My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

We Made It!

We made it!

Right now, It’s 5:45AM in Phili and 5:45PM Thursday in Beijing. And, we’re feeling like we’ve been up all night. We were so thankful for that direct flight from Newark to Beijing. But, let me tell you, it was LONG. I was not so happy when I thought I had really had enough and realized we had 7 more hours to go. But, we did finally make it. We quickly realized we weren’t in Kansas anymore when we saw these signs—FOREIGNERS—and knew it was referring to us. (Right after I took this picture, we saw a sign that said no photography. Oops.)

 
Our guide Lisa took another family and us to our hotel, the King Wing Hot Spring Hotel (I can’t say that name without smiling. It sounds more like some late night club to me.). The rooms are really impressive. Even on the 12th floor, I can clearly hear the hustle and bustle of traffic outside. (We ARE in China after all!) But, it’s nice to have this comfortable room to relax in after so many hours of traveling. It’s home for a couple days at least.

We’re meeting my parents’ friends Frank and Helen for dinner tonight. I’m hoping we can both stay awake enough to actually have a conversation with them.
Dear Evan, Ashlyn, and Drew – it was not easy to leave you all yesterday morning. But, you know that we have to come here so that Lydia can come home. Know that we love you and look forward to hearing all about the fun stuff you are doing with Nanma and Granddaddy while we are gone. Check out the cool bed we get to sleep in? You guys would love this fancy room!
Love, Mama and Daddy

 

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China eve

I was going to take a picture of the last remaining link on our paper chain. But, we have the memory card reader packed already. So, no pictures on this post.

For over 5 years now, I’ve followed other families’ blogs of their trips to China. I’ve cried looking at Gotcha Day pictures and videos. I’ve marveled at the transformation of the children going from orphan to a beloved child in a day. And, now, I’m the one going. In a few days, we will meet our daughter for the first time. It’s hard to believe. I’ve had butterflies all day–not sure why exactly. I have just been overwhelmed by the magnitude of what is about to happen. And, my heart has been heavy over leaving 3 deeply loved children at home for so long (don’t worry–they will be spoiled rotten while we are gone by their grandparents. I have to keep telling myself that.).
China, here we come. Lydia, praying that God is preparing you now for the transition happening on Sunday.

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The day before the day before we leave


Evan’s tripping on the stairs yesterday afternoon was not a biggie…yesterday. Sure, he was limping a little, but it was nothing a good night sleep couldn’t cure….right? When he couldn’t put any weight on it this morning, my list of things to do changed dramatically. Instead of going down my list and checking it twice, I took Evan to the pediatrician, then the hospital for xrays, then the orthopedic because he fractured his foot in two places. Praise God he didn’t need to be casted. He just has a special shoe to wear around until we get home from China. Poor guy. Now, no time to be blogging! I have to catch up with my list!

Best quote of the day was from Drew in the exam room, totally out of nowhere (seemingly), “Why is it called a forehead when you don’t have four heads?”
Now, back to work!

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Happy Birthday to my firstborn

Though it seems that all we’re doing around here is preparing for our journey to a faraway land (in 84 hours now…), there are other family things going on around here. And, I rallied to make sure some attention was given to them!

Not only was this weekend the infamous children’s sale (for all you nonlocals, it’s a big consignment sale where my sister and I sell our used and no longer wanted items and basically swap them for other people’s used and no longer wanted items. Sounds simple. It’s a ton of fun, and we’re totally into it.), today–I know that the post date on this will say the 21st because I am up at 12:30 doing this; I so intended to blog before midnight to get the right date on the post; darn it–okay, so today was Evan’s 8th birthday. I can’t believe he’s already 8. He thinks he grew last night; and, frankly, so do I. He looks so big to me. (sigh)
He wanted a robot party at Chick Fil A, an odd combination for sure. But, we managed to do it. We got a cookie cake and put a robot on top. Everyone there (our family and 2 friends) drew a robot and then we stapled the pages together to make a book for Evan as a keepsake. This was the easiest party in all of my parenting years. The combination of having gorgeous low 70s weather, chicken and fries, presents, and a day devoted all to you—it really doesn’t get any better. Evan said to several people today, “Did you know it was my birthday?” When they answered, “Oh? No, I didn’t. Happy birthday!” he just smiled and sheepishly said “thanks.”
Some of his gifts from his friends, family, and us included an eyeclops, a Star Wars transformer, Pokemon stuff, some new shirts (the boy likes his cool shirts), a couple robots (of course), some doodle books, a science kit, some Bakugan stuff, and a couple games.
Okay, I’m officially taking a break from China preparations and blogging to go upstairs and watch an episode of 24 (remember my earlier post about getting into 24?).

Here are the kids finishing up their dinners–clearly, Ashlyn and Drew already finished theirs and were a bit anxious for the boys to join them in the playground.

A cookie cake a little too sickening sweet to eat, in my opinion. Evan loved it though.

Very happy to get a robot pencil sharpener.

And, this is how we spent most of the time, relaxing at the table while the kids played. I tell you, this was the easiest birthday party ever.

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