Just wanted to post quickly to say we made it home safely. Thank you all for your sweet prayers and excitement for us as we journeyed nearer to the heart of God, and halfway around the world, to bring our precious Zoey Faith home.
I have so much to share...but must make myself go to bed and rest. For now, the girls and tucked in and sleeping soundly in their new bunk beds...let's hope they stay that way :0)
Love you all!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Last Post from China
We are in Hong Kong for the night and will fly home tomorrow. The following is a post I wrote a couple of days ago but couldn't post until now. Gene and I surprised Eden and he took her to Disney in Hong Kong today while mom, Zoey and I waited to receive Zoey's consulate paperwork before taking the train to HK this evening. We can't wait to be home and will arrive in Atlanta on United Airlines at 7 p.m. from Chicago on the 17th. Anyone is welcome to greet us at the airport.
Thanks for all your prayers...will post tons of pics and video when we are back home. Love you all!
Thanks for all your prayers...will post tons of pics and video when we are back home. Love you all!
The Final Stretch - written Monday
It's Keri posting this
time. We just returned from the US Consulate Appointment and are
relaxing in the room for a bit before lunch and then a trip with Eden to
the zoo. I think Zoey and daddy are going to stay back for a nap. If
Eden wasn't so excited about seeing the squirrel and the dalmations at
the zoo I think we would all skip the afternoon sweat-fest altogether.
But alas, she has her heart set on it so we will take her.
Zoey
is doing well. I am still unsure of exactly what to do with her other
than "survive" until we get back home. She is so easy…too easy. Part
of me is like, "Enjoy it" and the other part – the attachment educated
part – is like "this is gonna be a LONG road." She literally never
complains, cries, wimpers, etc. She is laid back and doesn't show much
emotion. I have noticed some progress over the past week, though. She
lights up with the biggest grin now whenever I pick her up. Another
difference I have noticed is that she reaches up for me ALL the time…she
only wants to be held. She will go to anyone…but she reaches for me.
Over the last couple of days I have gotten a semi-hug back from her and
a couple of kisses.
I have also seen her
relax some since the orphanage visit. She is much more silly and
verbal…talking to herself in Cantonese. She is repeating most of "Good
Night Moon" back to me each night when we read before bed. Last night I
sat her in my lap facing me and sang "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and she LOVED
it. I tried to sing it again and she got so excited she started hitting
and head-butting. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to really connecting
with her so far is that I think one-on-one attention is so foreign to
her that after just a couple of minutes of it, she goes berserk and gets
rough and inappropriate with boundaries (hair pulling, head butting,
hitting). She isn't being mean…just very excited. I am learning I'm
gonna have to slowly introduce nurture to her b/c it's too much for her
to handle all at once.
I've tried several times
to recline her in my arms and rock her and she won't have it. She
fights against it and moves her eyes all around to avoid looking at me.
Once again, she doesn't lash out at me – she just is very
uncomfortable. Last night I tried holding her tighter to see if she
would calm down and relax but the opposite happened. She started to
struggle and grunt to get free so I let her up.
She
is such a precious little girl. She is funny and sweet and adorable.
She smiles almost constantly and takes everything in with her giant
brown eyes. She loves to play and I already know she is gonna love
playing kitchen and house. Her younger foster sister was adopted by one
of our travel group families and Zoey mothers little Bria (2) and looks
out for her. It is very sweet. This family lives in Cullman and we
look forward to staying in touch so our girls can know each other and
have that precious connection to their past.
I will post again once more before we leave. Can't wait to see everyone.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Winding Down
Hi there! Gene here posting again. Just a few days left here in China and we'll be home. Honestly, we're all pooped and ready to be on the plane. Sunday was a down-time day with some souvenir shopping and an evening trip on the Pearl River Dinner Cruise. The shopping mall was, of course, China-huge, and it totally overstimulated Zoey, who spaced out for a while in the afternoon, even after a nap. We're learning that too much eye-candy and activity for her is not healthy. This is actually somewhat true of Eden as well, but not quite so pronounced.
Today (Monday) is our US Consulate appointment. We leave the hotel in about an hour to do our final US paperwork and get Zoey's entry visa for the USA. Then tomorrow it's back to Hong Kong via train to catch our flight to the states. I have a little surprise planned for Eden. She and I are leaving on a much earlier train since only one parent has to wait on the US visa to be delivered. That will give me time to take Eden for 1/2 day to Hong Kong Disneyland. She has no idea--will be a total surprise. I'm not going to tell her until we are on the train.
Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Appreciate the Facebook posts and the emails as very welcome contact with home.
Today (Monday) is our US Consulate appointment. We leave the hotel in about an hour to do our final US paperwork and get Zoey's entry visa for the USA. Then tomorrow it's back to Hong Kong via train to catch our flight to the states. I have a little surprise planned for Eden. She and I are leaving on a much earlier train since only one parent has to wait on the US visa to be delivered. That will give me time to take Eden for 1/2 day to Hong Kong Disneyland. She has no idea--will be a total surprise. I'm not going to tell her until we are on the train.
Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Appreciate the Facebook posts and the emails as very welcome contact with home.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Photos from China
On the airplane ready for takeoff.
About halfway through the 15 1/2 hour flight.
Final pic of the Mason Three.
Eden having fun doing her favorite thing... in China!
Meeting Zoey for the first time.
Eden doing some artwork in our down time.
Sisters getting to know each other.
Eden and Zoey with their grandmother, Roberta McWhorter, who joined us again this time around.
