Make a Smilebox photobook

Home One Week

We are home a week, and there have been many things going on. For the most part, things are going very well. Noah is experiencing many new things, is getting along (sometimes) with his brothers and sisters, and really likes the 2 dogs. He absorbs many things, and like most alert toddlers, you need to be careful what you are doing in his line of vision. He has already seen Rich use the screwdriver to fix a drawer, and later that week, got the screwdriver and started to take apart the front door-I ran upstairs for a second (really) and found he took a chicken nugget out of the freezer and placed it in the toaster over, and turned it on....I am really needing to buy some new running shoes.
We had a meeting with the school's new principal, who I had tried to contact several times over the summer, about placement when he and I were ready to start school. In the footsteps of his jiejie who came home at almost 51/2, he put himself on the bus several days later, with NO nothing! Luckily (I guess) I did know where his placement was going to be, and ran to call the school and teacher. First day went fairly well (except for my anxiety) until I heard that the ESL teacher who I did meet during the principal's meeting, tried to take him out of class for a walk. The teacher did say that he did not push it, and sat in the class with him. I had actually had a phone call in, b/c with my other daughter, I didn't want him pulled out AT ALL, until he had several weeks under his belt, and new the teacher, other kids and the routine. So, in a few days, I had already seen even more bravery and determination in my little spicy boy, as well as got my mama bear claws out to ward off those who have no clue about the differences of children who are adopted at an older age. A lesson learned for many, this week. We will see how school progresses. The second day, I got a call that he fell asleep in library on the rug, what should they do? I asked for them to try to wake him up, and if he was upset, I would pick him up. Well, I was there a few minutes later, feeling guilty (again) that he was in school and that maybe I should have just picked him up while he was sleeping, so I could've woken him up instead. I know there will be many days of me sighing and fighting with myself for decisions I try my best to make.
Ok, so the fun parts of the week are : MaZhu learned how to ride a bicycle with training wheels aka that of speed demon, had a blast being pulled full speed in a wagon by a least 4 siblings, and I found out that he either knew how to hoola hoop, or it was another one of those things that he watched the kids do, and then imitated.
Bedtime is an issue for most of the house. The other 2 boys moan about how unfair it is that MaZhu has no set bedtime, and doesn't have to sleep in his bed. It doesn't matter how many times I try to explain that it will take a little time. Plus, until 2 days ago, he would run around ALL DAY, go to sleep for 2 hours, and then be up from 11pm to 2am. This mom was definately getting crabby. Now he is sleeping, hopefully through the night, b/c if not, I am not hearing roam the house, nor is my 22yo son, who is usually up roaming himself.
Well, thought I would put some of this down. All in all, we are adjusting. Even though we are, there are still many meltdowns, many having to do with wanting something he can't have orwhen he goes into Taz overdrive and starts just dumping and pushing all the buttons, including my own. Will try to post some pictures later.

Home Sweet Home

Ok, so i wrote what for me is a lot, and posted pictures, only to somehow not save it :(

Well, we are home, tired (me) and less than tired Ma Zhu and Taylor. Ma Zhu slept only 2 hours of 36 hours traveling, which meant mommy only slept that much, as well. I couldn't risk falling asleep, or I might have found him helping the pilots fly the plane.

We landed 45 minutes ahead of scheduale, and then spent the next 45 minutes waiting for the congestion to leave on the tarmac. We were greeted by baba, 3 jiejies, and 2 geges. Ma Zhu just stood and took it all in. We were out of the airport and in the car in about 5 minutes, and then got welcomed back to NY traffic :) The ride home was fine, no complaints about the car seat, some bickering about who would get to sit next to Ma Zhu ( Brendan won, along with me) and then a silent, teary ride home until he finally fell asleep. Guess that power nap is what had him running around the front yard when we arrived home, taking it all in...soccer, rocket stomping and tball all in a few minutes.

BTW, thank you soooooo very much to Joanne and her homecoming crew. How special to pull in the driveway to see the balloons, welcoming signs and streamers. It really meant the world.

It took awhile to convince Ma Zhu to come into the house. Of course, the 2 big dogs probably didn't help any. I went in for a wonderful greeting, and while one dog was kissing my face, Ma Zhu started to smile, so more kisses for me, and then laughing from him. Finally he was inside to see what he could touch and do there. Round and round he went, and first time down the stairs he jumped the last 6 (man, I'd better take more vitamins)

Janine had met us at the airport, and her boyfriend came from work for dinner. Ma Zhu didn't want him to leave, he kept pulling him back into the house..too funny.

night time was a whole 'nother game. he played musical beds for awhile, but didn't fall asleep until 9:30. he woke back up at 11pm, where oh where does this energy come from, and more importantly, where can i get even one tiny dose. I woke back up at 1am, to find him downstairs, watching cartoons. Rich told me he came down with the dog, and when he brought down his covers, he refused to sit on the couch with baba...guess he's even more scarey late at night.

