Since we left China

Well, we made it.  We prepared for 21 hours of horrific travel but we were both pleasantly surprised.

First our van ride to the Hong Kong airport only took 2.5 hours. After we found out Evan gets carsick, we tried to find airline tickets but had no luck.  Sure enough, he was sick about 30 minutes in, and spent about 1.5 hours slumped in Tom's lap.  It was really heartbreaking because he looked EXACTLY the same as he did the day he was put in my arms.  I realized at that moment that on that special day for us, Evan had been woken up early, dressed, hugged and kissed goodbye by a million people, probably tearfully, then driven probably 4-5 hours, gotten car sick and been handed over to "Mama" a total stranger who did not speak his language.  I did not mention it before, but he was sick all over him and myself on our way back to the hotel that day.  What a miserable, horrific, terrible day it must have been for him.

And all this for a 2 year old.  I remember Ben at his second birthday so clearly.  He knew the names of 30+ Thomas trains, he had friends, he was putting together small jigsaw puzzles.  He had foods liked and did not, he had songs he loved and things that made him laugh. He loved us, he loved his grandparents, he had an entire life

All that Evan lost in 1 day.  And yet, somehow, he has survived.  It is hard to believe we have been together less than a month, home less than a week. He understands so much of what we say.  He is quick to smile at all of us.  He is started to walk around the house like it is his.  He is changing every day and every day we are coming to know him more. Yesterday he stated washing himself with a washcloth in the tub and it took my breath away.  It was something he always was able to do but I just never knew.  He knows Tom and I and trusts us.  He will never wander more than 10 feet from us without holding out his hand for us to come with.  And finally, he wants to do EVERYTHING his big brother does.

We are struggling with sleep a bit but it is getting better every day.  We originally had the boys in the same room but had to make an emergency change, moving Evan to the playroom borrowing a gliding chair from my mom and converting the crib into a toddler bed so we could lay his sleeping body down without disturbing him too much.

We have plans ahead, visiting the pediatrician next week for a full check up bloodwork etc followed by an appointment with out plastic surgeon to talk about cleft palate surgery and visit to the ENT to see if he needs tubes as well.  We also have plans for birthday parties, a wedding, family pictures and play dates.  Just like in China, when he bored, he brings us our shoes, ready for a walk outside or something more.

We are also struggling with sibling rivalry, mommy exhaustion and overall frustration when we cannot communicate more than our limited English and the new signs Evan knows. We still have surgery and a lot of speech therapy ahead before those issues will be resolved. Our organized life routine has been upset and we are working to build a new one.  The nights are hard, but when it it is 10:00am and I am pushing that double stroller to the park, life feels so very RIGHT.  囍  Double Happiness. 

We Are Coming Home

And we are terrified.
Our  new son, well, he isn't found of anything that restrains him, unless of course, he wants to be, like in relaxing stroller rides.  Our two hour long flight to GZ included him screaming through about 30 minutes of it--- extrapolate to a 15 hour flight and that makes -- about 4 hours of screaming?  I thought I was being a worrywart when Tom said to me today, "Ok, so let's just face the facts- this flight is going to suck.  So let's make a pact to not worry about anyone on the plane but ourselves."  

OK, when TOM CHLEBEK says something like this, you know you are in trouble.

Apparently the planes keeps flying regardless of screaming children.  So, see you in Chicago!

A few pics I missed:

First ice cream

Making mom a coffee

First time playing in buckwheat- he liked it.

No, I don't want him forever!!

On our way to Evan

 Funny boys selfie

Glimpses of love..

Happy Birthday, Mr. Wu

Today our little boy turned 2!!  We spent the morning at the U.S. Consulate taking the final steps to obtain Evan's visa to come home.  His visa and related documents to ensure his U.S. citizenship on entrance to the U.S. will be ready tomorrow afternoon.  The U.S. Consulate is a brand new building, different from the one we went to with Ben.  It was modern, beautiful and unmistakably bunker-like, a low building with small windows and lots of metal.

We then headed back to the hotel, ordered noodles from room service (no more eating out for a LONG time for this family) and boys napped.  After nap, we headed over to Shamian Island.  Shamian Island was a French territory in the 19th century and it is still evident from the buildings left behind. We went over to do a little shopping and hopefully snap some cute pictures of the birthday boy, but he would not surrender his bottle:

On our return to the hotel there was a surprise waiting for us in our hotel room- a cake, candles and card for "Mr. Wu." We cracked up.  Evan's old last name was Wu.  We realized it was probably the first and last time he would be addressed as Mr. Wu.

We pulled out our presents for him then and had a little party. We had asked our guide to tell him earlier that it was his birthday and he seemed to know exactly what was going on.  It was so wonderful.

Our adoptive friend Krista recommended this bunny and he loves it (Krista, we ended up getting the Allilo brand instead of Mibo). It sings and speaks in Mandarin.

Happy Birthday darling boy!!! You have filled our hearts and home so fast!!  We love you!!!!!

Adding to my last post regarding Evan's cuteness, I forgot to mention when he wants to leave the hotel room he brings us all our shoes!  First he puts his on, then brings us each ours!  Ohh the cuteness!

We also found out on adoption day that he was both part of our agency's sponsorship program and the organization Half The Sky's program. Half the Sky is one of the oldest nonprofits working in China since 1998 to enrich the lives of children in orphanages through caregiver training and other support. We knew Xinyang had a Half the Sky room and we were HOPING Evan was part of it.  We received about 20 pages of journal/writing about him (which we need to have translated) and lots of pictures, including precious baby pictures.

This morning when he woke up, I was already in the living room.  I suddenly heard little feet padding along and out of bedroom he strolled, smiling happily. This meant he scaled the pack n play and climbed onto the bed, then off the bed. I am glad our big pieces of furniture are secured to walls!

Today we hit up a big shopping wall with another family and our guide, and that was about it.  We picked out a few neat toys for the boys and that was it, though if I not have a strong preference for the boys not to eat out of plastic they would have about a million cool food and drink containers. 

Tomorrow is our consulate appointment, where we will take the final steps to get Evan's visa to enter the U.S.  The visa then will be issued in 24-48 hours and we can come home!!!  I am looking forward to showing our sweet boy his home, family and after we conquer jet lag, spending time with our family and having some playdates!!!!!