Just a Peek!

As I am supposed to be making a birthday breakfast right now for our oldest, I don't really have time to blog!  However, I couldn't help but post one short video of our youngest, which we received today from a traveling family.  What a blessing!!!

Oh, paperwork...HURRY UP!

The Day I Had Been Dreading....

And now it is over!!!  Our "home visit" by our social worker that is!!  I have no idea why I was so worked up over it?  I mean we have nothing to hide in our home, my bathrooms were clean, our children are well-behaved (most of the time??), we had already met the lady before and I am pretty sure she liked us?  But the thought of having her come and make notes about our house, draw out room dimensions, interview our kids (ya never know what #3 is gonna say!)...well, I was VERY nervous.  So I am glad to say that she came, she interviewed, she commented about Zachary's eyes, we exchanged loads of papers, she left, I put a big check in the mail, and it is OVER!  Now here's to hoping she writes this home study quickly so that we can jump through the next hoop - the I-800A for USCIS (immigrations).  More paperwork, but no more home visits!

Sometimes I get pretty paperwork weary, and the thought that we still have more to do can get overwhelming.  When I get tired of this "paper pregnancy", I try and remember the big picture...our son is waiting for us!  And one thing that is helping me maintain perspective this week is reading the blog of another family (check it out here) whose "Gotcha Day" is tomorrow!!  To make it even cooler, they will be visiting their daughter's orphanage in a few days.  Their daughter has been in the same orphanage as Mycah!  She will be asking to meet him and take a few pics for me!  I SO hope they let her.......

And Here's the Birthday Boy!

When we initially sent our birthday care package through Red Thread, Ann emphasized several times that I would have to be patient in receiving the pictures and reply letter as our orphanage is usually slow in providing these things.  BUT!  This weekend, we already received a few pictures and a response from Mycah to the questions we sent in the letter!  

So...behold 4 year old cuteness!!!

I'm not exactly sure that he was liking the song they were apparently singing?  Or perhaps he is self-conscious about the snazzy birthday crown?  Using my sequencing skills, I think the following pictures are in order?

Although it appears that all the birthday "stuff" is there, I can't help but notice there's a smile missing from his little face.  So I wonder...does he just not understand?  Does he not enjoy being the center of attention?  Did they drop the "you have a family now" bombshell before they cut the cake and his little mind is reeling from the possibility??  Whatever the case, I so hope that birthday number 5 brings a smile to his handsome face.  

We did receive answers to some of our questions.

1.  Do you feel like a big boy now?                 Yes, I think I am a big boy.

2.  What is your favorite thing to play with?     I like to play toys.

3.  What is your favorite color?                      My favourite color is yellow.

4.  What is your favorite movie or TV show?   I like "Pleasant goat and  big big wolf"

5.  Do you like dogs?                                       I like dogs.

6.  Who is your favorite friend?          My favorite friends are Li yatong,

                           Gangyang and Wang yaying. 

7.  What is the first thing you want to do when you come to our house?  

 I want to play with brothers and sisters.

8.  What language does Junbin speak?               Cantonese.

I think that number 7 is my favorite answer by far:-)  

Please pray for Mycah as he now waits for a family that he knows is coming, and pray for us as we continue on this journey!

A Weekend of Firsts!

This last weekend, Alyssa and I went to North Carolina to spend some time with friends at the lake.  It was the first trip Alyssa and I have ever taken without the boys, and I REALLY enjoyed the girl time!  It never ceases to amaze me how different my kids are when I am spending one-on-one time with them than when they are all together.  I am not sure what the best part of her weekend was.  I only know that she told me thank you more times than I could count on our way home.

I do know she enjoyed her first jump from the high dive...

Yes, she is fearless!  I can't say I was fearless, but you know I couldn't NOT jump after she did!  Ummm...definitely not pictured...she was a MUCH cuter jumper:-)

And then she learned to paddle board...so I did, too.

And then she went fishing for the first time!

And then she went tubing for the first time!

I am quite confident that she had bugs in her teeth after being pulled behind the boat with Megan.

She loved her first boat ride!

But I am pretty sure the highlight of her weekend was learning to "drive."  She is quite confident that she is ready for her learner's permit.

Thank you Cindy, Beth, Brad and Beau for being brave enough to "ride" with her.  I, on the other hand, couldn't even watch!

Such a fun lake weekend with our wonderful friends.  Thanks guys for the weekend get-away and all the "firsts"!

Happy Birthday, Mycah!

And today he is 4!!!!  

