Mission Monday/ Jack Has A Family

Jack is an absolute precious 2.5 year old little boy who needs a family. He is so sweet and really wants a mom and dad and a GeGe (older brother). Jack was born with Spina Bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down from surgery but this doesn't stop him from getting around or getting into everything. He army crawls everywhere or he uses his charm and gets someone to carry him there. He got his wheel chair while I was at starfish and I have never seen a little boys eyes get so big when he found out he could get around easier. He is very protective over his wheel chair and loves it dearly. I can only imagine how protective he will be over his new family and how much love he has to offer. He has every reason to hate life but he loves it so much and is truly the one who lights up any room and no matter how bad your day has been he can brighten it. Jack also has hydrocephalus which does not affect him in anyway really. As far as intelligence he is very smart and as quick as a whip. Other then the size of his head you would never know anything was wrong. His favorite song is Happy Birthday which he sings all the time to anyone who will listen. He loves to be sang to and fell asleep in my arms while I sang to him one day. He is a such a sweet boy and any family would be blessed to have him as their son. If anyone is interested in him please contact me at TSW1203@aol.com we know where his file is at and could help you get it. I can honestly say that if I met China guidelines he would be my son regardless of his special need.

Mission Photo Monday

Jasmine looking at her photo ablum with

her nanny

Jack playing the piano with Nick

Josie and Nadia playing

Carmen in the hospital 10 days aft surgery

Xiao Liu and Virginia

Pictures as Promised

Here is a collage of photos from our last few days in China while the SD card reader was broken. I hope you enjoy and many thanks to all of those who followed our Journey to China to volunteer at Starfish we met some amazing people through this journey and are thankful for you all. Please pray for Xiao Liu she is a nanny at Starfish whose heart is breaking as two of the children she cares for are leaving Justin left yesterday and Virginia leaves next Sunday. Pray she will have comfort and healing during this difficult time for her and that the babies will have the same the children she cares for are very attached to her and she loves them with all her heart!

We Are Home

We are finally home after hours of traveling it feels good to be back! Coming home was much easier then going other then the kid beside us that screamed half the flight. We started our morning before we left visiting Tiananmen Square. It was nice to go back and see it. It has changed a lot since I was there in 2008 you now have to go through a security check before ever stepping foot on it. We looked at the Forbidden City from afar. Then we went back to the hotel to finish packing and to check. The hotel was nice enough not to make us check out until 2 and we left at 3 for the airport. Hannah and Jeff went to the Catholic store right down from the hotel so Hannah could get a few last things before we left. Our new guide met us at about 3 to take us to the airport. Checking in at he United counter was nothing and very easy. Me and Jeff flew through security. Hannah on the other hand had hr bag searched and gone through. And to think what through the alert was ANIMAL CRACKERS. Upon boarding our flight per USA regulations all bags must be searched and they put you in line. I must have looked suspicious because I was wanded and patted down. Our flight out of Beijing was delayed a little and we arrived late to Dulles and had to wait in a never ending line to get through immigration. Thankfully it moved fast and we were not pulled when going through customs. We made it to our gate with 15 minutes to spare. When time came to board we met someone we never thought we would. Kate Gosselin was not only at our gate but on our flight to Charlotte. She was very nice and surprised that we had just returned from China after working in a special needs foster home. She even took a picture with us and then when we got off the escalator she took one with Lily. We were greeted by family and friends at the airport and Hannah's dad brought us BoJangles which was wonderful. We got home at about 12:30 and I was in bed by 1:30 and up by 5 am this morning. Jet lag is not as bad as I thought it would be. I have to say I have had enough Chinese food for a couple months, and I am glad to be home. I promise to get pictures up I might have to do them through my mom's computer as my SD card reader is not working.

