More Pics

These pics are from today...this is how it has been most of the trip...just a lot of laughing. Just a few minutes ago I got on the cot in our room and it folded up on me and both me and Josiah couldn't stop laughing. In one of the pics, Josiah put a piece of bread on his head and just started laughing. We have been trying not to laugh at him when he does something he shouldn't, because he will do it over and over if you laugh....but this one we couldn't help.

Pictures

Some Pics

Another day in Changsha

It is 5:40AM on Wednesday morning here in Changsha. Yesterday was an up and down day. We officially became the parents of Josiah after our civil affairs office visit. They only asked a few easy questions, and I think it was obvious to everyone that we were all very happy together. We have still been struggling to find a good schedule that works for all 6 of us, but we are getting through it. Josiah is used to getting up at 6am, taking a nap from 11-2, then in bed by 8. We have been getting up around 5am, eatting breakfast @8am, napping at noon, lunch at 2 or 3, possibly another nap, then dinner between 7-8, and in bed between 9-11.

 

Yesterday, we experienced Josiah's first temper tantrum. He has had quite a few little instances where he will whine for something and even get very angry, but yesterday was a total melt down for him. We took him to the play area here on our floor for about 30-45 minutes. Rachel was very tired and brought him back to the room, but he wanted to go back and play. When we did not go back he started screaming and kicking. I had to hold him for about 5 minutes while he continued to fight me and want to go. I must say, learning to speak Chinese has been very very helpful and I highly recommend to any one adopting from China to learn as much as you can. After he settled down I was able to tell him that if he could behave, I would let him watch some tv, he was happy with that. He was still pretty mad at me and wouldn't even look at me. But I got down along side him and told him that I loved him and without looking at me he told me that he loved me. I asked him if I could kiss him, which he doesn't really like because it tickles his face, and he said yes. I then gave him some oreos...yes oreos, and he was very happy again...even laughing. I am actually very happy that this happened as he will need to learn his limits. I think it is becoming obvious that at the orphanage he was allowed to pretty much do what he wanted, and he was the oldest child so he probably ruled the roost. Now with me as the new sheriff in town, it is going to take some getting used to, plus he will not be able to do what ever he wants. One of the things I have to remind myself is that he is only 5 years old, and he just turned 5 in June. He is going to do things that 5 year olds do, but we can't just allow it. It was very hard to discipline him in this way because of the life he has had and with his special need, but I know it is the correct thing to do, and it will only get better from here.

 

Today is a free day, and we are planning on going swimming again today. Still trying to get on a good schedule. This hotel even has a bowling alley on the 6th floor which we will visit tomorrow. I am looking forward to today as we have more freedom as to what we are doing. We have another free day on Thursday, and then on Friday we head to Guangzhou around 5, fly out at 8pm. I hear that most people are relieved to get to Guangzhou because of how nice it is and the more prominent western style. I did, however, look at the weather and it looks like it is going to be in the upper 80's and raining the whole time we are there. Plus the trade fair is going on and I heard that that the hotel we are staying at is right next to the trade fair headquarters. I am hopeful that things will continue to get better, even with the hot weather and the crowds of people. One thing I have found is that the Chinese believe that AC is good if it can cool down to 75; the restaurant that we ate at yesterday didn't have the AC on at all and it was about 80 degrees in there...it was like eating at my mom's house :)

 

I will try to update again tomorrow.

