A bit of an update

We finally have internet again! It took 11 days after the move to get it. First we had to get a phone line, which took 5 days, and only then were we able to apply to have the technician come to our home to install the internet. If they'd have just told us the username and password, we could have installed it as soon as the phone was set up.

We've been VERY busy, but things are finally getting back to normal. I'm hoping to take Vera to the park this morning for the first time in over a month.

V's going pee pee on the potty now! We're still working on the pooh, but I know that will come with time.

One exciting thing that's happened during the last month is that everything came together for me to be able to help at the orphanage during the afternoons. Some friends of ours just moved to western China and their house helper was looking for work. She agreed to come work for us in the afternoons to help with Vera so that I can go to the O. The exciting thing... For those of you who have been reading our newsletters since our first year in China, you'll remember that I helped with therapy for two babies born with a club foot. Well, I'm now using the training I received in Tianjin to help three babies here! It's exciting to see everything come together at the perfect time so that I'm able to help these babies!

For the grandparents who have been complaining that they haven't seen any recent pics of their grandbaby, here they are!


















Vera brushing baby's teeth...

















...and then putting her down for a nap!



















Playing just outside of our new apartment. V always attracts a crowd. This time it was a bunch of ten year old girls with balloons.

I know, I know. It's been forever since I've written anything. I'd like to say I've been busy the whole time, but the truth is I haven't. I've just been lazy. We have however been busy a lot of the time! Some things we've had going on...

1) A visitor that stayed with us for a little more than a week. She helped with Physical Therapy with the kids in the program. Vera loved having someone else her to play with.

2) We are moving! We were slowly looking at apartments for something bigger and feel like we have found the right place. It's being painted this week, cleaned next week, and we'll be able to move before the end of August.

3) Teams, teams, teams. Yes, three of them. We have three teams that have come in to help with the program while the teachers are on summer break. The first team should have just taken off from Xiamen. We had an awesome week with them! The second team comes in in about three hours, is here for a week, leaves next Friday afternoon, next team on Friday evening... You get the picture. We ate out every night this week, and will continue to do so for the next two weeks. Matt said he thinks it's going to feel like we are living the movie Groundhog Day doing the same thing for three consecutive weeks. It's been encouraging for us to hang out with the teams, but we are definitely staying very busy.

I'll try to get some pics up within the next couple of days.

It's a Hot One!

I just turned on the computer and our weather page popped up. 100 degrees! Unfortunately this is normal weather for July and August! Hot hot hot!

Potties and Panties

We are starting to feel settled back in. I've done a lot of unpacking, cleaning, and shopping the last few days, but now things are mostly back to normal. It was quite a chore getting things cleaned up. We found out from a friend about a week before we came back that we had mold growing in our apartment--on surfaces, the couch, and I'm sure elsewhere. She did a lot to help clean it and run the AC to decrease the humidity in the apartment before we got back. There was still a lot to do when we got back. V got a runny nose almost as soon as we got back and today she has broken out in what we think is hives. I have a feeling both feelings have been caused by the mold. I've cleaned all I can, so I hope everything will clear up soon.

We're also in the early stages of potty training. Most people in the US say it is too early. Most people here say it is too late. We have tile floors so she has been running around mostly naked. Accidents are very easy to clean up. I've been pretty successful at getting her to pooh in the potty, but haven't quite figured out when she's going to pee. I'm looking for patterns to see if I can get her to the potty in time, but haven't been very successful yet. I'll give it at least a week before I go back to diapers.

For now a few picture of other uses of the potty.
























Upon seeing this picture, Vera said, "Vera pooh pooh! Vera pooh pooh!" Notice the panties.

We're Home!

We have made it back to Xiamen safely, and besides a slight delay on our final flight, everything was smooth and on time!

Our first night back was actually in Hong Kong. We had a short night of sleep (we didn't get in until about 11:30pm and V woke up at 6:30am), but at least we were able to sleep.

Last night V went to bed at about 7 and is still sleeping! (It's almost 7am now.) Matt and I were in bed around 9pm and slept until about 6 this morning. Not bad at all for our first official night home.

A couple of weeks ago I was with my good friend Jessica in Minnesota. A few times she asked me questions that started, "When you are home...?" Each time I found myself very confused by her questions. She was asking, "When you are in America...?" I was hearing, "When you are in China...?" After living there for the last three years, I guess China has become our "home".

We leave tomorrow afternoon. We start with a 13 hour flight from Atlanta to Seoul, a two hour layover, and then a three hour flight to Hong Kong. We will be in Hong Kong overnight, then fly out the following morning for a one hour flight up to Xiamen. We will finally be "home" Wednesday around noon (late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning Atlanta time).

Fun with Family and Friends

We are still in the States enjoying our time with everyone. We head back to China on July 9, though we won't be home until July 11. Here are a bunch of pics from the last few weeks. I don't plan to update again until we are back in China.