Day two - Beijing

Ok, so for me, this is fun to think back to what it was like in another country. For you, maybe not so much - oh well, bare with me!

Just as a side note, we are snowed in in Colorado - which is a huge difference from what it was like in China - very hot and humid!

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Day two - Beijing

My mom and I woke up at 4:00 am. So much for waiting for the wake up call. Still on United States time - but still very tired. I also think we were nervous for what the day had in store.

We packed and watched downtown Beijing come to life. It was incredible to see the bikes, cars, busses and people start coming out. It became very busy in just a short amount of time.

After a while, we decided to go downstairs and get some breakfast. It wasn't bad, was pretty American - did I mention I don't really like Chinese food?

Anyway, we met another family there and had breakfast with them.

And then we waited and waited.

Finally we left the hotel and ventured out into China. I was nervous, scared, excited and missed my kids at home.

Our first stop was the Forbidden City. It was beautiful but very busy. My mom has a really bad back so she had a really hard time walking through it.

This is a picture of a lot of young Chinese children walking through the Forbidden City. They were all dressed in military clothing and were being led by young men dressed the same.

After the Forbidden City we got to see the Great Wall. It truely was beautiful. I can see why the Chinese people and the country are so proud of this. It is amazing how big it is and that it was built without any of today's machines.

The picture below shows how commercial even the Great Wall has become. There was a place you could dress up in traditional Chinese clothing from long ago and have your picture taken with it in the background. Here are some young Chinese children having their pictures taken in these clothes.

After the Great Wall, we went to the airport. There were three families and we were all going to a different province. My mom and I were supposed to be the last to leave. Our guide waited with us until we had to go to the gate. At that point we were all on our own.

For those of you who have only traveled in the United States, going into the Beijing airport is an incredible experience that cannot be described with words alone. We desended into the basement of the airport, literally into a sea of people. There were no seats for my mom, but finally a young man was nice enough to get up so she could sit.

Finally one flight left and we were both able to sit together.

We waited and waited for our flight to be called. Not on a loud speaker like those in the US - they were calling them on a blow horn - in Chinese - like I thought I could understand what they were saying...

Anyway, a very nice person sitting next to us looked at our tickets and told us in broken English we were in the right place, just to sit and wait.

After about two hours, there was another call on the blow horn, and people were MAD! Not American mad where they talk to each other about bad service, etc. I mean screaming, yelling, shaking their fists mad.

I looked at my mom and the young girl next to me. (She was truely our angel sent from God. She was born in China, moved to New York and studying abroad in China.) She said the flight was going to be delayed about an hour. Ok - that was fine. We would be ok. It was about 10:00 pm, still time to get to the hotel and rest before we got Kaycee in the morning.

1 hour later - Another announcement - people were screaming again, and a group of about 7 men were marching up the stairs shaking their fists. They were going to get the plane going.

"The flight has been cancelled. We will be staying in a hotel tonight."

My heart dropped. What about getting Kaycee in the morning? What would happen? Would our guide in Fuzhou know that it was cancelled?

Our guardian angel called our guide in Fuzhou. What a life saver.

We traveled to the hotel - after more screaming and yelling from the passengers and the airlines - and tried to get some sleep. It was about 1:00am, we would have a 5:00 am wake up call.

We had had about 10 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours. Had it been that long? I wondered where our luggage was. I guess it really didn't matter, as I had all of my paperwork with me, but all of the gifts for everyone was in my luggage.

I prayed that night for Kaycee. She was just hours (I hoped) from being our daughter and having her life as she had known it ripped away.

And we slept - a little...

Revisiting our year...

It was exactly six months ago today, that my mom and I left for the adventure of a lifetime. I thought it would be fun (ok, maybe only for me) to revisit this trip. I didn't get to post every day while I was in China, so I thought I would do it day by day, as if it was happening now.

Maybe a little wierd, but kind of fun!

As most of you know, I was scared to death of flying over the ocean. I talked with my doctor about sedatives for the flight, prayed, cried, and everything else. I knew I had to get on that plane in order to get Kaycee, but it ws the most terrifying thing I could ever do.

The night before we left, I did not sleep. Really it was for a couple of reasons.
1. We had to be at the airport at 3:00 am. We live about 2 hours from the airport, so you can imagine how tired everyone would be.
2. If I was really tired, maybe I could sleep on the plane and not worry so much about the flight.

We picked up my mom at around 2:00 am. We were packed and ready to go. There was one problem though...our luggage was too heavy for China travel. On international flights, it can 50 pounds per bag, but on China flights it can only be 44 pounds per person. Woops, I guess we would just have to pay for the extra.

We got to the airport at about 3:00 and waited, and waited, and waited...

The checkin counters didn't open until 4:00 - but our flight left at 5:00 and we were told to be there two hours early. Oh well. We waited - did I mention I hadn't slept all night?

Finally we were on our way to San Francisco. (Let me back up a little.)

Originally we had thought we would be flying out of Chicago, as another family in our group was. This had me a little more relaxed about the flight as we would not be starting our flight over the ocean. My thoughts were that the plane usually has the most problems at the beginning of the flight, and we would still be over land for the first hour or so. Then I found out we were flying out from San Fransico...we would be over the water in less than five minutes. UUGGHH!

