April 22, 2006
It's 12:53am again. Hannah was awake, she thinks she was to only take a nap tonight. I put her into bed with me and she decided that she should just get out. Al had gotten up to take care of Rachel who was also hungry. Luckily she feel out of our tall bed onto a pillow. She is eating now and her and Daddy are watching Funny videos.

Today was good, except Mommy never got any sleep. Praise, our friend Sally brought over dinner- that was my time that I could hardly keep my eyes open. I can't imagine trying to cook dinner.

We did go out and get diapers, took Hannah to see my Mom. The girls feel asleep on the way back home. I think they were planning to sleep like it was night! I had to wake them both up.

Hopefully we can head back to bed and sleep some more. Not sure if Hannah is ready. She did go to sleep again in her bed but then she woke up and I put her in our's - so I will try agian.

April 21, 2006 Friday- 1:20AM!

Yes we are home from China. We got in last night about 7:00 pm. Hannah Joy became a US citizen in Detroit a few hours earlier.

I was not able to post in Guanghou, one because of our hotel. Though they did have internet - I didn't have a computer. We were only there for two nights. We did our swearing in ceremony on April 19th, with only about 8 other children. They normally have a lot lot more.

We were also able to get train tickets out at 6:00 instead of 9:00 but that also meant scrambling to go back to the hotel and get our luggage. We made it just in time, but with no dinner. We gave the girls some food. Once we got to Hong Kong and checked into the hotel at about 9:30 -10:00pm, we put the girls to bed. Hannah was already asleep, Rachel was a sleep in 2 seconds. We ordered room service and then I got to take a bath. We were up early the next morning, wake up call at 5:15am. We ordered room service, ate and were checked out by 6:30am.

Our long trip home was not so bad. Since our trip to China was so bad- like I wanted to leave and not continue on to China. Hannah did really well, she only cried a few times and she was tired and could not get comfortable. We only had 3 seats on the long part home, 11 hours from Tokyo to Detroit. We finally put Rachel on the floor and Hannah on the seat. And they got a few hours of sleep. Rachel didn't do as well. She was having some discipline issue and a little jealousy. Since she could not have total attention of Mommy, she decided that her stroller was the next best thing. And so I had Hannah in the sling and pushing Rachel in the stroller.

It's now 1:30am, I have had a few interruptions; they are running through the house with there stroller again.

Hannah seems to be taking it all in and even went to bed in her crib tonight. I did go get her because she was crying about midnight and put her into bed with Al and I. Hannah got into her car seat with no problem- another blessing! Rachel did well too. She stayed awake the whole way home looking at everything.

It feels like we have been gone for months....The grass has grown and needs cutting- I could not believe it. We are up eating strange things because I also need to get to the grocery store and get some more diapers. I think I have one left and I found 3 of Rachel's old ones. I almost left China with out getting diapers for the trip home. I need to get back into the swing of things. Hannah was Chinese potty trained. She would grunt when she needed to do number 2, but that stopped after the first couple of days. I think she will potty train quickly one we master the language. She is already trying her new English words. She will sing with Mommy or Rachel the words. It almost sounds like she is humming it. She can say Mummy and she know who we all are.
She also know what a camera is, if you bring it out, she waves.

I will also tell her to say hello and she will wave. Hannah is very sweet but she is very very busy all the time unless she is sleeping. She does like the TV thought. She must have had one at the foster home. She really like the Chinese DVD we brought with us, because she can understand it, but it also helps teach her the English words.

April 16th, 2006 - Part 2

This is our last day in Nanning. We are leaving the hotel at 6:20am tomorrow morning. Yikes! We will see how Hannah does on her first flight to Guanghou. At least it's in the morning. She loves people- so maybe that will be good. I packed our suitecases this morning, to make sure we just need to open one for our two days in Guanghou. Then on to Hong Kong and spend one night, sort of. We get in late and our flight the next morning is early, well it takes off at 8:30am.

There was only one other family in Nanning this week to get there baby, a chinese couple from Austrila and they got our paper work messed up. Too Funny.

The weather here has been strange, at first it was so hot, then it turned cold. I had layers on the girls and sweat shirts and sweaters. Yesterday the sun came back out and it was breezy. Today it's a little warmer, but in the shade a little cool. That is why I got yelled at today. The girls had sweaters on, but not long sleeves.

I don't know if I will be able to post at our new hotel or have the time.

Our continued schedule:
Monday Morning- leave for Guanghou, shop hopefully for some gifts for Hannah for Gotcha days in the future. (I have really done any shopping here, except at the Museum).
Tuesday 4/18 is our CA day, we get to swear in again.....this will be like the 3rd time.
Wednesday 4/19- we will get our visa for Hannah by 7:00 pm and will get on the train to Hong Kong at 9:00pm!
Thursday morning 4/20 leave Hong Kong for the states- almost 2 days travel but all in one day!

