"Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act." Proverbs 24:12

I don't even know where to start.  Excuse the details as I try to remember every second!

When we arrived at the Civil Affairs Office, there were 10 other families waiting for their children in addition to our group of 4 couples.  Tom and I had been told in the ride over that Ben would probably be last, as he had a planned arrival of 11am due to the distance they were coming.  We all were milling around talking, waiting, until all at once one of our group members said. "Oh my God! There's Cam!"  Her son was there and all at once we were all video taping and picture taking for her. Her son was smiles from the second he met them, and immediately ran over to the play area to play with the couple.  Over the next hour, they trickled in, most wailing once their nannies handed them over.  Our one poor couple's son (and 2 other children from other agencies' kids) and complete meltdowns, arching their backs, screaming.  It was so hard to watch.  Suddenly it was just us waiting.  Somehow, I was so afraid I would not recognize him.  But then a soft haired little head was coming up the steps in the arms of a Chinese woman, and I knew it was him.  The nanny seemed to recognize me immediately (we had sent pictures) and handed him to me.  He was stoic.  He did not cry, he did not smile, he just kind of was.  In the next 15 minutes, we took a photo, the orphanage director came over and met us, and invited us to lunch during our visit, the nanny gave us his formula, and suddenly we were getting back on the bus.  In the interim, I had showed Ben a little barnyard flap book I had brought, and he had accepted it as best he could wrapped in a million  layers of clothing. I had also earned one smile by kissing his little shoes.  Yes, will go to any lengths!!

We got back to the hotel and I took off one layer of Ben Yong's clothing, trying not to make it too traumatic for him.  After a few minutes, he was still a little bundled, so I took one more layer off.  I got a few brief smiles but he was still a little "out of it" from being completely overwhelmed and confused. GOD BLESS TOM, he has been AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING.   He mixed a formula bottle for  Ben Yong because it was also his naptime, and Ben Yong and I llaid down with the bottle.  All of the sudden, after the bottle, he broke down into terrible, heartsick cries with big alligator tears.  It was like it all caught up with him and he just wanted to go home.  He cried for about 5 minutes (felt like eternity) then we settled in to the armchair and read books.  He was so, so tired.  After books, I started to sing to him- HOLY COW, he likes my singing!  He fell asleep in my arms for about an hour, while Tom went out to find some noodles for lunch from all of us.

After he woke up, he was happier.  We let him walk while we held his hands and he loved it.  (Smiles). When I was feeding him noodles he shook his head no at one point, and I laughed, and he cracked up, and we did a lot of head shaking.  Also while eating he pulled himself up to standing  then suddenly, took three steps alone!  I was so surprised I dropped his lunch all over the floor and we all laughed again.  After eating, I was ready to try to change him out of all of this clothes, and I learned he loved to be kissed all over, so more smiles!!

It was a tiring rest of the day including a trip to Wal Mart, but he ate, smiled more, and is sleeping now for one hour (yes, more singing from me, believe it or not!) and hopefully it will last!  My Grandma in heaven must have rallied all the angels and saints in heaven to pray for Ben Yong, because it has been an OK day for him, and a miraculous day for us! !!!