Our entire adoption travel group.
Zoey and Keri feeding the fish.
Eden and Zoey at the Guangzhou Botanical Gardens.
The Mason Four at the Guangzhou Botanical Gardens.
Zoey on our orphanage visit day.
Standing at Zoey's finding spot in front of the orphanage.
The Masons down by the Pearl River with the Guangzhou skyline behind us.
The Orphanage Visit
Hubby Gene here once again. I'll talk a little about our orphanage visit on Friday, though I am sure Keri will post her perspective at some point. We drove from Guangzhou to Maoming starting early in the morning--departing at 6:30 a.m. It's about 5 hours to this neighboring city to the southwest. This is where Zoey was found and lived her life up until a few days ago.
Maoming is much smaller than Guangzhou. It's filled with tens of thousands of people on mopeds. I've never seen so many motor scooters. We got to the orphanage just before lunch time. The staff led us up to the fourth floor playroom, where we met many of the caregivers. We got pictures of several children whose Lifeline parents asked us in advance to contact. We gave out some care packages to these kids and talked with the orphanage director.
Then we met Zoey's foster mom. It was really a rather unemotional experience, which surprised us. Zoey cried when she and some other teachers left the room, which was one of the few times she has showed any kind of great emotion, so we took that as a good sign. We gave her foster mom a gift and soon left the room. Our travel group had gathered some money and given it to the orphanage and they showed us the large pile of diapers they were able to purchase with the money.
The orphanage was comparatively nice, based on others Keri and I have seen around the world. They kids had good food, a roof over their heads, indoor plumbing and obviously had some good education resources. They took us to Zoey's preschool classroom and we saw her little chair with her Chinese name printed on the back of it. Her former teachers played with her there a few minutes.
Finally, they took us around front to Zoey's "finding spot"--the place where she was abandoned. We posed for a picture there, but neither Keri nor I felt like smiling. Zoey is abandoned no more, so we felt that we kinda checked that off our bucket list and were soon ready to move on. The orphanage director treated us to a nice lunch, and then we started the long ride back to Guangzhou.
I should mention that about 2/3 of the way back the headlights went out on the bus, so the driver kept going, on the highway, in the pitch black dark, and we were all scared to death. Keri started singing "Jesus, Take the Wheel" to lighten the mood and after some prayer and nail biting we arrived safely back at the hotel. I was gonna do room service at that point, since we were so tired and it was around 8:00 p.m., but we found out a room service hamburger was $30, so I opted for McDonald's instead.
The orphanage visit did shed some light on Zoey on the behavioral side. Honestly, though, we will have to wait until we get home to get her on a regular schedule and begin addressing her needs in earnest. The visit was really just a puzzle piece for us, and hopefully God will show us how this fits in her personality and behavior as we get a few months down the road.
Zoey is really a sweetheart. We love her smile and her laugh. She readily reaches for Keri and has begun repeating English words when we read to her. When she goes bathroom she says "bye bye" to her poop as it goes down the toilet. Keri has pulled out some matching outfits, which Eden just loves, and we've gotten lots of great pictures.
Today (Saturday) is more paperwork and finalizing matters before Monday's U.S. Consulate appointment. Just a few days left now before we hit the airport for home. Keri and I are both ready to be back in the States. We continue to ask for your prayers for us for safe travel, for Zoey's bonding and for God to be honored through our actions and speech here on the other side of the world.
Maoming is much smaller than Guangzhou. It's filled with tens of thousands of people on mopeds. I've never seen so many motor scooters. We got to the orphanage just before lunch time. The staff led us up to the fourth floor playroom, where we met many of the caregivers. We got pictures of several children whose Lifeline parents asked us in advance to contact. We gave out some care packages to these kids and talked with the orphanage director.
Then we met Zoey's foster mom. It was really a rather unemotional experience, which surprised us. Zoey cried when she and some other teachers left the room, which was one of the few times she has showed any kind of great emotion, so we took that as a good sign. We gave her foster mom a gift and soon left the room. Our travel group had gathered some money and given it to the orphanage and they showed us the large pile of diapers they were able to purchase with the money.
The orphanage was comparatively nice, based on others Keri and I have seen around the world. They kids had good food, a roof over their heads, indoor plumbing and obviously had some good education resources. They took us to Zoey's preschool classroom and we saw her little chair with her Chinese name printed on the back of it. Her former teachers played with her there a few minutes.
Finally, they took us around front to Zoey's "finding spot"--the place where she was abandoned. We posed for a picture there, but neither Keri nor I felt like smiling. Zoey is abandoned no more, so we felt that we kinda checked that off our bucket list and were soon ready to move on. The orphanage director treated us to a nice lunch, and then we started the long ride back to Guangzhou.
I should mention that about 2/3 of the way back the headlights went out on the bus, so the driver kept going, on the highway, in the pitch black dark, and we were all scared to death. Keri started singing "Jesus, Take the Wheel" to lighten the mood and after some prayer and nail biting we arrived safely back at the hotel. I was gonna do room service at that point, since we were so tired and it was around 8:00 p.m., but we found out a room service hamburger was $30, so I opted for McDonald's instead.
The orphanage visit did shed some light on Zoey on the behavioral side. Honestly, though, we will have to wait until we get home to get her on a regular schedule and begin addressing her needs in earnest. The visit was really just a puzzle piece for us, and hopefully God will show us how this fits in her personality and behavior as we get a few months down the road.
