Coming Home Video

OK, I've finally been able to download and do a little editing of the video from when we arrived home.  You may want to scroll down and pause the music at the bottom since there's music with the video.  We're all doing well, will update more later.  We hope you enjoy the video.

Settling In

Yesterday we went to the pumpkin patch.  I really love fall and being able to decorate.  I'm happy we still have some time for the fall decorations, especially when the weather is so nice and cool!  Jian was really excited and said he's never carved a pumpkin before.  He loved picking out his own pumpkin and looking at everything there.  He kept asking if they were real. :) 

Things are going well here.  We're working on settling into a routine.  Tanner is now back at school full time and adjusting better than I expected.  I thought he would be upset to leave his brother, but, he's happy to be going to school, and we're so thankful.  This morning Tanner seemed a little down and while we were in his room, I told him his brother was awake, a big grin came across his face and he turned around and gave Jian a big high-five. 

Jian was pretty nervous about starting to learn english, but, now that he's started, he's doing really well and gets excited to learn something new!  This should help things a lot, he definitely has motivation.  We're working on finding things for him to do.  Right now, he's like a giant toddler.  We are following him around everywhere and helping him learn what things are as well as what things he can and cannot touch (it becomes a bit tiring :)).  Yesterday we went to a craft store and found him a couple of things to do for a few days.  We're doing school and then some activities (plus, giving mom a little break).  As we left the store, he was able to experience what happens with a fender bender :).  Two of us were backing out at the same time and rubbed bumpers.  Jian was extremely nervous and couldn't believe we didn't get out and scream at each other.  Once we were in the car he kept signing - that girl was so nice, she was so nice!  I'm thankful it was nothing big and was a good opportunity for him.

Jian loves his dad.  He can't wait to see him when Jon arrives home and is often looking at his watch to see how much longer until dad is finished with work.  He likes to play with him, chat with him, and just be close to him.  Clearly he's not had much male influence in his life and he has a fabulous dad to learn from. 

He and Tanner enjoy riding their bikes in the backyard every afternoon.  Yesterday, while they were outside, I enjoyed watching them have a conversation about their bikes.  What a blessing it is to see the two of them communicating so well and to be doing something fun together.   Jian is incredibly excited to go to a high school football game tonight, there's a possibility of rain, so we'll see what happens (though we can definitely use the rain here). 

I'm having some trouble getting video onto here, so, I'm working on converting the file right now, I hope it works, so that you can see Jian coming home.  I also am excited to post about how we found out about Jian in the first place and meeting (online) some new people  that had a part in us learning about him.  We love seeing God's handiwork throughout this story.  We also would love to post more about our time and people we met while in China.  I'm checking on the logistics of some of that and will keep you updated.

How it's going

Well, it's been a few days since I've posted.  Things are a lot more busy here and there's a lot more to do. In fact, a few times, believe it or not, I've preferred to be back in China!  There, we were all together, with nothing to do except figure out what to do together :).  Here, Jon is back at work, there's laundry to do, a few things left to unpack, school work, paperwork, blah, blah, blah. 

Anyways - yesterday, I woke up really thankful and feeling better and a little more rested.  I had a great post for the blog written in my head (obviously it never got here :)).  Today, was not such a great day.  I woke up crabby and tired, sat for several hours with both boys at the doctors office, cried some, was irritated, and then decided I should remember what I was thankful for yesterday!  So, to end the day on a better note, I thought I would list the things I would've mentioned yesterday.

I am thankful for:
Being able to drink water from the faucet whenever I want.
Being able to wear flip flops again
Two sons who are quick to forgive and love to laugh
An amazing husband who is so helpful with both boys
Friends and family who love us in countless ways, including helping teach Jian, spending time with the boys, giving them welcome home gifts and planning parties!
A soft bed
Beautiful, fall weather
Wonderful healthcare
Being able to freely worship and talk about our Heavenly Father without ever even questioning or being concerned for my safety
A gracious God

I'll add more later about how things are going (really well actually, just don't ask me today :)) tomorrow hopefully!

More of being home

Since my body is still on China time, I figured I'd try to post an update.  Hopefully it will actually be somewhat coherent, I guess we'll find out in the morning.