Anyway, we waited in San Francisco, very tired and I prayed. Prayed hard for our flight and our pilots but most of all, for Kaycee. In just a couple of days, her life would change dramatically.

We boarded the plane for Beijing. It was really happening. I couldn't believe it.

As we took off, we headed north - not west. Hmm, we would actually be over land for the first of our flight.

As we kept flying, I watched the map on the screen in front of me. We were still over land and we were about 2 hours into our flight (13 hour flight.) What were we doing? Five hours and we were still over land. 7 hours, still over land. The only time we weren't over land was when we flew over the Arctic Circle. We were going up and over instead of just over. THANK GOD! If we had to crash, at least we would crash on land. (I know, the logic does not make sense, but you know me...)

At last, we landed in Beijing. What an incredible experience this was. This is a person who lives in a town of about 300. Our nearest neighbor is about 1/2 mile away and we think this is too close. When we give directions to our house, we say go down this dirt road, turn on to this dirt road and if you go across the cattle guards you have gone too far. You get the picture?

Beijing airport was packed. Not DIA at Christmas packed, I mean packed. People everywhere! EVERYWHERE!!!!! We walked out to the general area (remember I have my mom with me) and we start looking for the flag from our agency. Are you kidding me? There had to be at least 500 people in an area about 100 feet by 10 feet. There was no way we could possibly find our guide.

We kept walking and I know I must have looked like I was in shock. Finally after walking for about 500 feet, we found our guide. She was holding her little green flag up. Never have I felt so happy to see a piece of little green fabric being held up. It was our lighthouse in the sea of Chinese people.

Thank GOD!

After meeting up with two other couples we went to dinner (did I mention I really don't like Chinese food?) and then to our hotel. We had already been up for about 36 hours and I was tired!

Tomorrow we would tour the Forbidden City, and see the Great Wall of China. Then tomorrow night, we would be flying to where Kaycee was. It was picture perfect. We were safe and sound in Beijing, China. We had called home and everyone was fine.

It was time to get some sleep. We would meet at 8:00 am for our tour of Beijing. Wake up call at 7:00 am.

Millions and millions of calories!

Today is the day. It is the day that millions, (I am sure I am not making this up) and millions of calories are constructed in my house.

It started my first year as a teacher. I was the FBLA sponsor and we were trying to find a fundraiser around Christmas time.

One of the students said, how about making fudge?

I was completely for it...why not? How hard could that be? Maybe about 20 pounds and all would be good.

They started selling the fudge - all 25 of them. Some selling 10 pounds, some 20, some not so much. Orders were due Wednesday, so I could go get the ingredients and make it over the weekend.

The orders came in - all 390 pounds of it. Yes almost 400 pounds of fudge.

I almost cried, really I did.

I left a little early from school that day and went to the store. I got some chocolate chips, some sugar, and little bit of the other ingredients.

And started making the fudge.

I really had no idea how much almost 400 pounds of fudge would be.

I worked about 12 hours on Saturday and almost another 6 hours on Sunday. My mom helped or else it would have been even longer.

It was amazing.

I made fudge for the next three years, with the kid selling about the same amount each year. I had it down to a science.

Then I told the kids...I can't do this again. I am very tired of it.

Then...my son started fundraising with his class of 10 for their senior trip.

The idea of fudge came back.

Last year it was about 150 pounds, this year it is around 175 pounds. Not so much really, when you compare it to the first year.

No problem...a mom would do anything for their children - right?

It happened...

I have heard rumors about this type of thing happening...

I have talked with people who have dealt with this before...

But it is totally different once it happens to you...

And it is in reference to your own child!

I was talking about adoption with a person I know.

"Somebody is getting rich off of the international adoptions."

That was all I could hear from this conversation. It struck deep, really.

Was it that bad? Was it horrible? No, not really. But it was still hurtful.

All Gussied Up...

One day, the girls and I thought it would be a good idea to curl their hair before church. My mom found some really neat curlers that you just stick in the microwave for 10 seconds. They worked really, really well! And the girls looked a cute as a button!

Black Friday!!!

I absolutely love to shop on the Friday after Christmas. It is my FAVORITE day to shop.

This year, I don't know if any of you noticed, but Kohl's had their stores open at 4:00 am! Yes, 4:00!

Who would be so crazy as to get up at 3:00, brave the 18 degree weather, just to go to a good sale?

You are reading her blog...

My mom, dad, sister and I all got up, freezing and still half asleep from the day before, and waited in line.

The line was down the street and around the corner. We were in the middle, which meant only one thing...

We had a really good chance of getting exactly what we wanted.

You betcha we did.

"So what exactly are we getting here?" my dad says to me as we are both huddled together, shaking from the freezing wind that was blowing.

"Um, I would like to get a car rug for John's room, but if I don't get it, that is ok too." I said between chattering teeth.

"What are you wanting, dad?"

"Nnnothing."

So we braved the weather, the crowds, the long lines, and the lack of sleep, just so we could all go in and pick up the car rug that I wanted for John's room. How much did I save?