Zoey is really a sweetheart. We love her smile and her laugh. She readily reaches for Keri and has begun repeating English words when we read to her. When she goes bathroom she says "bye bye" to her poop as it goes down the toilet. Keri has pulled out some matching outfits, which Eden just loves, and we've gotten lots of great pictures.
Today (Saturday) is more paperwork and finalizing matters before Monday's U.S. Consulate appointment. Just a few days left now before we hit the airport for home. Keri and I are both ready to be back in the States. We continue to ask for your prayers for us for safe travel, for Zoey's bonding and for God to be honored through our actions and speech here on the other side of the world.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Day 2 & 3 with Zoey
It's mommy here...enjoying some much-needed down time after a morning of sight-seeing, a great lunch with our travel group, and a long nap! Gene did a great job filling you in on the details of our day yesterday. We saw more of the same laid-back, complacent Zoey Faith - a 180 degree difference from Eden's medical appointment with her adoption. She screamed when they weighed her...Zoey just went with the flow - not a wimper or a flinch. After the visa medical appointment we went and had a family picture taken for the adoption decree...I think. All the paperwork runs together - and Gene has been appointed the "paperwork person" while in China.
Zoey is doing great...small progress each day. It's amazing what 24 hours of family living does for her. The first night I tried to read "Goodnight Moon" and snuggle her right before putting her in bed and she literally didn't even know how to be read to. She kept yanking the book, furiously flipping through the pages...much like a baby would instead of a 3 1/2 year old. Snuggling is definitely a new concept and when I tried to lay her back in my arms she looked everywhere but me - zero eye contact. I followed the exact same routine last night and this time, she was much calmer and sat still during the book. When I laid her back to "rock" her she made some eye contact and relaxed into my arms. It filled my heart with hope and joy to see her enjoying my affection, even though she has no idea yet how to return it.
I can't wait for everyone to meet her (even though it will be a while). Adorable doesn't begin to describe her. She is sweet and has a smile that lights up the room. She has a little prance/swagger when she walks that is so cute! Part of it I'm sure is her physical delays because she walks on her toes and kind of arches her back and leans her head back...but it is cute! I call it the Zoey swagger. She is not verbal yet...except at night she whispers to herself in bed while she "rocks" herself to sleep. She is repeating a few words back but not much.
Today we went to the Guangzhou Botanical Gardens and she loved feeding the fish. My favorite part was the "Sun House" where they grew orchids...beautiful! The rose garden was also lovely. Tomorrow we will head to MaoMing City to visit the orphanage. I cannot wait to see where Zoey spent her first 3 1/2 years. We should meet her foster mother as well and I'm looking forward to meeting her and hopefully learning more about Zoey from her. It is a long drive...so we will leave at 6:30 a.m. and not return until tomorrow night. Thankfully, all 4 MaoMing families from our group are going so we are taking the big bus with reclining seats! The kids will get to eat at the orphanage and we will get to see how they used to sit and eat their meals. It will be interesting to see how Zoey reacts. I'm not expecting much emotion from her but you never know...she might surprise us.
We dressed the girls alike today in the cute leopard-print outfits my Aunt Ginger bought them in OK. They turned heads everywhere we went and we got some great pictures in the Gardens. I love them both and am so proud to be their mommy. My sweet Eden amazes me and seems to grow more lovely and mature each day. She is an amazing big sister and is so delighted that Zoey is now beginning to let her help her. My mind cannot fathom what my Zoey has endured. While I have no reason to believe she was ever mistreated physically...the lack of having a mommy has taken an incredible toll on her...especially with her laid-back personality and developmental delays. These 2 factors combined with orphanage living created a perfect storm in her little life. I am, however, grateful for the great care she received by orphanage standards.
I am so thankful that God, in His great wisdom and grace, placed her in our family. Being her mommy will stretch and grow me in ways that parenting Eden haven't because they are so different. There is NO way I can give them both what they need apart from His guiding Spirit and grace, energy, love and endurance. I feel nervous for what lies ahead. But I also am reminded of God's answer to the Apostle Paul's pleas for an easier life: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Paul then said, "Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Over the past several weeks, I have been reading the book "Anything" by Jennie Allen. A few days before we left for China I read a portion that God has seared into my heart and mind. I believe it was Him preparing me for what He has called me to do in this season...so I will leave you with her words:
"When you turn your life over to a living God who sees need, who loves desperately, the way He chooses to pour you out will be as unique as the way He formed you in the womb and placed you in your space on the earth. Some of our anythings feel flashy and fancy, but most of our anythings fall in secret places.
What we once did in order to matter or to bee seen we forgot all about. We matter and are seen because of love. Because there is an object to our actions, we move and love and restore not to matter but because we have been moved, loved, and restored. Radical acts are not the goal; we are truly moved by a Person, in love with Him, with Christ. And out of that love comes a willingness to trust and hand over our lives. Out of that, Jesus, because He is merciful, leads us to the unique places where we can give our lives away."
God's priorities are beautiful, and they trickle down into invisible spaces...into neighborhoods and families and friends and strangers. He will call us to pour our lives into the cracks around us, and sometimes into cracks far from our doorsteps. But wherever He calls us, we pour, not wishing for a larger crack or a more noticeable one, or even the one we were expecting. Truly knowing our beautiful and terrifying God will make us willing to do anything."
From Atlanta, GA to Guangdong China - my anything in this season is a little girl who is orphaned no more. In the coming months I will pour my life into hers with fierce love and determination, stopping at nothing to see her healed and made whole by her Creator. God is teaching and changing me through her life...and I am humbled. Loving and serving Christ, my husband, and my 2 girls fills my heart with joy and love. It isn't a fancy life...but it is wonderfully fulfilling if I remember for Whose sake I do it.
