Jeremiah's first month home

I can't believe it's been a month since Jeremiah came home, and I can't believe it's ONLY been a month that he's been home. Time flies when you're busy and having fun!!!

Jeremiah is one AMAZING little boy. I still can't believe God is allowing us to be his parents. We are so blessed!!! It seems as though he has been with us always and fits perfectly with our family dynamic. He has an incredible sense of humor, loves to play and do artwork, and will wrestle with Elijah and has given him quite the run for his money!

Jeremiah came home a month ago on a Thursday, and by the following Monday had his first doctors appointment. We found out he was very healthy overall and needed only 2 vaccinations to catch him up to where he should be. He took the shots like a champ, smile on his face and all. He also had to give 4 vials of blood, and he giggled at that, thinking it was funny watching the blood shoot into the tube and vials. That day we were referred to the spina bifida clinic at the hospital and told it would be about 8 weeks before we got in. 

The next day I received a call to schedule our appointment and was told it would be April before we got in to see them. I was not too excited about my boy having to wait that long seeing as how we needed many answers about his condition. After talking through some concerns we got an appointment for the very next day!!! We spent 5 hours that Thursday seeing several doctors, therapists, getting x-rays, and being fit for his foot/leg braces and wheelchair. It was incredible how much was accomplished!! But.... A 6 year old in a hospital for 5 hours after only being home a week... He was not impressed. So we had a fun lunch and ice cream afterwards. And all was right with the world again! The kid loves ice cream!!

Since then, Jeremiah has gotten a temporary wheelchair, for long distances, and his leg and foot braces. He is getting around so well! The day he got fit for them, they put the braces on him and asked him to stand to see how they felt. He stood and looked up at me in amazement with the biggest smile on his face. "Mama!!!! Look Jeremiah!!" My boy was freely standing by himself for the very first time. Before then, he was able to stand up, but had to keep his feet moving to maintain balance without support.  Tears began to flow from my eyes, and then also from the doctors eyes that we had only known for a couple of hours. Jeremiah was so excited and proud of himself. He walked around and just giggled for a few minutes. When he got home he wanted to go out and walk around in the snow, so I let him of course! Now, every morning he is ready to get those braces on and take off!! I told you he's amazing....

At home we began working on letters, numbers, colors and shapes. He has picked them up instantaneously. Not once, after we've worked on something has he forgotten it. Pretty sure we have a genius on our hands! His English is also flourishing. Some of our favorite things to hear him say are: "Oh No!!!!", "Ninja turtle", "booyakasha", "sorry", and of course "I love you". He has the most precious little voice, and I just want to kiss his little cheeks every time he talks. He has also been teaching me how to say several things in Chinese!

Within a few days of him being home, Jeremiah began to get into the routine of taking his brothers to school in amongst all of our doctors appointments. A few days in Jeremiah decided he was going to start wearing his own backpack when we took the other boys. Then he would say, "Jeremiah?" And hold up his hands and point like, "when do I get to go to school mom?" He had been going to school in China, but I figured he needed to be home and adjust to family life before starting school.  I fully expected to keep him home a couple of months for bonding purposes, but he was doing rather well. I realized it was me that wanted to keep him home and love on him, but he was ready to join his brothers at school; so after two weeks we started the enrollment process, and he started school this last Friday. He absolutely loves it!!! And so do Micah and Elijah. They love showing him off to all the students and teachers. Elijah and Jeremiah have already been on a field trip together. We have this really neat creative art place nearby and the whole kindergarten class got to go and then have pizza for lunch. It was so fun to see all the kids welcome and have fun with Jeremiah. 

This past week was also Chinese New Year. We celebrated early at a New Years party at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. We had a great time with friends and family and were able to see lots of native cultural performances. On New Years we sat together as a family and had a feast of Chinese food. Yum!!

So as you can see a lot has gone on for this amazing little guy in just a month. His entire world has changed, and he has taken it all on, full steam ahead. We can't wait to see what all is in store for our family!!  Here are just a few more glimpses of Mr. Handsome...