$5.00

Yes, $5.00. Think about it this way, somewhere in the world, someone worked an entire day or week for the $5.00.

Makes me feel a little better!

Again, you are kidding me...

I want to adoopt again.

There, I said it!!! Yes, that would be six kids.

Eight pairs of pants, socks, underwear (when everyone is potty trained.)

Eight shirts, eight plates, eight glasses.

Probably about 24 -36 pancakes at breakfast.
15-18 eggs, one pound of bacon or sausage.

8-10 gallons of milk a week, and how much toilet paper?

But, I really believe we have another child out there, most likely in China.

I want Kaycee to grow up with another Chinese princess running around the house.
Someone that came from where she came from, that has the same heritage, culture, etc and most likely the same special need.

My husband is looking at the ticket prices before he gets on board with the whole idea. He has stated that he is thinking about it.

Right now, that is all I can hope for...

Finding Day

It was two years ago today, our daughter Kaycee was found on the street in front of the Fuzhou City Orphanage.

It is hard as a mom, to think of their child, at one month old laying on the sidewalk, alone.

I am not dealing with this so well today. I look at her and wonder if her mom thinks of her on this day.

We celebrate her birthday on October 6, however, this is only an estimate. November 6 is the first truth we have about Kaycee. We know she was found on 11-6, before that...it is only a guess.

It is hard to think about that. Maybe as the years go by, and we have more truths and knowns, it will be easier for me to deal with.

The not so scary side of Halloween

Our school has a great Harvest Festival for the little ones. Nothing that scares the kids, just fun games. It lets the dress up in their costumes, play some games, win some prizes, all in a warm and safe atmosphere.

We spent about an hour there last night with the three little ones, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Thomas the Tank Engine.

I ended up giving three left over tickets to one little boy and about five dollars to another little boy. It made their night, and I won't be vaccuuming up a little toy in the next couple of days...made my day too.

Kaycee's Two years old!!

Kaycee's birthday was actually October 6th, but we just had her party. Between football games, baseball games, (Rockies in the World Series) and FFA events, this was the first time our family could get together.

Unforturnately, I really am not the birthday party person. I never have been.

Its not because I don't like birthday parties or anything like that, I just don't do them...

Anyway, we went to McDonald's for breakfast and the kids got to play on the gym stuff. They love it and nobody realizes that there isn't a cake, ice cream or anything like that.

We had both sets of grandparents, Uncle Scott and all four kids, and Aunt Brenda. It was a good time. Even though she didn't know it was a special day, she had a lot of fun.

This is Kaycee with her tutu on, going up the slide. I thought it was a cute shot! :)

Then that night, our family celebrated with a cake. I missed the one year old eating her cake. She is such a clean eater - so we had to put a little chocolate on her nose just for us!

Deep inside though, I wondered as we were celebrating, if there was a woman, thousands of miles away that was thinking of our daughter also. Did she wonder what had happened to her? Did she send her birthday wishes to where ever she was? I will always wonder that. I will always pray for her. And I will always thank her for her gift to our family.

Where do you begin?

Where do you begin? The beginning was so long ago, maybe we should just start on July 12, 2007. That was the day Kaycee came home and we became a family of seven.

Seven, yes seven. Five kids. Five wonderful human beings that brighten up even the worst day.

Five pairs of eyes, mostly blue and green, but one a dark, dark brown, that look at you every day and say, "I love you mommy." Maybe sometimes it is stated, "I wuv ewe momma," and sometimes it is just a running kiss after a day at work, no words yet but it all means the same.

Yes, it is a lot of laundry, cleaning, dishes, grocery shopping, but in the end, I really do love it. Who wouldn't?

We have a 14 year old - soon to be 15 - he is a freshman in high school and growing taller and taller every day. His stomach is never full, and he seems like he is never home. Between football, youth group, 4H and Washington Focus, I feel like I am missing a child most days.

Our 12 year old is in 7th grade. He is the quarterback for the junior high school football team and did really well. (This isn't just mom's opinion either.) He has a huge part in the up coming play and is getting straight A's, what more could you ask for?

Our oldest daughter is 4 but I really think deep down she is 16. She is a very girly girl, but at the same time, much to her dad's delight, she can burb like the big boys! She is in preschool and we are trying to figure out how we can start her in kindergarten a year early. She already does the alphabet backwards...mom can't even do that!

Our youngest son is 2 but will be 3 in December. He was born on Pearl Harbor day...it really is fitting as his dad has a degree in history. He is our terror. He is the child that lets everyone know what his feelings are at all times. But at the same time, he is very loving and a sweet little guy!

And of course, who could forget baby Kaycee. She is our princess from China. She just turned 2 (pictures of her birthday tomorrow.) Anyway, she was a special needs adoption, she has bilateral microtia with a mild to moderate hearing loss. She currently has a bone conduction hearing aid and is doing wonderfully! She is truely our gift from heaven!

Well, that about wraps up the family. Are there any more coming? I sure hope so! I would really like to adopt one more child. If God would speak to my husband, like he does to me, I am sure there will be six pairs of eyes looking to us!