Love you all...please pray for tomorrow to be all that Zoey needs it to be in order to begin to heal and attach to us!
Zoey is doing great...small progress each day. It's amazing what 24 hours of family living does for her. The first night I tried to read "Goodnight Moon" and snuggle her right before putting her in bed and she literally didn't even know how to be read to. She kept yanking the book, furiously flipping through the pages...much like a baby would instead of a 3 1/2 year old. Snuggling is definitely a new concept and when I tried to lay her back in my arms she looked everywhere but me - zero eye contact. I followed the exact same routine last night and this time, she was much calmer and sat still during the book. When I laid her back to "rock" her she made some eye contact and relaxed into my arms. It filled my heart with hope and joy to see her enjoying my affection, even though she has no idea yet how to return it.
I can't wait for everyone to meet her (even though it will be a while). Adorable doesn't begin to describe her. She is sweet and has a smile that lights up the room. She has a little prance/swagger when she walks that is so cute! Part of it I'm sure is her physical delays because she walks on her toes and kind of arches her back and leans her head back...but it is cute! I call it the Zoey swagger. She is not verbal yet...except at night she whispers to herself in bed while she "rocks" herself to sleep. She is repeating a few words back but not much.
Today we went to the Guangzhou Botanical Gardens and she loved feeding the fish. My favorite part was the "Sun House" where they grew orchids...beautiful! The rose garden was also lovely. Tomorrow we will head to MaoMing City to visit the orphanage. I cannot wait to see where Zoey spent her first 3 1/2 years. We should meet her foster mother as well and I'm looking forward to meeting her and hopefully learning more about Zoey from her. It is a long drive...so we will leave at 6:30 a.m. and not return until tomorrow night. Thankfully, all 4 MaoMing families from our group are going so we are taking the big bus with reclining seats! The kids will get to eat at the orphanage and we will get to see how they used to sit and eat their meals. It will be interesting to see how Zoey reacts. I'm not expecting much emotion from her but you never know...she might surprise us.
We dressed the girls alike today in the cute leopard-print outfits my Aunt Ginger bought them in OK. They turned heads everywhere we went and we got some great pictures in the Gardens. I love them both and am so proud to be their mommy. My sweet Eden amazes me and seems to grow more lovely and mature each day. She is an amazing big sister and is so delighted that Zoey is now beginning to let her help her. My mind cannot fathom what my Zoey has endured. While I have no reason to believe she was ever mistreated physically...the lack of having a mommy has taken an incredible toll on her...especially with her laid-back personality and developmental delays. These 2 factors combined with orphanage living created a perfect storm in her little life. I am, however, grateful for the great care she received by orphanage standards.
I am so thankful that God, in His great wisdom and grace, placed her in our family. Being her mommy will stretch and grow me in ways that parenting Eden haven't because they are so different. There is NO way I can give them both what they need apart from His guiding Spirit and grace, energy, love and endurance. I feel nervous for what lies ahead. But I also am reminded of God's answer to the Apostle Paul's pleas for an easier life: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Paul then said, "Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Over the past several weeks, I have been reading the book "Anything" by Jennie Allen. A few days before we left for China I read a portion that God has seared into my heart and mind. I believe it was Him preparing me for what He has called me to do in this season...so I will leave you with her words:
"When you turn your life over to a living God who sees need, who loves desperately, the way He chooses to pour you out will be as unique as the way He formed you in the womb and placed you in your space on the earth. Some of our anythings feel flashy and fancy, but most of our anythings fall in secret places.
What we once did in order to matter or to bee seen we forgot all about. We matter and are seen because of love. Because there is an object to our actions, we move and love and restore not to matter but because we have been moved, loved, and restored. Radical acts are not the goal; we are truly moved by a Person, in love with Him, with Christ. And out of that love comes a willingness to trust and hand over our lives. Out of that, Jesus, because He is merciful, leads us to the unique places where we can give our lives away."
God's priorities are beautiful, and they trickle down into invisible spaces...into neighborhoods and families and friends and strangers. He will call us to pour our lives into the cracks around us, and sometimes into cracks far from our doorsteps. But wherever He calls us, we pour, not wishing for a larger crack or a more noticeable one, or even the one we were expecting. Truly knowing our beautiful and terrifying God will make us willing to do anything."
From Atlanta, GA to Guangdong China - my anything in this season is a little girl who is orphaned no more. In the coming months I will pour my life into hers with fierce love and determination, stopping at nothing to see her healed and made whole by her Creator. God is teaching and changing me through her life...and I am humbled. Loving and serving Christ, my husband, and my 2 girls fills my heart with joy and love. It isn't a fancy life...but it is wonderfully fulfilling if I remember for Whose sake I do it.
Love you all...please pray for tomorrow to be all that Zoey needs it to be in order to begin to heal and attach to us!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
More paperwork
Hey there! Gene posting here tonight. Wednesday in China was more paperwork, including a trip to the doctor for a routine medical exam required before a visa is issued for Zoey to return home with us. Zoey is eating great and very agreeable. She is starting to warm up to Keri and let me carry her a few times today as well (though Keri so far is getting the big smiles and outstretched arms to hold her).
