Rescued

Yes, I am fully aware that "Rescue" is one of those buzzwords in adoption that makes some peoples hair stand up on their neck...

But I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that

2 years ago today (March 29, 2011)
Love Without Boundaries made a decision to move forward and rescue a little baby girl.
She was six weeks old at the time

 

 

She had a severe pneumonia

 

Found to have ASD, VSD, and PS which required open heart surgery once stable enough from pneumonia

She was severely malnourished and dehydrated, weighing only 6 lbs even after discharge (nearly 3 months old)
those little legs still bring tears to my eyes...



I don't know exactly how LWB found her. The orphanage director said a group was doing research in their area (she is from the poorest province in China we have been told), and that is when LWB  took over her care. 

If they had not - she would have surely died...
Love Without Boundaries (LWB) lives up to their name.

She had such a rough start and many times in those first few months they weren't sure she'd make it...but they didn't give up...they didn't quit loving her, they didn't quit providing food or medical care or shelter, her supporters didn't quit sending money or prayers... Had they given up, her life would not have been saved.  She would not have been rescued.  Thank you Jesus for love...Never stopping. Never giving up. Unbreaking love..  "Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

LWB saw her beauty and rightly gave her the identifier, "Delyth" which means "pretty" in Welsh. 

"Delyth" spend time back and forth in the hospital for her malnourishment and recurrent pneumonia.  She was cared for at Anhui Healing Home for a time in between hospital stays.  At one point LWB hired, yes hired nurses to take care of her while she was in the hospital.  The hospital was really crowded and they had already sent her back to AHH once even though still very sick. We visited AHH while in China and you can feel the love when you enter the doors...

In June she was admitted to Heartbridge Healing Home located in New Hope Foundation in Beijing.  This is where more fragile LWB babies are taken.  There LWB staff continued to love on her and care for her.  New Hope and Heartbridge is truly an amazing place. 

She finally turned a corner.  This is a monthly progression from June 2011 through December 2011. Prepare yourself for an amazing transformation...

 

The pictures go on and on with improvements, growth, chubbier cheeks, big open mouth laughs...

On August 22, 2012 "Delyth's" file had finally been completed and was released to GWCA  for adoption (she was in one of their partnership orphanages). 

That same day, GW called us to tell us they had a file they thought was a perfect match for us.  Kimberly at GW could not have been more right.  We had been praying for her to have discernment and wisdom when looking at files for us.  We had been praying for God to let us know without question that when we open a file, whether or not that was our child, whether we were his or her family. 

We knew she was ours... and we were hers... from the moment we saw her picture.

Can't explain it, but loved her and longed for her from that moment...
Never NEVER dreamt that 6 months later we'd have the easiest, sweetest, most beautiful, precious little girl ever.  She is definitely ours - eats anything, laughs often, loves lots, makes silly faces, enjoys just hanging out, dances all the time (even when music isn't playing), loves singing songs with motions in the sweetest little voice.. WE love her more than words can explain.  We all do.  Aili and Ian ADORE her... Her smile - lights up a room - and even brings joy to others.  Hard to not smile when you see her smile..  Her laughter melts my heart... But her kisses - she just turns around and gives hugs and kisses now without anyone asking... no words to describe these..

 

As for her health now- pediatrician says all looks good...we are going to start some allergy testing for a rash, but so far all labs have come back great!

Cardiologist said, "She looks great, her repair was done beautifully and will only need follow-up every 1-2 years."  :)  Isn't God amazing??  This was Meisi's thought on the matter (taken right after cardio visit).  Smiling just looking at her sweet smile. :) 

 

Love Without Boundaries - we are forever and eternally grateful.

We are so thankful that we followed that still small voice to adopt - just as He adopted us into His family...

It wasn't easy and did require sacrifices - personal, social and emotional....but the joy we have now...

There couldn't be a more perfect day (Good Friday) to look back on this amazing gift of love.....love without end....love for the sake of love... a love that required more than sacrificing financially, required more than just not getting a new car, new house, new clothes or not eating out...

2000 years ago... (taken without permission from my favorite children's book, "the Jesus Storybook Bible"):

They nailed Jesus to a cross.

"Father, forgive them." Jesus gasped. "They don't understand what they're doing."

"You say you've come to rescue us!" people shouted. "But you can't even rescue yourself!"

But they were wrong.  Jesus could have rescued himself.  A legion of angels would have flown to his side - IF he'd called. 

