Tia's first days at home

When we arrived at home, we were blessed by this collection of messages from our older children...brought me to tears!  We are all so glad to be home and to be together again!!! Also, they had a "secret project" they had been working on. They surprised me by deep cleaning the house while we were in China....light fixtures, base board, all the areas that had been recently neglected! It was wonderful to be greeted by a sparkling house! The support of our older children has been huge! We are so blessed!

We are adjusting well. Between jet lag and catching up after being gone for two weeks, the last few days have felt like a little bit of a fog. But we are getting back to normal! Tia still much prefers the "men" of the house over us ladies. Much to the girls dismay, she does not like them any better than she did me. However, I am gaining ground with her. I feed her, bathe her, dress her, take her potty. She would prefer Craig, but is learning that Mama is not going to give in.

Tia has loved her brothers from the beginning....and they think it is great that she so readily goes to them!!

The girls try to interact with her....but she just pushes them away!

On Sunday morning when everyone except Tia and Mama went to church, she had no choice but to decide I was okay! That time alone was a turning point for her and I. By Sunday evening, she was allowing me to hold her and care for her like a mama should. Our feisty little girl is such a sweetheart...when she wants to be!!!

It has been a slow process, but Tia is finally warming up to Ashlyn. 

She is still not the preferred sibling, but at least she is sitting on her lap without screaming!!!

Today Kian and Ashlyn worked on a project....Chinese lanterns for Chinese New Year!!

We love our dear little girl and feel so blessed that God chose us to be her family! This journey has been quite different than our first adoption, but we wouldn't change it! We have learned so much and know that the Lord has much more refining to do in our lives. Again, thank you so much for all your love and prayers!!

Thursday 2/4 No Place Like Home!!!

Our fourteen hour flight from Hong Kong to Chicago went well.....then on to Indy.

Throughout our trip we looked at pictures of our older children, trying to get Tia familiar with their faces and names! We wanted there to be at least a few familiar faces waiting when we got off of the plane. We were so blessed by our family and friends who were there for us at the airport! It was so exciting to walk off the plane and see everyone! Tia just clung to Craig and watched timidly!

Our plane coming in!

Very anxious siblings!!

Our family of eight....all together....at last!!!

Wednesday 2/3 Final Day in Guangzhou

Our morning was mostly spent packing for our trip home. Repacking everything we brought plus all the additional items we had acquired in the last two weeks was no small feat.

In the afternoon we checked out of our hotel and met our guide who had picked up Tia's visa and immigration paperwork that we would need when we arrive in Chicago. Next we headed for the train station to catch the 5:30 bullet train to Hong Kong. The train station was the most stressful experience of our trip. Juggling two kiddos....all of our luggage....masses of people....up and down escalators....absolute chaos.

Thankfully our guide accompanied us and another adoptive family to where we boarded the train. There we said goodbye to Kelly. She does a wonderful job of organizing and guiding multiple families at a time. We really appreciate all she has done for us on both of our adoption trips.

Our train to Hong Kong

On the train

When we arrived in Hong Kong we took a taxi to our hotel. 

Driving on the left side of the road was an experience!!

Tuesday 2/2 U.S. Consulate Appointment

Our U.S. Consulate appointment this morning was our final official appointment for Tia's adoption. This is where the US approves all the paperwork and medical exam before issuing her visa which she needs to enter the US. Tomorrow afternoon we will receive her visa and adoption packet that we will need when we get to Chicago and go through immigration. When we touch down on American soil, Tia will officially be a US citizen.

After our consulate appointment we returned to Shamian Island to finish up some shopping and enjoy a little more time there.

The island is much more peaceful and the rest of the city.

We have had a small breakthrough with Tia today! She actually initiated peek-a-boo with Mama....threw me some kisses...and waved bye bye. Small things but a welcome change from squawking at me and pushing me away. A couple of days ago I changed tactics. I quit pursuing her and have not interacted with her much other than smiling. We feel like we are slowly making progress!! Thank you, Lord!! We appreciate all of your prayers....He is faithful! Her rejection has been hard on my Mama heart, yet I know it is nothing personal toward me. She is grieving the loss of her foster mom and it is her way of coping. But love always wins!!

Monday 2/1 Revisiting Kian's Orphanage

Today was the day Kian had been anticipating....the day he got to hand out stickers at his orphanage. From the moment we made the decision to visit Dongguan Social Welfare Institute, Kian has been asking about which day we were going!! 

In front of his orphanage.

This afternoon we met our guide and rode the 1 1/2 hours to Kian's orphanage. Our guide had told us that when she had called to make the appointment for us to visit, the nannies were very excited about You Liu coming; but we were not completely prepared for the overwhelming welcome we got. Nannies and teachers and social workers and orphanage drivers all wanted to hug and exclaim over him....in Mandarin of course. Kian did very well and gave lots of hugs and smiles, but we sensed it was a little overwhelming to him. We were hoping he would share some things with us about his life there, but he actually talked more on our ride back to the hotel. It was fun to watch him try to remember which bed had been his and climb up on it....slowly walk through the play area and remember the toys he had played with....climb around on the playground toys. Most of the children that he would have spent much of his time with have been adopted. Sadly, the ones his age who are still at the orphanage have major special needs. It is heart breaking to realize that most of the ones his age that are left will probably never have a family.

Kian and Tarcy. 

Tarcy handles all the paperwork here for adopted children.

Kian and two of his teachers

On his old bed

Playground

Kian with the orphanage driver..

....I remember from last time that this man really liked Kian

We are very glad we made this second visit to his orphanage. From what our guide said, not too many families go back and it is special to the workers there to have a child return and see him thriving and doing so well! We left feeling very blessed that our son was truly cared about and loved during his first 5 years!!

Tia did very well as we toured Kian's orphanage. As long as she has her Baba, she is pretty content. Today has been a better day for her. The last couple of days, after we had traveled from her province to Guangzhou, she has been very quiet and withdrawn; but today she was more relaxed...chattering as she played. We continue to pray that her grieving heart heals more everyday.