One thing that disturbed us today was when Zoey got a shot for a TB test, required for exit to the U.S. She did not cry. She did not even flinch. Like it didn't even happen. That's very unusual for a child, and indicative of detachment that is common in many orphanage environments. So Zoey is mostly docile and can just sit and play on her own, though she absolutely loves being engaged one-on-one. However, if we get her excited, it's just too much--she starts throwing toys around and getting kinda "wild". There's really no in-between. It will definitely be a learning process with her as we engage her and help her to bond with us as her parents.
She's getting lots of hisses and hugs and hand-holding and eye contact--all of which is very good for her. I wish we could do something about the over-stimulation, but we're in the middle of "Times Square" in this part of the city, with giant TV screens, and buildings that light up, and people and traffic everywhere--even the hotel is a giant sparkly wonder. That's when she gets in what I'm calling the "Zoey-zone". She literally spaces out and just stares off into the distance until things calm down. So it'll have to wait a bit until we get home to settle down and find a routine that's healthy for Zoey.
Thursday will be some down time and sight-seeing. Oh--we're 12 hours ahead of Atlanta, so we're just headed to bead now as you guys are starting your day. Then on Friday we head to Maoming to visit Zoey's orphanage, which will be a very long day, but well worth the effort. Saturday we should receive the rest of our paperwork in advance of Monday's U.S. Consulate appointment--the final step before heading home.
Eden is such a trooper. I swear she's grown a year before my eyes. She's such a great big sister--has all the motherly instincts and gentle but firm bossy-pants. Plenty of pics posted over at www.facebook.com/eugenelmason. Thanks to everyone for your continued support and prayers.
One thing that disturbed us today was when Zoey got a shot for a TB test, required for exit to the U.S. She did not cry. She did not even flinch. Like it didn't even happen. That's very unusual for a child, and indicative of detachment that is common in many orphanage environments. So Zoey is mostly docile and can just sit and play on her own, though she absolutely loves being engaged one-on-one. However, if we get her excited, it's just too much--she starts throwing toys around and getting kinda "wild". There's really no in-between. It will definitely be a learning process with her as we engage her and help her to bond with us as her parents.
She's getting lots of hisses and hugs and hand-holding and eye contact--all of which is very good for her. I wish we could do something about the over-stimulation, but we're in the middle of "Times Square" in this part of the city, with giant TV screens, and buildings that light up, and people and traffic everywhere--even the hotel is a giant sparkly wonder. That's when she gets in what I'm calling the "Zoey-zone". She literally spaces out and just stares off into the distance until things calm down. So it'll have to wait a bit until we get home to settle down and find a routine that's healthy for Zoey.
Thursday will be some down time and sight-seeing. Oh--we're 12 hours ahead of Atlanta, so we're just headed to bead now as you guys are starting your day. Then on Friday we head to Maoming to visit Zoey's orphanage, which will be a very long day, but well worth the effort. Saturday we should receive the rest of our paperwork in advance of Monday's U.S. Consulate appointment--the final step before heading home.
Eden is such a trooper. I swear she's grown a year before my eyes. She's such a great big sister--has all the motherly instincts and gentle but firm bossy-pants. Plenty of pics posted over at www.facebook.com/eugenelmason. Thanks to everyone for your continued support and prayers.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Day One with Zoey
Hello friends...this is Keri posting. Zoey is napping and Eden is at the pool with Daddy so I have a few moments to try and collect my thoughts on becoming a family of four. First and foremost, we are grateful...grateful to be here, at this place, at this time. The Lord performed a miracle getting us here. My sweet husband worked tirelessly for 2 years to get to this little girl. Many of you gave sacrificially and prayed for us...and here we are. The adoption became official this morning when we returned to the Civil affairs office...but let me back up and give you details of yesterday from mama's perspective...
We got up and had our paperwork meeting with Rebecca (our Lifeline person here). She was AWESOME! She did a great job of managing our expectations and she even knew some of our kiddos because of Lifeline's partnership with MaoMing. She actually warned me that Zoey would not like me, or anyone for that matter, because she doesn't do well with strangers. Part of our paperwork meeting was having the schedule and information about our children that the orphanage sent translated so that we would know what questions we had when we met the orphanage director later on. Miko (another Lifeline worker who lives here) sat and translated for me. We found out Zoey's daily schedule, food she eats, bathroom and sleeping routines, and some information about her development and personality. She was described as delayed, which we knew. She was described as peaceful and quiet, slow to react, language delayed and cognitively delayed as well as small in size. We knew most of this before we came.
So, after paperwork we gathered our "bag of tricks" which for us included a Tigger pez despenser (HUGE HIT), Puff snacks, water bottle, and a couple of toys. Armed with paperwork, cameras, and butterflies in my stomach, we set off for the Civil Affairs office. Once there, we were herded to sit and wait. They called all MaoMing families up and started literally pulling the kids one by one out of the playroom and thrusting them at us. It was chaotic, surreal, and somewhat funny looking back. Zoey came out last. I will never forget that moment as long as I live. Gene, Eden and I were waiting and they shoved her out and she walked out grinning from ear to ear, looking around, having (I'm convinced) absolutely no idea what was going on. She was just looking all around and grinning.
I finally got her attention and took her hand and walked her over to the side so we could officially meet for the first time. Mother and daughter, father and daughter, sister and sister, grandmother and granddaughter...finally we were on the same continent, in the same country, in the same province, in the same city, in the same room. Her reaction was so completely different from our experience with Eden that I was taken aback. Earlier in the day we found out what "foster care" looked like for her. She spent her days in the orphanage, and had several other children in her foster home...so there is not the strong attachment Eden had with her foster mom. Plus, Eden lived with one family from 3 months until we got her at 19 months, and Zoey didn't go until she was 2.