"If you are really the Son of God, you could just climb down off that cross!" they said.
And of course, they were right.  Jesus could have just climbed down.  Actually, he could have just said a word and made it all stop. Like when he healed that little girl.  And stilled the storm. And fed 5,000 people. 

But Jesus stayed.
You see, they didn't understand.  It wasn't the nails that kept Jesus there.  It was love.

"Papa?" Jesus cried, frantically searching the sky, "Papa? Where are you? Don't leave me!"

And for the first time - and the last - when he spoke, nothing happened.  Just a horrible, endless silence. God didn't answer.  He turned away from his Boy.

Tears rolled down Jeuss' face.  The face of the One who would wipe away every tear from every eye.

Even though it was middday, a dreadful darkness covered the face of the world.  The sun could not shine.  The earth trembled and quaked.  The great mountains shook.  Rocks split in two.  Until it seemed that the whole world would break.  That creation itself would tear apart.

The full force of the storm of God's fierce anger at sin was coming down.  On his own Son.  Instead of his people.  It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy his children whose hearts were filled with sin. 

Then Jesus shouted in a loud voice, "it is finished!"

And it was.  He had done it.  Jesus had rescued the whole world.

"Father!" Jesus cried. "I give you my life." And with a great sigh he let himself die. 

Strange clouds and shadows filled the sky.  Purple, orange, black.  Like a bruise.

Jesus' friends gently carried Jesus.  They laid Jesus in a new tomb carved out of rock....

Of course, Jesus didn't stay dead - He is alive!  He rose from the dead! Praise the Lord! Sunday is coming! 

God's love is wonderful, Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. 

Do you know His love?  Have you been adopted into God's family? 
If not, I pray you seek Him...
Open up His word, the Bible, and get to know Him.
Talk to Him through prayer - just like you'd talk to anyone else...then stop and listen....

As a follower of Christ - have you heard that same still small voice we heard to adopt? 
Trust Him, Move forward, "Lean not on your own understanding." 

I have lists and lists with pictures of children waiting for their family...
I've cried over them,
I've prayed over them,
Prayed for their families to move forward...

Are you the family they are waiting for?

I pray you are seeking Him,
Open up His word and see what He says about adoption,
how He will provide the way if you will just take that step of faith,
Present all your requests and concern to Him in prayer - He WILL give you peace. 










 

Easter Eggstravaganza and 1st time to Church

We had so much fun this week and weekend!! 
So nice to finally be out and about.  I will share about our "educational" trips later... for now - our fun times at church. :)

This weekend our church had Easter Eggstravaganza.  Meisi had her first Easter egg hunt, her first bouncy house, first fishing, duck pond and ring toss games, puppet show, balloon animals, first time seeing her brother with face paint... It was fun! :) 

 

 

We also took Meisi to church for the first time!  She and Aili were so cute in their matching outfits!  Love my precious children!! :)  Meisi did such a great job throughout service.  Aside from a few, "uh ohs" from dropping cheerios..she was super quiet and good.  She liked bouncing along to the music and giving people, "High 5's" during the, "say hello to someone you don't know time." :)

Being able to worship with her WITH us... like a dream come true... 
God is so good and faithful!

This is Ian trying to get Meisi to make a silly face. :) lol

The "greatest of these" is definitely LOVE!!!  We are so blessed!!

What is the hardest part of my day?

Myself....

My self ishness

Which in turn makes the homeschooling part of my day VERY stressful.

I have recently acquired many additional letters after my name:

SAHM - Stay at Home Mom
HSM - Homeschooling Mom
AP - Adoptive Parent

Funny - that is almost as many letters as I acquired through school and testing -
BS - Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
PharmD - Doctor of Pharmacy
BCPS - Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist

So...I've gone from Deidra Simpson, BS, PharmD, BCPS to Mom, SAHM, HSM, AP

As a clinical pharmacist my favorite thing to do was teach... Even before getting my degree my heart was in teaching.  Being able to impact students lives forever with not only knowledge but possibly plant a seed, water it or if God allowed - to reap the harvest. 

Looking back it seems homeschooling should be easy and close to my heart... BUT
Homeschooling - Wow, well it is not easy.
Many days - it is HARD...
Not because I like teaching any less...
Hard because of my selfish heart and mind...

Thinking of all I could do if I were not homeschooling...
Thinking of how nice the personal recognition was with my work...
Thinking how comfortable life would be with more money...
or even if I wasn't working and not homeschooling -
Thinking how easy life would be to just enjoy our precious Meisi All day without interruption
Thinking how I could clean my house during nap time instead of "do school"...
Thinking how nice it would be to get a shower every day or check facebook or read or....