Great Wall

Yesterday we went to the great wall sorry for the delay in posting. We got in late last night and went straight to bed. The wall was amazing the section we went to was very easy to climb no mountain hiking with steep stairs. There were few stairs most of it was the flat flowing sections where you didn't have to put much effort into climbing. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has little kids. Very easy to climb with short legs. It about and hour and 15 minutes from downtown so it is not very touristy and it is very peaceful and quiet. The only complaint we had about the day was that it rained and we couldn't ride the slide down the mountain. We had to ride the gondola both ways which wasn't horrible we were just really looking forward to the slide. I am unable to post pictures as my computer wont read the memory card but I will try to get them up before we leave tomorrow morning but no promises. We leave Beijing at 6:25 pm China time tomorrow please pray we do not have a delayed flight from Beijing into Dulles and that we can clear customs and immigration easily and get to our connector in a timely manner.

In Beijing

We have offically arrived in Beijing I promise I will post pictures of our last days with the babies soon. We still have some problems with internet and attaching pictures to the post so if I do not post them while in China I will do so as soon as I get home and have a good night sleep. Tomorrow we go to the Great Wall. We are going to a different section then we have gone to the last two times. It is an hour and a half from the center city. I will try to post pictures of it tomorrow night if we have a good connection and the proxy is working. I am looking foward to tomorrows breakfast it will be nice to eat food food and not peanut butter crackers or cheese its.

Swim Party!

Yesterday we had a swim party for the babies. Most seemed to enjoy it very much. Some however did not seem to enjoy it. A few even screamed. I have enjoyed my time here so much and I do not want to leave. I cannot believe tomorrow is my last day here. I am going to miss these babies so much. Please continue to pray for Starfish as they will be relocating soon and also for the now 3 little ones who meet their forever families Sunday that all will go well. Today we also took pictures of the babies that will be on one of the next lists soon. I will add more about our day later and post a collage of the last two days. Oh I almost forgot we stayed up late last night and watched the world cup and saw Holland win.

Internet back Yay!

Internet is back for now who knows how long though. These last few days have been great. Yesterday we went to the hospital to visit Carmen and Caroline. They are so sweet Carmen just had her heart sergery and Caroline's I believe was too complicated for them to do so she has to go to a bigger hospital. Helen took us to Japanese and that was great me and Hannah tried sushi. It was ok not the best. Amanda got back today and was talking about how they have to move soon. Please pray they find some where quickly they would love a kindergarden type place. That is baby friendly with a play ground. They love it where they currently are because it is a gated aera and very safe and kid friendly with all the play areas. We have enjoyed are stay here and are sad to leave. Amanda currently has 15 babies matched waiting on families and two of them leave sunday. Pray for smooth transitions for there two little ones as they meet their forever families. Well we are off for lunch and I will update more tonight of our day. I am posting a collage instead of individual pictures. Click on the collages to make the pictures larger and visable

Internet Down

Taylor's internet access is down in Xian. The only thing she can access is Skype but we can only be on it a short time and she looses connection. They are doing great and enjoying their last days at Starfish. She will post when internet comes back.

James' Day

This is Taylor's Mom updating for her. Her internet connection to her blog is down, so she will update more later . Today was spent with James. She loves this boy so much that she wants to bring him home with her. He also has become attached to her and reaches for her when she comes into the room. He is so sweet and loves to be held and hugged. The pictures are some that I took while on Skype with her last night. Helen took them to a local Japanese Restaurant for dinner that was very good. She is loving her time in Xian and is not ready to come home. She has already said next year she will stay longer.

Lazy day!!!

Aaron

Josie

Joshua on the phone

Joseph

Libby kissing Sophia

Noa

James and Sadie so sweet

Wild Sadie

Hannah tickling Clara

James and his Oh My Gosh they are

driving me crazy face

Sweet Libby

Noa

James

Joseph

Sadie

Today we took a day off just to rest some. We hung around the house until about 1 then we left to do some shopping at the Muslim market and we discover that it is much bigger then we though you turn one corner and there are a hundred more shops. We had lunch at Starfish and it was wonderful Shou lee can really cook to satisfy our taste. We got back to the foster home t about 5:40 pm we went to see the babies for about an hour until they started to go to bed. We played and all the little ones tried to push m over so they could lay and jump on me. Even Libby joined in on it today and tried to knock me to the ground. Sadie I cannot get over how rough she is to be so tiny. She is one of the boys. Joshua gave me a kiss today it was quite sweet. He is so cute and sweet when he wants to be. Well we are off to find some supper here in a bit no idea what we will have but I will blog about it if it is anything unusual.