Zoey did cry a little bit yesterday, but not enough in my opinion. She is sweet and funny, but I can tell we have a long way to go to teach her to attach to anyone. She is cooperative and playful. She never resists and doesn't seem scared of anything (baths, strollers, new surroundings/people, brushing teeth, changing clothes). When we are in the hotel room she is much more engaged. But when we leave the room she completely zones out...it may be just too much for her - or that may be how she normally is...don't know yet. What I do know is that this little girl THRIVES with one-on-one attention. She delights in it. She craves it.
After we brought her back yesterday we played a little, bathed, ate, and went to bed. She slept great...but has pretty significant repetitive rocking in her sleep. I'm assuming it's self-soothing habits from long ago and have no idea what to do because Eden didn't do that. She woke up happy and smiling this morning. Ate a great breakfast and then we went back to Civil Affairs to finalize the adoption. Hasn't cried a bit today...once again, that's not normal. Any "normal" 3 1/2 year old would be freaking out if they were just taken away less than 24 hours ago from everything familiar. Eden grieved so hard, and Zoey not at all so far. So, we will just take it day by day and let the experts at the International Adoption Clinic help us when we get home.
I'm gonna be transparent here for a minute...I'd rather her be grieving. With Eden, her grief was so deep that I knew she was very attached to her foster mother. What I see in Zoey - and it is WAY too early to know for sure - is a little girl who has never truly attached. She has definitely been well cared for physically. She has been played with and watched and fed. I am so grateful for that. But she is so detached...from everything. She watches and observes us - which is good. But I honestly think if I let her, she would sit and play by herself all day long. When I sit in the floor with her she lights up like a Christmas tree. When we are alone in the room she will look me in the eye and somewhat engage...but out in public she completely closes down. Some of this could be her developmental delay...not sure yet. I do sense (once again too early to know for sure) that there is a true delay there and not just normal orphanage delays.
Oh, and she will eat until she makes herself sick. So we will have to work on that, too.
Overall, we are doing wonderfully. Eden has been incredible. Loving, patient, kind, and helpful. Zoey won't engage her much but definitely isn't mean to her. I think she's more used to playing around other kids than with them, which is typical for her age. I know it won't be long until she loves her big sister. I'm thankful there are 2 little girls and 2 little boys Eden's age who are biological kids in our travel group so the siblings are having a great time together while mommys and daddys focus on new little ones. As usual, my mom is selflessly serving us however we need her to. I am so grateful for her!
That's all for now...need to get her up so she'll sleep tonight. Thank you for your prayers. Love you all!
We got up and had our paperwork meeting with Rebecca (our Lifeline person here). She was AWESOME! She did a great job of managing our expectations and she even knew some of our kiddos because of Lifeline's partnership with MaoMing. She actually warned me that Zoey would not like me, or anyone for that matter, because she doesn't do well with strangers. Part of our paperwork meeting was having the schedule and information about our children that the orphanage sent translated so that we would know what questions we had when we met the orphanage director later on. Miko (another Lifeline worker who lives here) sat and translated for me. We found out Zoey's daily schedule, food she eats, bathroom and sleeping routines, and some information about her development and personality. She was described as delayed, which we knew. She was described as peaceful and quiet, slow to react, language delayed and cognitively delayed as well as small in size. We knew most of this before we came.
So, after paperwork we gathered our "bag of tricks" which for us included a Tigger pez despenser (HUGE HIT), Puff snacks, water bottle, and a couple of toys. Armed with paperwork, cameras, and butterflies in my stomach, we set off for the Civil Affairs office. Once there, we were herded to sit and wait. They called all MaoMing families up and started literally pulling the kids one by one out of the playroom and thrusting them at us. It was chaotic, surreal, and somewhat funny looking back. Zoey came out last. I will never forget that moment as long as I live. Gene, Eden and I were waiting and they shoved her out and she walked out grinning from ear to ear, looking around, having (I'm convinced) absolutely no idea what was going on. She was just looking all around and grinning.
I finally got her attention and took her hand and walked her over to the side so we could officially meet for the first time. Mother and daughter, father and daughter, sister and sister, grandmother and granddaughter...finally we were on the same continent, in the same country, in the same province, in the same city, in the same room. Her reaction was so completely different from our experience with Eden that I was taken aback. Earlier in the day we found out what "foster care" looked like for her. She spent her days in the orphanage, and had several other children in her foster home...so there is not the strong attachment Eden had with her foster mom. Plus, Eden lived with one family from 3 months until we got her at 19 months, and Zoey didn't go until she was 2.
Zoey did cry a little bit yesterday, but not enough in my opinion. She is sweet and funny, but I can tell we have a long way to go to teach her to attach to anyone. She is cooperative and playful. She never resists and doesn't seem scared of anything (baths, strollers, new surroundings/people, brushing teeth, changing clothes). When we are in the hotel room she is much more engaged. But when we leave the room she completely zones out...it may be just too much for her - or that may be how she normally is...don't know yet. What I do know is that this little girl THRIVES with one-on-one attention. She delights in it. She craves it.
After we brought her back yesterday we played a little, bathed, ate, and went to bed. She slept great...but has pretty significant repetitive rocking in her sleep. I'm assuming it's self-soothing habits from long ago and have no idea what to do because Eden didn't do that. She woke up happy and smiling this morning. Ate a great breakfast and then we went back to Civil Affairs to finalize the adoption. Hasn't cried a bit today...once again, that's not normal. Any "normal" 3 1/2 year old would be freaking out if they were just taken away less than 24 hours ago from everything familiar. Eden grieved so hard, and Zoey not at all so far. So, we will just take it day by day and let the experts at the International Adoption Clinic help us when we get home.