Just when I started to question if I'd made the right decision to homeschool...

One of my DTC facebook group friends (an amazing group of ladies who have supported each other throughout our adoption journeys and even after) posted a blog post on "Motherhood is a Calling."  Definitely worth reading in its entirety- http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-a-calling-and-where-your-children-rank

Wow!
Lord, Forgive me...
All my barking at the kids...
All my fussiness...
All my whining...
All my selfishness...

Ughhh, the realization of why homeschooling has been so hard for me -
I have been embracing the world (self)...not the cross...

Her last paragraphs in that post -
"Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work.
Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross. There is more joy and more life and more laughter on the other side of death than you can possibly carry alone"

Joy?
Glimpses of change in my children that have brought joy - seen in the last few days:
Aili becoming more helpful
Ian becoming more protective of his sisters
Singing songs together rather than fighting over who gets to sing or what song to sing
Playing together for hours without arguing
Praying before meals without being asked
Truly caring if someone is hurt or upset
Ian teaching Meisi how to say "cross" as he showed her a picture of the cross.
Aili reading her Bible just because she wants to...
glimpses...  :)

Meisi LOVES having her big brother and sister to play with most of the day too. 
She really enjoys having her crayons and coloring books out while the kids are doing their math.
When they say, "Look Mommy", so I can check their work,
She says, "Look Mommy" and shows me all her scribbles in her coloring book. :) 
I am thankful for their help with her too - they love to help dress her, change her, carry her (even though she is almost as big as they are)...
Oh- and when they are laughing and dancing together (even without music playing) - JOY!!!

I still question so much about my method of homeschooling.
If I'm providing enough educational activity,
If they should be in more extra curricular activities,
If they are missing out on something,
and I probably always will.

Just as I frequently walked out of a classroom or away from leading a conference thinking -
I could have said this or
I should have explained it a different way..

Being a Stay at home, homeschooling, newly adoptive Mama is certainly not as self gratifying, financially rewarding or intellectually stimulating,
but knowing I have been called to be here at this time, teaching my little blessings, planting and watering those seeds -
it is bringing more joy than any job or profession could..
unspeakable joy...

Please pray with me that I can continue to run to the cross instead of toward my own selfish ambitions and desires.  Umm...and that I figure out what method to use when teaching and which curriculum to help support that. :) 

One Month Ago today!

I can't believe it has already been one month since we were officially given our sweet daughter.  She has joined our family seamlessly.  Brian said, "It is like she has always been in our family...just dislocated from us until now." So so true.  So thankful for God choosing us to be her family.  So thankful we said yes to His call.  She has brought so much joy to us.  I promise I am not sugar coating our blogs.... it really has been this amazing!  She is amazing!  Such a brave little girl, full of love and life.  I can't explain how much we all love her... can't explain how that love has grown for months before we even met her...can't explain how we loved her from the moment we saw her picture months ago...JUST like we did the days we first saw Aili and Ian.  She is ours and we are hers.  Forever...

A few more recent pics of our sweetie

Riding in car with brother - look no hands...ummm yep - that was Ian's idea!

Dancing to the music with the big sisters... and not looking in direction driving - girls!! lol

Our friend Yunfei made a delicious Chinese meal for us... and seriously - licking the bowl clean...seriously....

Have always LOVED bath time and how precious our babies are in hooded towels... Oh my - I LOVE her!!

 First time with the popcorn maker - she kept making popping sounds and using finger to pop her cheeks to try to make sound - too cute!

 

Someday I will figure out how to upload videos on here...  They show her personality even more.. She really is this happy and healthy. 

One last picture (not sure why this one won't turn around..taken on my phone)- my friend Karen got this for us and it couldn't be more perfect.  I love this verse on here and have said it many times during this process. 

 

 

 

All good and perfect things come from above and He is the giver of life and JOY - unspeakable JOY!!! 



Have you been praying for a child?  Is God whispering "adopt" in your ear?  Please, please listen.... Please also let me know - I will pray with you for God's timing and His will...  He first whispered in our ears 14 years ago!  14 years before He gave us our daughter....  During that time - Brian went through some fears and had some "reluctant dad" thoughts and feelings... Maybe so we can reach out to you?  We are here to pray and talk with you....  It was a talking with my dear friend Debbie about 2 years ago that God used to spur us to this point...being filled with love and joy with a daughter that is an orphan no more. 