Got him back to bed, in my bed, and he slept until 10:30.

enjoy some pictures of the day

a few more pictures before leaving at 5:30 AM. today we basically finished up some shopping, took a group picture, and went to the consulate. I have to admit, that I cried after the oath..maybe b/c i know it will be the last time i will be there adopting, maybe b/c we now are paperwork ready to leave China. whichever, it is bittersweet to leave the country i have grown to love over the years, and knowing that we are taking our son from his birthcounty.

in the last 11 years, i have spent a total of 3 months in China...that is so amazing to me.

a few more pictures, and then our long journey home, into the arms of the kiddies who are missing their mom (at least for a few hours :) ps...did you notice the big plate of noodles? ma zhu would finish that clean everyday!

here's hoping that ma zhu's beginnings at home go well.

wednesday

well, are time here in China, is coming to a close. i am really ready to be home, and see all my kids together, but i know i will also be sad to leave here.
today, our paperwork was approved by the consulate...i always get a little nervous, until the "all clear" call, which happened to have come later than we were told to expect.
did a little shopping, and only had a few meltdowns...boy that 40 pounds of crying, and kicking is giving me some more muscles, but is killing my back!
another day at the pool to cool off and relax. after 15 minutes, ma zhu is now able to swim with swimmies (more or less) after he sees taylor doing canon balls into the pool, he decides to give it a good ole try, and that's how he spend his next hour. definately a fun way to spend an afternoon :)
tomorow, we are off to the consulate in the afternoon, and then we will be packing, since we are leaving thursday am at 5am...ouch
i am also hoping to get to see my friend kristen's sister and mom, so i can see her new niece.

tuesday

i have no idea what happened on monday :)

today we went for the medical exams for the kids. ma zhu did well for the most part..pretty cooperative. in the afternoon, we walked to the qingping market (free market) and went shopping on the commercial street and then out for dinner. it was hot, hot, hot....and i made the executive decision to cool ma zhu off (hoping i wouldn't regret it later on by having him duplicate what i did)

Sunday

Well, I'm a little behind on posting, but will try to catch up. Given I am walking non-stop with a very busy boy :) added to not sleeping well every other day, well enough said.

Today we went sightseeing..first to Dr. Sun at=sen's Memorial Hall where we learned about the tombs unearthed while building the China Hotel. It was interesting to the adults (and only 2 of the kids) and we got to go into the tomb.

We then got to go shopping for food and drinks, and on the way back stopped at a small amusement park for the kids to have some fun.

Saturday

Today, we had a busy day, we went to the 6 Banyan tree Temple and the Chen Family Folk Museum. Even though I have been there many times, the Temple is a beautiful and peaceful place and we chose to have the kids blessed while there by the monks.

MaZhu once again, got carried out of a booth at the museum, because the merchant hands him something to look at, and he thinks it is his. Very typical kid!

That night, we had a group dinner at the Cow and Bridge. All 4 of the families here with wacap have older children, the youngest being 4, the oldest 10, so it is nice that everyone "knows" some of the things most of us have experienced. Before dinner, we cooled off at the pool. The views are incredible up on the roof.

Guangzhou

Well,we made it Guangzhou and MaZhu did well on the plane. As soon as we got picked up, he started talking to me non-stop. That, and drawing lots of pictures of him, jiejie, baba and mama. He then starts drawing pictures with some of us smiling and some crying...when I started fake crying he cracked up laughing...such a better sound from the beginning of the week.
Will post more pictures later, love you guys. Off to walk around the hot island (93 right now, high of about 82 in Chengdu)

pandas

ok, so if i have mentioned this already, just shake your head and smile. since sichuan provence and chengdu are known for 2 very large panda breeding sites, everywhere you go in chengdu has pictures and statues of pandas. even in our hotel, they are embroidered on all the towels and washclothes.

today we had the wonderful chance to see the pandas up close and personal. from the baby nursery(how could they start out sooooo small) to the playpens for the 1 month olds, to the kindergarteners and beyond. we were there early in the morning, so they were out and about and playing, so cute. we then went on to see the red pandas and both taylor and i took turns holding one and feeding it. we would have loved to do the giant pandas but the price was too much for us, even though all the money goes back into panda research.

