about her anatomy that we hadn't been aware of. After I rubbed her down with lotion and put her in clean, soft pj's, she layed in my arms and fell asleep while I sang primary songs to her.

I'd say all in all, it started out rough, but ended WAY better than I had ever anticipated!! 

Thank you everyone for your prayers and love! This is an experience I never dreamed of having, and now that it's real it feels a little like a dream, but we are so grateful and feel so blessed!!

We will post pictures tomorrow as soon as our adoption is 'finalized'