 

How do you change the lives of 147 MILLION orphans?  One at a time! :)

 

Meisi meets Emmy

Many of you have asked..

So how is Meisi doing with Emmy??

Emmy is our ten year old Labrador. A dear friend - Karen watched loved on her for us the ENTIRE time we were in China and then some.  We didn't bring Emmy home for a few days after we returned. I think we got her on Wednesday last week (3/6).  We wanted to give Meisi some time to adjust to her new home first. 

There first meeting was full of fear and tears...  I mean - screaming, crying if Emmy even looked at her - even while Emmy was OUTSIDE and Meisi was INSIDE...  We kept Emmy downstairs the first night because Aili usually calls her to her room and well, Meisi now sleeps in that room so that wasn't going to work...

I admit being a bit concerned at first, but Meisi started warming up in a few days.  Slowly she would get closer to Emmy or talk to her from a distance.  She makes this clicking noise and calls Emmy - too cute.  She has learned to say "Emmy".  She learned that quick as she cried it out a few times those first couple days! 

Tonight - just over one week later...I'd say she is very warmed up. :)

As Aili and I were walking Meisi upstairs to go to bed tonight... Aili said, "I would like to help this little blessing get up to bed" :) Melts my heart..."this little blessing".

What a blessing she is. :)  She is a very happy, loving, funny little girl.  She has brought us more joy than I could've dreamt possible. :)  So loved!

We have started having a little more difficulty getting her to go to sleep.  She was going to sleep quickly, now taking a little longer.  She wants to stay up to play or sing or dance or be held... She must have Brian or I in the room to get to sleep otherwise the tears start.  It is so sweet to listen to her little voice sing and amazing to watch her flexibility of her doing splits in her crib while keeping herself awake.  Yet, what was taking 10 minutes is now taking close to 2 hours to get her to sleep.  I guess I need to find a way to run more energy out of her during the day.  Now to be clear - I wouldn't mind if she stayed up late and woke up late...we are night owls... but her internal alarm goes off at 7am regardless if she goes to sleep at 7pm or 10pm.  Have I mentioned how much I like sleep??

Speaking of which - I'd better go get some or else I will again be a sleepy Mama tomorrow!

Home One Week!

Doesn't seem real, but we have been home one week today!  I think we are FINALLY over jet lag.  So thankful Meisi has been sleeping well and Ian recovered quickly from his stomach issues. 

I can't say enough how much we appreciate your prayers. We have felt them from day 1.  Thank you!!

It has been amazing to get to know Meisi and see her transition to our Mei Mei. :)
Things we've learned/observed about our little baby girl:

• She laughs a lot - even makes herself laugh...so cute when she does the Asian thing of covering her mouth with her hand when she laughs...if we laugh and don't cover our mouth - she will cover our mouth with her hand.

• She sings herself to sleep - sweetest little songs.  no words..well, if they are words I don't know them.

• She loves to sing songs with motions (perfect for our family - right?) - she has learned the motions to"itsy bitsy spider."   She wants us to sing it over and over as she does the motions - this started in China.

• She has the biggest smile when we pick her up and has just started kissing our cheeks and last night my shoulder when trying to get her to sleep. 

• We started in China forcing her to give hugs and kisses to Aili and Ian each night...now we just say  time for "night night hugs and kisses" and she does it on her own.  :) 

• She let Ian carry her today, even reached up for him. :) YAY for progress!!

• She loves to push buttons on anything and amazingly can turn on TV and change channels better than me - lol!

• She is very clean - picks up anything in floor - which is a lot at our house. 

• She knows some sign language and the English words - "more", "food", "please", "all done", "Thank you"...  this is from New Hope - not from me!  Again - I know she was very well cared for..

• Also know she was truly loved there...  When she falls down or bumps something - she pouts and brings it to you to kiss...again - done that since gotcha day - So thankful for New Hope and LWB for loving her so much and for kissing her boo boos before we could. :)

• She is very smart - picking up language at record speed - now if I can find a Mandarin teacher to keep her Mandarin growing too!  She can say - hi, bye bye, mama, dada, Ian (sounds like I an), Aili (but sounds like Ally), Emmy, stop, no, wow, whoa, shoes...

• She likes to be pretty. :)  She loves her clothes, shoes, hair in bows. :)  Smiles when she sees herself in mirror :)

• She has obviously been potty training at New Hope - she isn't fully trained, but she goes each morning and now after naps in the potty!