April 16, 2006 Happy Easter Sunday

Today we went to the park again.....it's what we do around here. Hannah loves to go and not stay in the room too long. We feed the fish again.....now we know why they are so big! Today there were a lot of cars, motcycles and bikes and lots of people. Today, I got yelled out because the Hannah's arms were exposed, she was also sucking her thumb and an older ladie told me no. It's like being a movie start, a little bit. We get our pictures taken and pointed at and they talk about us.....Sometimes we can tell and other times we don't know what they are saying. One man stopped us, it sounded like he was yelling at us. He was pointing at some twins coming down the walk way.....so maybe he was asking if the girls are twins or because they didn't have sweaters on.

Walking, walking and walking......I have walked my legs off, they hurt but we keep walking. Because we are the only family. We get very personalized attention but no bus - so everywere we go, we walk, to the store, to the park, to dinner and to lunch. It's great! We are very tired when we go to sleep.

Sleep- not a good topic today, Rachel woke up at 3:00 crying. I don't know why, she was asking for me and she was sleeping with me......so then she says she wants Grammy. Then she wants me to give her a flower....I say I don't have one. So she cries and I give her one (not really) and she goes back to sleep. But she woke Hannah up. Hannah stayed in bed till almost 7:00 am though. She seems to like her crib now. She has been sleeping in it for the last few nights. She also went to bed last night at 6:00 pm last night. I was still awake since 3:00 am this morning. I did doze off at some point. Hannah is doing very well but still likes to cry in the evening and still won't take her bottle. She like water, juice and she will have milk with a spoon.

April 15, 2006

Today is Saturday, we went to the Zoo this morning. The girls had a great time. They both fell asleep. Then we came back to the hotel and ordered Pizza Hut, Al had the chinese pizza and Rachel and I had the regular American pizza.

Hannah is doing very well today and I got my first kiss. Rachel kissed me and she was not going to let that pass on just Rachel. She had been blowing kisses at me and Daddy.

She did not have her full nap, so we went to the park for about two hours. Since she does not seem like she is going to take a nap......we are all in the business center together. She was calling us Mommy and Daddy at the park.

She still crys in the evening, about dinner time. Last night she was crying but I thought it would do her good to get out, not so....she cried the whole time in between bites. Al and Rachel just left and she didn't like that either. She still likes us all together.

Tomorrow is our last day in Nanning, We fly out early Monday morning. We hope to celebrate Easter even thought we won't be in the states.

With love all,
Kelly

April 14, 2006 Friday

This morning we visited the Orphange, it was very nice and clean. We also got to meet the Foster parents. We could tell Hannah loved them very much and them her. Her foster Mom cried. They kept telling her that we her new parents, we took several pictures. Her Foster Mom had sent serveral beautiful hand nitted things for Hannah. Today she brought back two beautiful dresses for Rachel. We did not stay too long. Hannah cried as we left but then she stopped and has been laughing and playing with us all. She is taking a nap now and I have Rachel with me so that she does not wake her up. Rachel has been doing that a lot the last few days. So yesterday and the day before, Al came down from the room looking for me with a crying Hannah.

Hannah loves to eat but she still has not taken her bottle. She drinks from a cup, both water and juice but not milk. Today her foster parents tell me that she wants her milk just as she wakes up and that she wakes up at night and wants it. That is midnight and 4:00 am. I told them she has been sleeping through the night. They could not believe it.

Yesterday was pretty chilly and today too. When we got back from Mother's Love, we went for a walk in the park, with the girls in long pants, and sweat jackets with sweters on top and a blanket. Rachel feel asleep and Hannah just kept looking around- she loves people. We feed the gold fish, which are the size of dogs, dog food. The girls thought this was lots of fun. 100's of fish come to eat. There were lots of school kids in the part today. They kept coming up and talking to the girls. Some asked us our names, they were trying out there english. At one point, Al left me with both strollers and he came back with about 50 kids around me.

Today is clouding again and about 55 degrees, people have coats on today and just 2 days ago, it was like 90 and 100 humidy. So we have not been to the pool for the last two days. Instead we took two bath's yesterday. Hannah really likes the water.

Tomorrow our plan is to go to the Zoo, that should be fun. Rachel is still haveing some issue adjusting with a new little sister who cries, so Rachel tried that too. Overall she is doing great, they have a great time playing together. They will laugh and play. Hannah is a smart one, and tough. She also likes to hit Rachel in the tub, like playing. Rachel has not said too much about that yet.

Our Dinner yesterday: We thougth we would try Pizza Hut last night. Our guild Nancy, said she would call but knew nothing about pizza. She asked them what was the most popular pizza and they said "Chinese Pizza"- I said okay.....It came to the door and it was not regular pizza- we asked the wrong question.....It should have been what is the most popular American pizza. So.....it was very good, but it was fish, shrimp and crab (I think) and green sause. It was really good, just very different. So much for trying something new and not chinese. :)

April 13, 2006 Thursday
Today has been a low key day, but very good with Hannah. Also both girls sleep through the night! Especially good for Mommy. We had planned on going to the park this morning but it's been cloudy.....and when we did go out this morning dresses in shorts.....everyone had jackets on. No, it was not that cold, but it was to those who live here. We ventured to the grocery store by our selfs and then to lunch for fried rice. It's now 3:00 and the girls are taking a nap together. Hannah when down today without any trouble. That is a great Praise! She had not liked the ideal of taking naps or going down for the night. I think she was missing her foster parents. Today, she feel into my arms and put her thumb in her mouth and was fast asleep. She also ate very well both at breakfast and lunch.