On a side note, recently something else amazing has happened. Jeremiah's best friend at Alenah's Home, JiaJia, that we've talked about, has a family!!! The best part is, they are like family to us!!!! Within the next year, Jeremiah and JiaJia, who have been separated by thousands of miles, will be reunited and live only a few miles apart. God is good and His plans are amazing and unfathomable. We are so excited for this boy and his family. Please be in prayer for all of them during the long adoption process. If you'd like, they've also started a blog, so you can follow his journey at, amamaandbabaforjiajia.blogspot.com

There will be many fundraising opportunities to help cover costs to bring JiaJia home!!!

Who needs the same language to communicate?

We started our drive to the airport Thursday evening, a little more than an hour before their scheduled arrival time. Five minutes into our drive I received a call from a close family friend that the plane would be there 25 minutes early!!! Praying for no cops on the way, we may have went a little faster than normal and ran in to see if we had caught Matt and Jeremiah before they got off the plane. Thankfully we did. I had text Matt and told him to try and be the last ones off the plane, and I think Matt took that literally, as we even saw the pilot before them. And then there they were....

I didn't know who to hug first!!! I went for a quick kiss for my husband and then bent down to Jeremiah's level. My son was home, he was right in front of me!!!! I held my arms out, but he wasn't quite ready.... So I smiled, kissed him, told him I loved him very much, and then stood to let the amazing group of friends and family that had joined us to welcome him home, see him for the first time.

There were lots of flashes, and I think it was maybe a bit overwhelming, so Matt picked him up to let him know everything was ok. I reached my arms out for him again and this time he came to me. I felt like time literally stood still. It was amazing. I was in love.....

We stayed at the airport for awhile talking with everyone. Jeremiah and I bonded through him taking pictures of me and everyone else. He thought it was hilarious. 

My sister brought some toys and he sat in my lap on the airport floor and played while everyone talked. Everyone started to leave slowly and then it was time to head home. A few walked out with us, and as we packed every seat in the van full of our kids, we realized we had no room for the luggage! Guess we'll have to rent a 15 passenger van the next time we go on vacation....

The back seat was full with the 3 oldest boys. Elijah and Jeremiah giggled and talked the whole way home. One speaking English, the other Chinese, and they seemed to know everything the other was saying. Matt and I laughed right along with them. When we got home they continued to play like two long lost brothers. Matt bought them all swords in China, so Jeremiah passed them all out, and the sword fighting began.

Jeremiah also shared books that he brought home with him from the foster home and orphanage. They're amazing and obviously very special to him. He jabbered away telling us all about all the pictures, and the way he would point and talk, we all really understood what he was trying to tell us. The boys all played while Matt and I caught up on stories from our time apart. At 2am we decided it was time to try and get everyone to sleep. Jeremiah and Elijah share a room and are in bunk beds. We didn't know how this would work, but like everything else, it went off without a hitch!!! I kept waking up all night to go stare at each kid sleeping, and my hubby too. I couldn't soak in enough. It was like a dream!!

Elijah and Jeremiah woke up first Friday morning. I heard them get up and go in to watch cartoons. I got up a little after and found them at the table. Elijah had fixed them both a bowl of cereal and they were sitting there eating and watching tv, no big deal that they had only met a few hours earlier!!! 

They played all day, with Micah and Samuel joining in here and there. Elijah taught Jeremiah how to play the Wii, and he picked it up extremely fast and is now beating him at some games!

Daddy and Elijah also began hunting lessons with Jeremiah. He LOVES it!!! He's absolutely fascinated with Matt's taxidermied deer head.

We began to have some brotherly tiffs, but we got them figured out pretty fast. Friday, everyone was ready to go to bed by about 10pm. We got everyone tucked in, sang and said our goodnights. All was quiet.  Jeremiah woke up in the middle of the night a little distraught and needed a drink.  I got him one and he laid right back down, I tucked him back in and he slept soundly until 10 o'clock this morning. 

Daddy went and got donuts this morning. Boy did Jeremiah love those!!!

He has been extremely open to trying all the food I've fixed so far. He has eaten everything! Cinnamon rolls, macNcheese and little smokies, quesadillas, chili and donuts!!! Pretty amazing kid to try an all new menu. I don't know that most people, adults or kids, would be as open and accepting of whatever is being put in front of him at the table. 

So our first 48 hours are in the books! They've been fun and exahausting for all of us. We've bonded and loved and gotten to know our newest son very well. He is beautiful and smart, inventive and loving. I can't wait to see what the next 48 hours holds!!!