• She is sleeping 10-12 hours each night in her crib and 1 hour nap in afternoon.

• A fun transition we've seen is her going from throwing baby dolls on ground on gotcha day and fiercely shaking her head no to now carrying them around, rocking and kissing them.  Last night she was patting on their bellies saying "Shhh and Ohhh" then kissed them all and said "night night.  :)

• She will eat anything - but LOVES meat.

• Have I mentioned her smile lights up any room? 

Is there anything hard?  Yes, but nothing terrible -

• She is my shadow, follows me everywhere - even to bathroom.

• She wants to be held 24/7...this is improving...but still mostly wants to be held.  I love the bonding BUT 27 lbs is a lot to carry around ALL the time.

• Ian and Aili fighting over her attention and love... they love her so much but still learning how to set limits and encourage their obedience while teaching her attention is not a competition...

• When she wants something - she cries - ear piercing cry.

• When she is done walking - she stands, stomps, cries and if that doesn't work, collapses onto ground. 

• Finding alone time with Brian - like having a newborn... I go to sleep when she does....seems like we hardly talk much less touch.

• Finding a new schedule for my personal quiet time.  Prayer life is great...but finding time to read His Word... hard but desperately need it. 

Some more firsts-

She is amazed by our strange Florida grass...

 Our KY girl on game day!  Wearing her cheer outfit from Aunt Dana worked! We beat Florida!! :)  Think I know what she will be wearing a lot of for the next few weeks!! ;)

 First day of dressing as Cinderella in our play room...first time in our play room. :)

 She LOVES to talk on the phone and uses everything as a phone. :)

 Chilling with her sister. ;)  She mocks everything Aili does... hard shoes for our Aili...prayers appreciated!!

 Brian taught Ian to ride his bike without training wheels!!  Woohoo!!  A big week indeed!!

 First ride in stroller at home, and first trip to the park (Mulberry, just around corner from our house)

 Of course - you need an umbrella in the sunshine state! :)  Can take the girl out of Asia but can't take Asia out of the girl! ;)  Nor would we want to!

Sidewalk chalk and trampoline :)

I'm certain each day will have some new firsts for our new little bundle of joy, but here are a couple I captured...

Sidewalk chalk -

 She does everything her big sis does - ummm....which is a prayer request - lol ;) 

Before I get a ton of negative comments on trampoline safety - we are totally aware and the kids have very strict rules on it.... I realize risks exist with these... 

Meisi LOVED it!! 

 Ian trying hard to not touch Meisi as that is one of our rules - no touching each other...hard rule to follow with our excited two year old! 

Today - unfortunately we have more blood work for our little sweetie.  They ordered so much the Quest folks said they couldn't draw it all in one draw as you can't take that much from a small child.  So Brian took her back today to get more drawn. :(  I stayed home and tried to get some school done with Aili and Ian - our first day back to it.  Wow.... prayers needed here. :)  Not sure how I am going to do this with Meisi here. I know we are supposed to be doing it....just have to figure out how to make it all work!!
Anyone have a pack and play or highchair we could borrow??  Someone suggested putting her in those with toys/coloring books, etc. This would only be for short intervals as I give instructions for the kiddos. 

Let me also just say the dinners brought have been AMAZING!!!  Thank you sooo much!!!  Many firsts for Meisi I am sure - ham, lasagna, mac and cheese, roast with potatoes...  She has eaten everything!  Funny story - while in Anhui our guide Faye told us that Anhui girls love all types of potatoes...well. so so true!  Our little sweetie LOVES potatoes - any kind - shredded, baked, mashed, fries, chips...  She also LOVES meat.  So cute last night eating the roast and potatoes... she just kept laughing and laughing like it was the most wonderful thing she'd ever had.  Wouldn't let me leave a shred of beef in her bowl.  So so cute! 

She also finally is eating dried fruit IF we cut it up!  She had only had 4 BMs since 2/18.  We tried giving her dried fruit in China and she refused...also wasn't real fond of watermelon.  Brian cut up the prune and voila!  She eats them up!  Now we have had 3 BMs in 2 days!  I think she has lost weight!  and PRAISE THE LORD - we are done with stool samples!!! lol  That was the grossest thing I have EVER done! 

Dana and Jessie - LOOK - the matching outfits!!  :)  Thanks so much for the cute clothes and shoes for our girls!!  Love you all!! 

First day at home

Hopefully this will make sense because I am in a total jet lag fog right now... 

Meisi has adjusted really well here.
The first night she did ok considering she slept a bit on the plane. 

