flats, fixing fingers, freaking out, and freaky eyes!!

Yesterday, well, yesterday was just one of those days.
In the morning, Micah and Kevin went to the stollery, where Micah had surgery on two of his trigger fingers. This was much needed, as Micah could not unbend his middle finger for the last half year. Surgery went well, Micah is a real trooper. However, a trip to the ER was made last night as Micah's hand was bleeding and needed to be closed and rebandaged.

Kevin has a severe case of pink eye, in both eyes. I thought perhaps he got into the medicine cabinet at the hospital, he is a father of five kids, I thought maybe he needed something to take the edge off...he he...no just pink eye.

Noah had his first van ride since the airport. We opened the bubble we live in, and well, he was not a happy camper. As soon as I was out of his sight, opening the van door on the other side, he was in panic mode. And cried the whole time in the van... on top of that, I got a flat tire. In Kevin's car, not the van, but than my poor red eyed husband, recovering son, son who hates vans and their sister had to come to my aid. So glad Kevin knows how to change tires...phew....

So, perhaps in writing it does not sound too bad, but yesterday, kindof sucked...today is better.....

So, I leave you with photos of Micah before surgery and after, and of my red eyed sweety our cutesy pie having a nap this morning!!

flip flop, kerplunk

It seems like more than 15 days ago that we first met our youngest love. Though we are still getting to know Noah, and know it will take some time, it seems like already we so deeply know him, and love him...like he really has grown in our hearts, long before we knew of him, and even long before we decided to adopt....like a mother, waiting to get pregnant with her child..loving the dream of her child...than the baby in her womb, and than the baby in her arms.

The title for this post, is really to do with our jet lag/time change. Noah was awake 3 and a half hours last night. I was informed by the International Adoption Dr. today, that sometimes the more your child attatches to you the more often they will sometimes wake up to check if you are there. I am often be waken by a little boy climbing on me with his big brown eyes staring into mine. I LOVE it!!! I love his chubby cheeks, his upside down moon eyes when he laughs. He mischevious grin and personality. I love that he wants to be carried by mommy and daddy. I love that the other four are head over heels for their new brother. God is good!!

helping with the housework

Nothing quite as fun as playing with a box and your sister!!!

a very loved little bros...

settling in

Noah has been getting to know his brother and sisters, and better know mommy and daddy. Noah is a busy toddler, who is quite hungry, and loves to be carried around by mom most of the day.

Because he is missing his palate, Noah has fewer sounds than kids his age. He is starting to say mama(I like to think he is calling my name, but that might be a mothers wishful thought) Today he signed eat, which helps us know what he wants.

Tonight, Noah began what is often referred to as grief in an adopted child. Noah has lost everything he has known for the last year and a half, language, smells, sounds, foods, caretakers, other orphans who lived with him. So, tonight, I held our little boy as he grieved the loss of life as he knew it. It was heartbreaking,and exhausting. But, he needs to do it. And so, we will hold him for as long as it takes, and remind him, we will never leave him, no matter what.

And tomorrow, a new day will begin, we will laugh, and play, snuggle and cuddle, and if needed, we will grieve.

Noah sleeping on mommy, thank goodness for carriers

playing with his sisters...one of Noah's favourite games, knocking over the tower.

Not so sure about the swing

We are home

Noah was amazing on the flight home. We left our hotel at 1:30 pm on March 15. We boarded the plane at around 5:30 pm. Noah was restless, but fell asleep about two hours into the flight, and than slept around 7 hours. He tossed and turned, but slept. So, it made the flight seem really fast. We arrived in Vancouver at 1:50 pm on Thursday March 15(making up time-love it)but ended up being stuck in immigration for some time, and missed our flight home. We flew standby the next flight home, and arrived at the gates in Edmonton a little after 8.
We had family and friends to meet us, what a wonderful arrival for us.
Noah is laughing with his siblings today, and has figured out how to climb the stairs, now, down is proving a bit tricky, but we will figure it out.
He had his first Canadian walk with Dad and Micah. Our guys had a good time!!!

GoodBye China

It is our last morning in China. Last night our adoption agency had a party for the children and parents. Noah recieved a scroll with his Chinese name on it. Something we will always cherish.
Our time in China has been amazing. We are so happy to finally have Noah in our arms. He is a blessing to us, and we are seeing his personality a little more everyday, as his grief and fear make way for joy and accepting our unconditional love. We are so ready to see our other kiddos, it has been hard being away from them, but we needed this time to really concentrate on Noah.

So as we say farewell to China, we say thank you...for your prayers, words of encouragement and support. They say it takes a village to raise a child,and in this instance it truly has taken a village to bring our Noah home.

In Psalm 68:6 God tells us that He puts the lonely in families. Noah is the perfect fit for us. In the sadness of Noah's abandonment, God had a plan, and he used this girl and guy, and there kids and found the perfect family for a little boy half way around the world. God, thank you for giving us our little boy!!AMEN

wed forbidden city

today we walked by tianeman square, but, it was closed up, as there are some large meetings with official occuring at the moment. We headed to forbidden city, which is huge. I must admit, I am exhausted, and just ready to come home. It was beautiful, but I probably did not appreciate the culture today as much as I should have.

tuesday silk factory and pearl market

Tuesday, we spent some time at the silk factory. It was neat to see how the silk is extracted from the silk worms cocoons. The silk was beautiful,and if you have lots of cash you can buy some beautiful quilt covers. we stuck to the smaller items. Noah now has a baptismal outfit, and all his sibs have something to match

The pearl market was insane. The bantering for a price is exhausting,and you are literally aproached by every merchant, right in your face.