Monday morning we go for his first doctors visit. We are anxious to find out what all they have to say. 

Almost Home!!!!

When a mother learns she is pregnant it is a magical moment. Knowing you have a life that is growing inside of you that relies fully on you to protect and feed them is a heavy responsibility. The father sits by and can only see from the outside as the baby grows and who's every movement is felt by its mother. As an adoptive parent, our love is no different, we wait and wait until we get to meet our child, anticipating all of those first moments and dreaming of what they will become.

Our journey to Jeremiah has been just over a year. A year of wondering with excitement what our lives will be like when he joins our family. This entrance into our family has been different than with any of our other children. You see, from day one I have always been the first one to take over their needs and to comfort them. But this time, daddy got to be the one with the firsts: meeting, holding, feeding, spoiling, saying goodnight. 

It has been amazing watching Matt and Jeremiah bond over the last two weeks. I know, as many of you have shared as well, how amazing it is that Jeremiah has adapted so well already. Matt is an amazing father, I'm sure Jeremiah could see and feel the love his daddy had for him immediately. 

I watch Matt with our son and I can't wait to physically hold him as well. I can't wait for the many firsts I'll have with him. I can't wait to see him interact with his siblings. I can't wait for him to learn and believe that he is a part of a family now, our family.... Forever. 

Jeremiah, mommy can't wait to meet you, to hold you for the first time. I can't wait to sing you to sleep and watch you wake up.  I'm counting down the hours until your arrival. Mommy loves you big guy. You and daddy will be home very soon, I can hardly wait!!!

The boys have started their long trip home. 27 hours to be exact. From Guangzhou to Shanghai, Shanghai to Detroit and finally Detroit to Kansas City. For those of you who would like to come to the airport tonight, please get ahold of me and I will give you the flight details. 

Subway, Zoo, and Noodles

This will be the last post from China!

Today we went to the Guangzhou Zoo.  Like other things before, we were there 2 years ago.  I was excited to take Jeremiah.  If nothing else, for the giraffes :)

We took the subway, which was a first for me while in Guangzhou!  There is a stop right outside our hotel.  So we walked there and two stops later, we were at the zoo.

Jeremiah loved it from the time we walked in the gates.  In fact, we probably wouldn't have made it past the first few animals if it was up to him.  He didn't want to leave any of the animals.  Just kept repeating "wow!" in a super dramatic voice :)

At the very end of our visit . . . finally the giraffes!  For 25 RMB (about $4) you get a bundle of leaves to feed the giraffes.  In case you can't tell, he LOVED it!

I wanted one more dose of wonton noodle soup from the noodle shop before we left, so that is where we headed after the zoo.  We picked up the big brother from the other family we are traveling with.  He wanted in on the adventure and Jeremiah and he get along well.  We all chowed.  9 RMB a bowl (that's $4.50 for all 3 of us).

China has been great.  Travel and health have been good.  Bonding and attachment seem to be going smooth.  But boy are we ready to see the family!  2 weeks, whew!  Early tomorrow morning we began our trek home . . . and finally the family will be together . . . all of us :)

Last 2 Days

Catching up on the last 2 days!

Yesterday we went to the silk market and Shamain Island for shopping and exploring.

Here is one of the hallways of the silk market.  I probably could have taken 10 more pictures of different hallways . . .but they all looked very similar.

Here is Jeremiah on the island checking out the Pearl River.   

A picture with these statues is a tradition for adoptive families . . . so here it is!

A pretty picture of the island.

Today was our appointment at the consulate for Jeremiah's immigrant visa, some time in a garden, and a river cruise.

We had to leave the hotel at 7:40am and somebody was still tired.

No electronics are allowed in the consulate.  So a picture outside is the only option.

Our hotel is "The Garden Hotel" (nicest hotel I've ever stayed at).  Back of the hotel is ??? . . . a GIANT garden!  It is absolutely beautiful.  Aaaaaand here are a couple of pics from the parts of the garden a 6 year old likes :)

We finished the day with a cruise on the Pearl River.  We did this 2 years ago with Samuel.  Probably wouldn't have done it again, except I had a feeling Jeremiah thought it would be cool.  And he did!

Tomorrow we go to the zoo and Thursday we head home!