Reed and Grace

It's 8:30 pm and all four kids are asleep.  Travis and I are headed that way quickly.  While it was one of the most wonderful days of Travis and I's life, it was probably one of the hardest for Reed and Grace and terribly traumatizing all wrapped in one.  I explained to the kids that both of them have just lost the only Mama they have ever known.  In addition, we look different, we talk different, we smell different and we eat different foods.  We know very little about their preferences and are having to learn how they like to be comforted.

When we got to the Government building, I felt as though I was going to throw up due to excitment and anticipation.  Travis didn't tell me at the time, but he felt like the Lord clearly told him that this we were going to be a rough beginning.

Fortunately, Grace and her nanny (who had just finished a 17 hour train ride to get to us) were already there, so no time for me to throw up.  Grace was soaked in sweat and vomit herself from the train ride - through a translator the nanny explained that it had been a very long night.

Her poor nanny was crying - she was so sad to leave her.

She cried when she came to us, but Travis was able to settle her within about 5 minutes with some little crackers we'd purchased the day before, and were told the children liked. 

As we were talking with her I was trying to keep an eye out for Reed.  I was a bit concerned I might not recognize him, as most of the pictures we have are almost a year old.

About that time Reed arrived.

He was wearing the traditional Chinese "split pants", which means the stitching has been ripped out from front to back - the legs of his shorts weren't connected and he had on no diaper or underware!  He seemed very indifferent and both Travis and I were a little alarmed, as he seemed checked out.  The orphanage director said he was surprised that he was not crying, as he has stranger anxiety.  We didn't know then, but realized later he wasn't feeling well.

The big surprise was that they had a photo album of pictures for us.

After this picture things became a bit of a blur, but Grace started fussing and her nanny took her back.  When the nanny tried to hand her back to me, poor little Grace was just beside herself.  Finally, I took her outside and walked and sang but she was completely worked up.  She kept reaching for the door and screaming "MAMA!" and I am pretty sure she did not mean me.  Eventually I had to go in to sign paperwork and Travis took a turn, but the screaming  lasted for the entire 2 hours we were there.

At one point a cleaning lady came and snatched her out of Travis' hands, trying to be helpful, and Travis handled it very graciously, but I was very glad that our rep from our agency ran right up and demanded she be returned!

We made it back to the hotel and took Reed to the bathroom, but then he proceeded to go a bit more on my lap right before throwing up all over the both of us.  By this time Grace was crying again.  I bathed Reed, Caleb cleaned up throw up, and Travis continued to try working with Grace.  She would settle for a bit, but if he even shifted in his chair, she would start up crying again - it was quite heartbreaking.  She was peaceful for a short bath (we were told she liked baths) to clean off throw up, but afterwards she cried for another hour.  We know her grief is a good sign, and an indicator of how loved and cared for she was, but it was still a very difficult day for sure.  

The hard crying continued on and off until about 6:15pm while I was feeding her dinner and then we think someone must have been praying, as she turned.  She smiled, wanted to play with me, and allowed me to help her with toys.  What an encouragement!  I was so thankful for the Lord's kindness, as I was beginning to feel near tears myself.  She still won't let me put her down, but that step of progress was so encouraging!

If you all would continue to pray for us, we would appreciate it so much.  For some reason this did not post last night - it is now Tuesday morning here.  Reed got sick two more times before midnight (we are thinking maybe rotovirus), fortunately Mason is feeling better this morning.  We have a long day ahead of us - finalizing the adoption from 9-noon, and then traveling 5 hours roundtrip to get Grace's passport and hopefully see her finding place.