mazhu had a pretty good day, sprinkled with tantrums, but hey, i'm no slouch to viewing a tantrum or 2. sometimes it's funny, especially when he wants something that the mean mama vetos (yes, i do :) all in all a good day, we picked up our completed paperwork, and did more walking this afternoon

we leave in the morning to guangzhou.

what i have learned about my son

Well, it is day 3, and here are a few things i have already learned.
1. he can certainly eat like a van nostrand (there goes any hopes of lowering our food bill in the future)
2. he has a great smile and huge dimple, when he is willing to share it for a few seconds
3. he loves to draw and color and is very good at that, and building with legos to copy designs
4. i learned what ba for (or something similiar) means in Chinese after hearing it several times in the past few days...it means i have to throw up! another child who gets car sick in the house..yeah!

today, we ventured out by cab (and yes, the kind cabbie pulled over for MaZhu to be sick) and went to Jin Li Street. It is an old street with beautiful architecture and many shops. we also walked for several hours this morning...getting lots of exercise.

off to find dinner, and then more walking before crashing later!

Day 2

Today we did all our official paperwork...Noah Zhu is our son. We started the day by getting to talk to the kids and Rich on skype...what a great thing. That, and having a laptop. The kids all got a kick at of seeing Noah, and we are teaching them how to call him MaZhu, since that is the name he responds to. I did get to find out yesterday, that he didn't have a nickname, so me calling him ZhuZhu did nothing. That, coupled with my wonderful ability to speak Chinese :) I was happy to find out what he was called. We also did get back one of our photo albums sent, so we do now know that Noah did see them at some point.

Lots of saddness this am, after seeing the assistant from the orphanage, but lots of lights shining through the day. We spent the afternoon walking around, and then went to a park, and had hot pot for dinner. Sichuan is famous for their hot pot (very spicey, but good) We finished our evening by going to a teahouse, and watching a variety performance. We all enjoyed that, especially the quick change act...how they do that one will never know. Literally, in front of you, they tap their fans on their faces, and their masks change colors, shapes, or come off.

Wednesday, we have on our own. We will probably walk around and enjoy the sites.

Thank you for all the prayers and loving thoughts. I can definately feel them here :)

Day 1

Well, the day stated off well enough, we woke up to the pouring rain, and were to leave at 9. We arrived at the swi and were met by the director and an assistant, his teacher was in a meeting.

Noah was brought in a little while later, shy and quiet. Now I'm told, that if I had sent some pictures, maybe he wouldn't have been so shy. Well, not only did a traveling family deliver a photo album and small toy for me in June, I also sent a translated letter, 2 cameras, stuffed animal, and a duplicate photo album in a package in July. This along with pictures that all the kids drew and wrote.

I was able to be shown around a little bit, with no picture taking of the other children. We got to see Noah's class and bedroom. Taylor was asked to stay in the conference room with Noah, since they didn't want him to get upset by seeing his friends and teachers

A littel while later we left, Noah not crying, just quiet. We were told that he likes to draw, take pictures (thanks Donna) and likes KFC. So our first family meal was there (me, not eating :) We went back to the room, were Mr. Noah was like taz man. Intrigued and pushing every button on every gadget in site. After a bit, we went downstairs to take a walk. Shortly after, the gireiving began, starting about 4 blocks from the hotel, and lasting for several hours. We again went out, and finished the same way, this time ending with all three of us crying....lots. Finally fell asleep, Taylor emotionally drained by 7,and us by 9. Attaching a few pictures.

in a few hours

well, we made it safetly to Chengdu about 1am Sunday morning. it is now 8, and we will be leaving to get Noah at 9. I have a million emotions speeding through my head right now. Hoping his heart will be open to all the new changes about to impact his young life.
i will try to post as soon as I am able.

Ugh, the weather

Ok, so 2 weeks ago, there were 2 aftershocks in Sichuan provence, where Noah is from....5.8 and 6.2 several days apart. Those are aftershocks? C'mon that is a large earthquake! Luckily, unlike in May, there were not too many people injured but there was structural damage. On Friday, Sichuan provence again experienced an earthquake (at least it was called that this time) Nervous mom kicks in...how many more will there be? Will people escape without being hurt or worse, will there be more damage to all the buildings that already have suffered so much. And then my mind went to...what if "they" were to close travel again.
I am leaving in 3 more days. My best friend of 32 years told me last night, that I must have a "thing" with the weather. Our family went on it's first cruise/family vacation during Hurricane Katrina! Now we watch our son and people of Sichuan as it gets pelted with earthquakes, and on Saturday, they are predicting some weather from a hurricane which is currently in the Atlantic.
Praying hard, that the weather is only rain, and there are no delays to our flight so that we can be united with Noah on Monday.

Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do~Jackson Brown, Jr