I'm gonna be transparent here for a minute...I'd rather her be grieving. With Eden, her grief was so deep that I knew she was very attached to her foster mother. What I see in Zoey - and it is WAY too early to know for sure - is a little girl who has never truly attached. She has definitely been well cared for physically. She has been played with and watched and fed. I am so grateful for that. But she is so detached...from everything. She watches and observes us - which is good. But I honestly think if I let her, she would sit and play by herself all day long. When I sit in the floor with her she lights up like a Christmas tree. When we are alone in the room she will look me in the eye and somewhat engage...but out in public she completely closes down. Some of this could be her developmental delay...not sure yet. I do sense (once again too early to know for sure) that there is a true delay there and not just normal orphanage delays.
Oh, and she will eat until she makes herself sick. So we will have to work on that, too.
Overall, we are doing wonderfully. Eden has been incredible. Loving, patient, kind, and helpful. Zoey won't engage her much but definitely isn't mean to her. I think she's more used to playing around other kids than with them, which is typical for her age. I know it won't be long until she loves her big sister. I'm thankful there are 2 little girls and 2 little boys Eden's age who are biological kids in our travel group so the siblings are having a great time together while mommys and daddys focus on new little ones. As usual, my mom is selflessly serving us however we need her to. I am so grateful for her!
That's all for now...need to get her up so she'll sleep tonight. Thank you for your prayers. Love you all!
Monday, October 8, 2012
The Mason Four
Normally Keri posts to our family blog, but since this has been such a long day and there's much news to share, hubby is posting instead. Today was our "gotcha day" for Zoey Faith. For those of you not familiar with the international adoption process, it's the day that you receive your child. You walk into an office building as a family of three, and an hour later you walk out a family of four. Just like that.
The trip has been great so far. Keri, me, Eden and Keri's mom Roberta have all had a wonderful time. Eden tried to instruct us on how to eat noodles this morning, but the results were somewhat mixed.
Then we had a paperwork meeting, which lasted a few hours and where we received all the last minute details. I admit Keri and I were both more apprehensive this time around because Zoey is older than Eden was when we adopted her and we didn't know what to expect. During the paperwork meeting we were advised to "prepare for the worst".
Next was the bus ride to the Civil Affairs Office. We had five families in our group all receiving children on this day. Other families from other adoption agencies would also be receiving children at the same time. So, a ton of couples, many with children, all converging on the Civil Affairs Office.
The adoption room in the Civil Affairs Office can best be described as organized chaos. Our group camped out in one corner. Our guide hurriedly called us up to the front of the room. Less than 10 minutes after we entered, we squatted down and Zoey was thrust out of the waiting area next door, stuffed animal in hand, wearing a backpack of toys, and plopped down in front of us with a big grin.
So began the process of meeting Zoey--actually Mao Zhonglun, at this point. She just kinda took it all in for a while, repeated some words back to Keri, scoped out the room. About 15 minutes in she let out a big cry. It was all just a little much. I left the room to meet with the orphanage director, where I got some history on Zoey and got to ask some questions. Keri and Eden continued to greet our newest family member while Keri's mom recorded the scene for posterity.
Zoey at this point seemed detached. She would not make eye contact with anyone and we could tell that she was hanging in there, but it will be a long road to bond with her. Since every child is unique, the process will be different than with Eden. She's pretty nervous about new people--including us--and people holding her close. On the bus ride back to the hotel, she took a short snooze on Keri's lap, which is a good sign.
Eden and Zoey had a great bath time tonight and they played on the floor of the room. We had a late dinner of rice and noodles in our hotel room and after guzzling down water and milk, Zoey quickly fell asleep. Tomorrow we have a long day of paperwork and interviews at the Civil Affairs Office, so be praying for Zoey especially with more change and strangers coming her way throughout the day.
Eden is doing super as a big sister. She is very taken with Zoey. Eden has a ton of little girls in our travel group and has made fast friends with many of them, which has helped ease the transition. We are so proud of her--today at gotcha day she was right in the thick of it jumping up and down and cheering on her new sister.
Keri and I covet your prayers for Zoey and our family during these days. We are so blessed by your support and encouragement. Thanks for being a part of our adoption process. We'll continue to post more news and photos in the coming days.
In Christ,
Gene and Keri
The trip has been great so far. Keri, me, Eden and Keri's mom Roberta have all had a wonderful time. Eden tried to instruct us on how to eat noodles this morning, but the results were somewhat mixed.
Then we had a paperwork meeting, which lasted a few hours and where we received all the last minute details. I admit Keri and I were both more apprehensive this time around because Zoey is older than Eden was when we adopted her and we didn't know what to expect. During the paperwork meeting we were advised to "prepare for the worst".
Next was the bus ride to the Civil Affairs Office. We had five families in our group all receiving children on this day. Other families from other adoption agencies would also be receiving children at the same time. So, a ton of couples, many with children, all converging on the Civil Affairs Office.
The adoption room in the Civil Affairs Office can best be described as organized chaos. Our group camped out in one corner. Our guide hurriedly called us up to the front of the room. Less than 10 minutes after we entered, we squatted down and Zoey was thrust out of the waiting area next door, stuffed animal in hand, wearing a backpack of toys, and plopped down in front of us with a big grin.