So, we arrived home on Friday night around 9:30-10:00.  Jian was so thrilled and loved looking around and seeing his room (still working on the video - actually, I haven't worked on it at all, haven't even downloaded it, so, that should say, will be working on the video).  He was really excited when he saw a ripstick (skateboard) in his room (thanks Becky!), as well as balloons and a few other fun things that were left (thanks Becky and Audra :)).  He looked around and kept saying everything was so big!   He then took his bag to his room and emptied it all out on the floor.  He found a place for everything that he brought with him.  He put pictures up on his desk and walls, he had some special necklaces (with his name and a jade rat (his birthday is the year of the rat) and he hung those up under the slats on his bed.  He loved having a place to put things and was disappointed at the empty drawers.  I explained once we washed the clothes we brought from China he'd have clothes to fill them again.

Saturday morning, he enjoyed exploring outside and was excited to see all the things to do.  He's adjusting well and loving being here.  He likes looking at how spread out things are and is probably surprised to not see so many people and mopeds and bikes.  He wanted his haircut, he had said in China that he wanted it cut when we went to America, so, Jon cut it for him, I'll try to remember to post a picture, it's cute, shorter and less shaggy. 

Yesterday, (Sunday) we went to church, he wasn't quite sure what to think about all of that.  Though, he was really excited to meet people.  It was very special when he was introduced in church and brought joyful tears.  He was given a Chinese/English New Testament and looked at it for a while last night, we're excited to start reading some of it with him.  He's very social and friendly and was happy to see so many new friends.  He was really excited to meet Brighton, who is deaf and was adopted from China 3 years ago, they enjoyed some basketball and made plans for the next time they could get together.  Jian loved being able to play basketball and ripstick with his new friend John after church.  On the way home, Jian was looking outside and signed "it's blue, the sky is blue!  That's so cool!  In China the sky is black and it always smells."  We agreed, there was a lot of pollution and we rarely saw the sun.  A cute observation :)

The boys all enjoyed some afternoon bike riding to the lake while I tried to catch up on the laundry.  At meals, Jian has been watching us pray.  We've also been trying to explain basic information to him in a way he can understand.  Last night at dinner, he asked to pray!  This is the interpreted version of his prayer: "Dear God, thank you that I could fly to America from China.  Thank you for new friends, Thank you for my family and that I am adopted, Amen"  WOW!  Not a copied prayer, but well thought out - so amazing!

Our adjustment to home is going really well. He's a real busybody, so, we have to keep a close eye on him and help explain what is acceptable behavior, boundaries, etc.  Thankfully, he continues to take redirection extremely well. 

Tanner is absolutely overjoyed at having a brother.  He has tried to give Jian everything he owns, toys, money, awards, whatever he has, he wants to give it to Jian.  What a tender heart!

I need to go back and start from the beginning about how we heard about Jian - we just saw the e-mail again the other day and we'd love to share with you how this all began.

So, what do we have up for the week?  Later today (Monday), we're going to do some homework, hopefully fold some laundry so that we all actually have clean clothes to wear, and possibly head to the social security office.  I think we'll take a trip to the new HEB as well, we can make it an educational experience.  Tanner is still home today, and will go to school 1/2 day Tuesday and Wednesday, then all day after that.  Hopefully that will help his adjustment back.  Tuesday Jian has a doctors appointment just for a checkup and then Wednesday Tanner has a cardiology appointment.  His geneticist had found an abnormality in some genetic testing (unrelated to the leukodystrophy) and would like us to pursue that.  So, thankfully I just realized the appointment is here and we don't have to drive to Temple - yeah!  Anyways, enough of my blabbering on - I'll try to get the pictures/videos on later today if possible.

We continue to be overwhelmed by the love and prayers from all of you - it's such a joy to be a part of the family of God and see his presence in so many ways.

AHHHHHHH........ Home

So, this is going to be another quick post :)  More to come later when I'm a little more rested and my brain works better.

We arrived home last night.  It feels sooooo good to be home.  We had fun watching Jian explore the house and videotaped him seeing his new room - to say he loved it would be an understatement!  He screamed :)  It was great!

This morning he had fun exploring the backyard and was thrilled to learn we can see deer in the back yard.  When we left the house he was shocked to see a squirrel cross the road (they're mostly seen in cages at the zoo in China!) and wanted to catch it.

We all slept until 10:30 (it felt amazing) and then stayed up all day.  We  ate breakfast, did some laundry, unpacked and went shopping for a few necessities for Jian, and replaced Tanner's glasses.  We spent some nice time with friends (and saw baby Adalee Walsh for the first time :)) and now are home and ready for bed again (actually, I've been ready for a while, but, we're trying to get back on Central time).

So, more to come of our adjustment back home - along with some final China pictures.  But for now, good night from America!