Shots round two Day 10

Today 6 more babies had to go for shots Sally Mali Joshua Nava Aaron and Maltidla. Only one of them had to get an actual shot the others had to eat that nasty powder stuff. On the walk back we stoped at starbuck and the babies loved it. We got them a Mango Frap and they went nuts for it everyone went for it. We got back home at about 11 am so the babies were ready for naps we layed them down to sleep then we ourselves went for lunch and rested some before the babies woke again. We had a playdate with the boys that was soon bombarded by the girls Josie Libby Nadia and Sadie. The boys seem to enjoy the time alone. I also played with Thomas by himself today and he loved the alone time and extra attention. The boys play so nicely together. Hannah also changed Joshua's poopy today. Her face needless to say was too funny. Other then shots today was fairly laid back. The babies are still so sweet and I am in love with them their personalities show through so much more everyday we are with them it's sad because this is our last weekend with them and we only have until Thursday with them before we leave for Beijing. I don't know that I am resy to leave just yet. However I do miss my mom and the Princess and my puppy. Steve and Roshney cooked Italian for us tonight and it was great. A much needed break from Chinese and fast food. The food was amazing and they have been told to cook whenever they want to for us. One of the nannies also fell tonight so pray she did not break anything. She is an older lady and could not walk after she feel. She is at the hospital over night. We actually just found out that she broke 3 disks. Sean also introduced us to ger brother they ar both hoots. That woman cracks me up and always has us laughing she is so very helpful too. well I am off to bed sorry for the delayed post w lost power which is part of the reason why this post is delayed and we also lost internet for a while right as I hit to post this and lost half the post I will do pictures later I am emailing them to my mom and she is going to post them. Goodbye for now.

Day 9

Tina

Me and Baby Ryan

Matilda and Jasmine

Jasmine and her nannies (mother and daughter)


River and Nava

Daniel

Matthew

Nava

The newest 6 left to right Angela, Isaac, Amanda

Ryan, Elise, Katheryn

Angela and Isaac

The little 6

Elise

Welcome Home Baby Ryan

Libby

Noa

James such a Cool Kid

Thomas and Joseph

Noa and her nanny

Thomas

Josie, Joshua, and Karl watching

me and Thomas outside

Joseph on the Dora spinner

Karl

Sadie

Today was another great day with the babies. It started out as a slow day we slept in until 8 am which isn’t really what I consider sleeping in but it was nice to sleep past 6 am. The babies are wonderful we spent the morning on the 5th floor and for the 1st time one of the babies fell asleep while I was holding them. Well Jack isn’t really a baby but he is close enough to one. Baby Ryan also came home today and is feeling much better. We did updated photos of the babies also they have all gotten so much bigger in just a month of being here, Isaac is still very tiny but is growing. After nap time we went to 104 and played with the rowdy boys some they are so sweet. I could bring them all home. Today was a very relaxing day for me that is, Hannah and Jeff not so much. For lunch we ate at the local bakery it was ok not my favorite place at all other then they had chocolate cake. Supper was at our favorite Chinese restaurant don’t ask me the name cause I have no idea, it is always great though. We had so much food at dinner over half came back for the night nannies they love it so much. Well I am going to bed 6 babies go for shots tomorrow. I do not remember which 6 other then Joshua, Malin, and Sally. Also for those of you who are not friends with Amanda on facebook Starfish now has 15 Children matched and waiting on their families to travel to get them.