Today the only thing we are doing is reveiwing our paperwork today about 5:30 to make sure everything is okay. Tomorrow we will go to the orphange in the morning. Please pray that goes well. Especially now that Hannah is doing even better. We would not go if we thought it would be very hard on her.

Another Prayer request, we just found out that we can't get our train tickets for next Wednesday night at 7:00. It would take us to Hong Kong to fly out Thursday morning at 8:30 am in the morning. There are no flights which is why we were taking the train, now our only option is the 9:00 pm train. We won't have a hotel to stay in and now we are leaving at 9:00 when the girls will want to sleep- which could be okay.

Today at lunch the girls sat together in the same high- chair (a chinese one) They both fit and were having a great time.

Love,
Kelly for all

April 13, 2006 Thursday
Today has been a low key day, but very good with Hannah. Also both girls sleep through the night! Especially good for Mommy. We had planned on going to the park this morning but it's been cloudy.....and when we did go out this morning dresses in shorts.....everyone had jackets on. No, it was not that cold, but it was to those who live here. We ventured to the grocery store by our selfs and then to lunch for fried rice. It's now 3:00 and the girls are taking a nap together. Hannah when down today without any trouble. That is a great Praise! She had not liked the ideal of taking naps or going down for the night. I think she was missing her foster parents. Today, she feel into my arms and put her thumb in her mouth and was fast asleep. She also ate very well both at breakfast and lunch.

Today the only thing we are doing is reveiwing our paperwork today about 5:30 to make sure everything is okay. Tomorrow we will go to the orphange in the morning. Please pray that goes well. Especially now that Hannah is doing even better. We would not go if we thought it would be very hard on her.

Another Prayer request, we just found out that we can't get our train tickets for next Wednesday night at 7:00. It would take us to Hong Kong to fly out Thursday morning at 8:30 am in the morning. There are no flights which is why we were taking the train, now our only option is the 9:00 pm train. We won't have a hotel to stay in and now we are leaving at 9:00 when the girls will want to sleep- which could be okay.

Today at lunch the girls sat together in the same high- chair (a chinese one) They both fit and were having a great time.

Love,
Kelly for all

April 12, 2006

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, busy and very tired. I didn't get any sleep the night before, but it was not Hannah that kept me up. Miss Rachel woke up every hour for something. She was hungry or thirsty or just wanted Mommy.

Hannah is offically our's- we signed all the paper work and we are just waiting on her passport, which we will get on Friday.

Hannah- is still very sweet, she has a great laught and loves to play with Rachel. And Rachel loves playing with her. She is a Daddy's little girl. She only wants to sleep with him. She falls asleep on me and comes to me okay. But don't let Daddy walk out of the room especially with Rachel. She will cry. She didn't eat much yesterday, she finally started eating last night and I didn't think she was going to stop. We ate at the Park resturant (all Chinese food). We have mostly only been eating Chinese food. We finally ate some KFC yesterday for lunch. I gave some fries to Rachel and Hannah picked one of her fries up. I knew she knew what they were. She also ate some chicken. Our breakfast are at the hotel and they have American and chinese and we eat both.

This morning Hannah woke up at 3:00 am asking for water, at this time she was sleeping with me, because she was falling out of Daddy's bed. We have twin beds in the room. So it is usually 1 adult and 1 child. Then Hannah decided that she wanted to go for a ride in the stoller, yes at 3:00 in the morning. At 4:00 I came back into the room and Hannah started to cry, Daddy and I rocked her in the stroller and she was asleep within moments. We left her in the stroller to sleep. I got back into bed and yes, Rachel woke up. She was hungry....So I left her in bed and gave her cheerios to eat. She eventually got up and started to play. Hannah by now had woken up but was still tired. So Daddy put her in bed with him and she went right to sleep and sleep until almost 7:30.

We went to the pool yesterday (Hannah and I) she loves the water. When Rachel woke up - Daddy brought Rachel down. By then Hannah had fallen asleep. So Mommy took turns with the girls in the water.

It was very hot yesterday and today......I just now it's over 80 degrees and very humid. But it does feel great to me.

Prayer request:
1. Hannah to keep bonding with us. She does not like to go to bed. She has learned to cry really hard!!!!
2. We do plan on visiting the orphange on Friday morning and bringing Hannah- please pray she does well with this.
3. My back was very bad yesterday.....probley becasue of no sleep and you try sleep on concret. We are sleeping in beds- they are just very hard. I did some exercise in the pool yesterday and I think that helped.

Love from all,
Kelly