Halfway around the world about right now a certain little guy us waking up to his 4th birthday...in an orphanage...without his family.  And although there is NOTHING cool about that sentence, I am still excited.  That's because today he will receive a simple gift package that looks like this...

...a bag of candy for the nannies and kids, a funny looking boyish toy, a birthday cake, and a disposable camera to take pics of his special day.  But the most exciting part for me???  It also includes a letter that will tell him...for the first time...that he has a Mama and Baba and three siblings who already love him even though we have never met!  And the best part about today??  It is his last birthday without his family!  

Happy Birthday, handsome boy!

I'm Doing It for Mycah!

Well, this adoption process continues to seemingly crawl at a snail's pace.  Our home study paperwork is nearly complete.  References, fingerprints, physicals, clearances, letters of employment, driving records (I kid you not!), birth certificates, marriage certificate, parenting resource plans, letters to birth parents, etc, etc, etc, are nearly gathered and finished.  I cannot even fathom the amount of paperwork that the dossier (paperwork that is sent to China) must contain, as I hear that it involves even MORE than the home study.  Up until this point, most of the work has been done by me alone and Darrell, but last week the kids were asked for their first contribution...a TB test!  For Zachary and Alyssa, this was no big deal.  For Nathyn, however, this was downright traumatic.  Yes, I know...he is 8 now and should SO be over this fear of shots/needles, but he isn't.  So as I explained to him what we were going to do at the immunization clinic, let's just say he was less than enthused.  But as he went upstairs to brush his teeth before we left, I overheard his comment to his sister.

"I really don't wanna do this.  I'm just doing it for Mycah!"

So off we went for the short drive to JB Andrews, and before he knew it...

...we were here!!

Zach was voluntold volunteered to go first.

Then Lyss. 

And then I had to stop with the pictures because I had the large head of an 8 year-old in front of my camera.  Nay was now planted firmly in my lap and the "doing it for Mycah" mantra was merely a memory!  But after some wiggles, tears, a few loud protests, and a reminder from me about why we were there, he "manned up" and let her do the stick!  Best news of the day for him???  His immunizations are up-to-date!

Next big adoption hurdle...our home visit in 2 weeks.  So hoping this home study is completed and approved soon and that we are DTC (dossier to China) by November!

On another note...we now have 5 ways you can help!

1.  Check out the new "button" over on the right.  Adoption Bug has some cute shirts we have chosen use for a fundraiser!  There are 6 shirts to choose from and portion of each will go towards bringing Mycah home!!  Please check them out.  

2.  For those of you who use Amazon, if you simply click on our Amazon link on the right (takes you to the normal Amazon home page), Amazon will automatically donate a percentage of your purchase price!  

3.  Click on the CoupAide button and find some great deals at restaurants in your area!

4.  Some people are not interested in any of the above, but you have a heart to help.  I have put a "Chip In" button on the side where you may use your PayPal account to donate directly to an account that has been set up for bringing Mycah home.

5.  PRAY!  Please pray for favor, quick processing by all agencies and people involved, for our faith that God will provide, and for our son's health as he waits!!

"Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: whenever you did one of these things to someone who was overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me.'"  Matthew 25:40

Summertime....

Well, we have been in DC for a month now, and what a busy month it has been!  Sometimes I wonder how I can be busy ALL day long, but at the end of the day there is still so much to do!?  But all in all we have had a great few weeks including house guests, two trips to downtown DC, more tooth extractions, and a road trip (yes, again!) to Georgia to see family and friends!  And of course the usual crazy amount of adoption paperwork as we try and wrap up this home study.

So here are a few fun pics...

Nay at the Kids' Crusade water play night

Zach learning to milk a cow at the Folk Festival in DC

Kids hard at work...OK maybe these were only fun for me:)

Sunset on the Potomac - 4th of July

My "Little Professor" at the Smithsonian...how am I old enough to have my toys on display?????

All the cousins at Stone Mountain

Braves game at Turner Field...yes, Chipper hit a homer just for me that night!

But with this many kids, you know I didn't see much of the game!

My beautiful Mema at her nursing home in Adel, GA... about the only thing she said all night that I understood was "OH, Really!??" after telling her I made homemade biscuits for dinner.  Not sure why that fact amused her?

Molly is home from Nana's house!  

Nana having a "tall" moment

Sissy in front of the SI Native American History Museum

I think I am officially "summered out" and ready for the routine that the new school year will bring.  Guess that means I should start getting the school room ready...the only room not yet unpacked!