So began the process of meeting Zoey--actually Mao Zhonglun, at this point. She just kinda took it all in for a while, repeated some words back to Keri, scoped out the room. About 15 minutes in she let out a big cry. It was all just a little much. I left the room to meet with the orphanage director, where I got some history on Zoey and got to ask some questions. Keri and Eden continued to greet our newest family member while Keri's mom recorded the scene for posterity.
Zoey at this point seemed detached. She would not make eye contact with anyone and we could tell that she was hanging in there, but it will be a long road to bond with her. Since every child is unique, the process will be different than with Eden. She's pretty nervous about new people--including us--and people holding her close. On the bus ride back to the hotel, she took a short snooze on Keri's lap, which is a good sign.
Eden and Zoey had a great bath time tonight and they played on the floor of the room. We had a late dinner of rice and noodles in our hotel room and after guzzling down water and milk, Zoey quickly fell asleep. Tomorrow we have a long day of paperwork and interviews at the Civil Affairs Office, so be praying for Zoey especially with more change and strangers coming her way throughout the day.
Eden is doing super as a big sister. She is very taken with Zoey. Eden has a ton of little girls in our travel group and has made fast friends with many of them, which has helped ease the transition. We are so proud of her--today at gotcha day she was right in the thick of it jumping up and down and cheering on her new sister.
Keri and I covet your prayers for Zoey and our family during these days. We are so blessed by your support and encouragement. Thanks for being a part of our adoption process. We'll continue to post more news and photos in the coming days.
In Christ,
Gene and Keri
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Day One from Guangzhou
Arrived safely in Guangzhou, China, yesterday. We're 12 hours ahead of Atlanta here, so in case you're wondering, Sunday morning will be hot and smoggy. We're traveling with two other adopting families, the Maddoxs and the Jones. We are waiting for a third family to arrive today. There are no planned activities today, so we are going to try to go to an international church that we heard is not far from the hotel. Interested to see what an "official" church here is like.
Keri and Eden are doing great. Keri's mom joined us again on this trip and we are so grateful to have her with us. Can't believe we're finally here and now one day away from meeting Zoey.
I asked Eden what she noticed about China yesterday while we were in a store and she said, "It's crowded".
Social media access here is somewhat--ahem--limited this time around, but I have managed to post a few pictures to Facebook at facebook.com/eugenelmason. Keri and I covet your prayers for the next two weeks as we complete this long-awaited process.
--Gene
Keri and Eden are doing great. Keri's mom joined us again on this trip and we are so grateful to have her with us. Can't believe we're finally here and now one day away from meeting Zoey.
I asked Eden what she noticed about China yesterday while we were in a store and she said, "It's crowded".
Social media access here is somewhat--ahem--limited this time around, but I have managed to post a few pictures to Facebook at facebook.com/eugenelmason. Keri and I covet your prayers for the next two weeks as we complete this long-awaited process.
--Gene
Friday, October 5, 2012
And 20 hours on airplanes later...
We're here in Hong Kong! Arrived the evening of October 5 and getting a little rest before heading to Guangzhou tomorrow to officially get the adoption work going. Eden has been a trooper and handled the very long travel well. Everybody is tired and hungry, so we're calling it a night. Thanks for your continued support and prayers and we count down to Monday's encounter with our new daughter, Zoey.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Here We Go...
I cannot believe it's finally here. All the months of waiting, paperwork, fingerprints, red tape, phone calls, training and reading, and prayer has led us here. We get on a plane bound for China bright and early tomorrow morning. We will fly to Hong Kong via Chicago...in coach...on literally the last row of the plane. This should be interesting...
I am tired, emotional and excited. With Eden's adoption we had over a month between our Travel Approval and when we went to China. This time I had 10 days. So, the room has been set up, clothes washed and put in drawers, house cleaned, mail stopped, fridge cleaned out, laundry done, a few meals prepared ahead and frozen, bills paid, dog and fish taken to our sweet neighbor, grass cut, carpet cleaned, suitcases packed, carseat installed, and loose ends tied up. Whew!
We should meet Zoey on Monday afternoon China time...which will be the wee hours of the morning here. I am looking forward to the next few days away from home so I can draw near to the Lord, pray, read, and journal. The last 2 weeks have felt like a whirlwind. I have tangibly felt the prayers of so many. Please continue to lift us up!
I will update again when we land to let you all know we made it. Eden is beyond excited. It brings tears to my eyes to think that she is going to see the land of her birth. Can't wait to experience it through her eyes.
Love you all...thanks for following our journey.
I am tired, emotional and excited. With Eden's adoption we had over a month between our Travel Approval and when we went to China. This time I had 10 days. So, the room has been set up, clothes washed and put in drawers, house cleaned, mail stopped, fridge cleaned out, laundry done, a few meals prepared ahead and frozen, bills paid, dog and fish taken to our sweet neighbor, grass cut, carpet cleaned, suitcases packed, carseat installed, and loose ends tied up. Whew!
We should meet Zoey on Monday afternoon China time...which will be the wee hours of the morning here. I am looking forward to the next few days away from home so I can draw near to the Lord, pray, read, and journal. The last 2 weeks have felt like a whirlwind. I have tangibly felt the prayers of so many. Please continue to lift us up!
I will update again when we land to let you all know we made it. Eden is beyond excited. It brings tears to my eyes to think that she is going to see the land of her birth. Can't wait to experience it through her eyes.
Love you all...thanks for following our journey.
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