She went to sleep at 10
Crying while sleeping at 1
Back to sleep
Crying at 3
Back to sleep about an hour later - After finally putting her in bed with us...
Up at 6:30...and stayed up...

Now, I am no morning person, but amazingly God gave me the energy to go and go we did.

Meisi's doctor appointment was at 1200 that day.  A dear friend watched Aili and Ian for us so we could focus on our little Meisi.  Good thing.  The appointment was nearly 2 hours long! 

Meisi had to get 4 vaccines (she needed 2 year old shots).  Then blood work... which again didn't go well (Med Exam in China was a hard blood draw too).  They couldn't get a good vein in the office so we had to go to Quest.  Poor poor baby.  I just wanted to cry with her. 

My sweet friend Debbie set up a meal train for us!  We have meals for the next 3 weeks!  We are so very blessed with amazing friends.  I can't say how much this helps.  Last night as I wanted to go to bed at 3pm I was thinking there is no way I could've fed my family tonight.  Thank you Debbie and thanks to all who are bringing us food - such a blessing!!!

Ian and Meisi were asleep by 7 last night.  Ian fell asleep before dinner and felt a little warm :(
I was in bed quickly after... no idea when Aili and Brian went. 

Meisi was crying around 1 - I don't think awake..just crying a little, but went to sleep again quickly.
She woke again around 3:30...strange pattern here...this time she wanted to stay awake..but not me so I put her in bed with me and she fell asleep again until 7am - yay!!  I felt a little more refreshed but still feel like someone is trying to split the two hemispheres of my brain...yes, my head is hurting. 

Poor Ian...he told me his arms hurt, his legs hurt...he ate breakfast then started vomiting. :(  He kept doing it over and over. :(  Please pray for him and the rest of us that we don't get whatever it is. :(  Getting a crash course on dealing with all this with three.

Oh forgot to mention battery in our van was dead when we came home...we charged it and thought it was ok but died again while out getting kids - Thank you Sara for the jump!  Hoping the bad stuff comes in 3s isn't for real....

We are just chilling today trying to recover still.  Kids are watching Toy Story 2 right now.  Love hearing Meisi say, "Uh oh"  in appropriate times. :)   She also says, "Wow!" too.  Such a cute, smart, funny little girl!!  :)  So in love!!

Oh so cute...she just walked around patting herself saying "Mei Mei" (little sister), then points at Aili and says, "Jie Jie" (big sister) then patted Ian's leg and said, "guh guh" (big brother) then patted herself again and said, "Mei Mei"... :)  :)

We are HOME!!

Yay!  We made it!  The kids did great on he way home.  Meisi only cried a little...I think she may have gained a few pounds on the flight as much food as we gave her to keep her happy....but sometimes survival mode must set in!  lol

 First picture of the newest, sleepiest US citizen in Detroit, MI :)

 First picture of our cutie in Tampa...still sleepy.  Our flight was early, but the cleaning crew was on the plane before we could get Ian off the plane... We were all very tired..him especially. :)

 Our sweet friends the Byrne's, Vanvleet's and Artur's met us at the airport.  Such a sweet reunion with dear friends.  Debbie took all the pis - so none of her - boo!  Was so tired wasn't thinking! Honestly I was worried when we got off the plane that there would be too much chaos with a crowd (our kids were all crying and whining...Brian and I wanted to be)- so thankful God ordained just enough folks to be there. :)  Debbie and Bill had dinner for us at home when we got there and had even gone to the grocery store for us!  We are so blessed! 

 Boys were so happy to see each other!

Our first picture as a family of 5 in the USA!!

 

 Meisi's first time in a car seat - she wasn't happy about it.  She did finally fall asleep though. :)

 The best part - FINALLY seeing our princess in her crib wrapped in her precious blanket my sweet friend made for her. :)  Our journey to our heart baby now wrapped in a blanket of hearts and love. :)

 Then the smiles. :)  She is certainly a heart to love!  We are so blessed.  :) 

We have her doctor appointment in just under an hour.  Hoping they don't poke her too much!!! 

Thank you for joining us on our journey to China..... now the new journey as a family of five!  Already seeing I have so much to work on - lol
Dealing with Aili and Ian and limits with Meisi
Tring to not say no so much to them
Trying to be patient as we all learn our new roles
Realizing I need more stuff (baby gates, baby monitor, diaper pale - yep, those diapers STINK!)

All in time... :)  Love you and so thankful for your prayers. :)