 

Brian

Good morning from Changsha

Hello everybody, it is 5:12AM here in Changsha, China. I will try to update you as to what we have been doing and what we will be doing. Yesterday, Rachel and I went to the Civil Affairs office and officially started all the paperwork. We also went and had Josiah's passport photo's taken. It was pretty uneventful at the civil affairs office, and we were able to finish up a lot of paperwork that was intended to be done today. We will need to go back to the civil affairs office again today for some interview type questions. They will ask us things like, "do you still want this child" "did you know about his special needs before you came here" "Do you promise to love him and take care of him the rest of his life"

 

Yesterday we also got to have, what I consider, some of our first fun time together. We all went swimming. Josiah loved it. Last night we also went out to eat at a really nice western/chinese restaurant right next door to the hotel. One of the things that has been really hard to judge is how much food to order, as you might expect, the chinese do not stuff themselves like we do :)

 

Josiah has been doing great and he is really bonding with his new family. We have had some times where he is testing us and trying to push his limits, but we have worked through those things and have been getting better. One thing that he is having a problem with is that he thinks it is funny when he does something wrong and we laugh...he will then continue to do this for as long as he thinks its funny. For example, dropping his fork on the floor, over and over again. Considering some of the issues some children have, I will take these little power struggles any day.

 

Paige and Paris continue to do well, although, they have been a little bored. I have not felt very adventurous since we got here, I am more about getting my family through this adoption safely and return home soon. As we spend some more days in Changsha, I am sure I will feel more like getting out and exploring. The scary part is trying to get through traffic. If you end up in front of a car, they will run you over. As you might expect, with 6 people in our group and 1 of them being in a wheelchair, I am not looking to press my luck playing human frogger.

 

Well I am sure there are a million things I could be writing about, but I am running out of time and want to make sure we are not late to our meeting this morning. I am not sure if I have written this in the past but I wanted to make sure everyone knew. Josiah is very small. Most of the clothes we bought him were size 5 or extra small and they are falling off him. I would suggest if you are buying him clothes...buy size 4T. Also, he loves coloring books and I think he will love doing things like puzzles, bigger puzzle pieces. Yesterday, he really amazed us by writing numbers 1-30, with his feet no less :)

 

Andrea has told me that the picture came through so I will try to post some more. Although, with all the hustle and bustle of this trip, I have been forgetting to take pictures...sorry...try to do better.

 

Reporting from China,

 

Brian

We are in Changsha

I am falling asleep on my feet so this is going to be a short message...and I don't know if they are making it to the blog or not. We are in Changsha, we have had Josiah for a little over 24 hours and I don't know if he could love us, or us love him, any more than we do. He has not left my side since I got him, and as you might expect, that makes me very happy. It has been an eventful 24 hours; I have been pee'd on, thrown up on, and he spilled his water on me on the plane...but I love him so much I don't mind. We are in Changsha and we officially start the process tomorrow so please have us in your thoughts as this is a critical step in bringing him home.

 

Brian

We have Josiah

I don't know how long the internet will be working, but I wanted to let you all know that we have Josiah, and I think he loves his new family very much. At first he wasn't real sure, but by the end of the night he didn't want to leave my arms. He kept me up until midnight wanting to play instead of sleep, but Im sure he is going through a lot right now. Some things I already know about him: He loves watching TV, he loves making people laugh, and he doesn't like it when you touch him if he doesn't want you touching him. I will try to post a picture but I am not sure it will work. As for the rest of us, we are all doing well-ish. Paris is having a hard time with the Jet lag and has been wanting to go home aleady. Hopefully over the next few days things slow down a little and she can catch up on some sleep. She does not like the smells here. Hopefully Changsha is better for her. I will try to post when I can but we are moving at 100 mph and I don't know when I will have time. For the next 2 days we need everything to work out well with Josiah because we were not supposed have him and I am not sure what impact that will have on all of our travel. We met the man from his original orphanage last night who will be taking him on the plane and we need to give josiah back to him tomorrow morning. A lot of things need to work out in order for that to happen. Please be sure to think of us often...love you all.

 

  Brian

We are in Beijing

Hello everybody. We are in Beijing. The flight was long, but very uneventful. The kids did great, even after a few pre-flight jitters. I hope to write more tomorrow, but for now we need to get to bed...we are going on about 3-4 hours of crappy sleep in the plane. It is hard to believe that we will be meeting Josaih in about 12 hours. Awesome!!!