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The Rhett-ster
8 months ago
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Invitation to connect on LinkedIn
Friday, February 5, 2010
Just wanted to show a little of what happens on a daily basis at our house.
Its lovely.
My daughter, Emily, happened to be recording them when that exchange was going on.
I feel like whatever he said couldn't have been nice!!
And yet even in the midst of what seems like endless fighting...I have hope! My bloggy friend, Kristi, calls these RAV's (Random Acts of Violence). And now her first 2 children love each other so much! I know it will happen for us too!!
Its lovely.
My daughter, Emily, happened to be recording them when that exchange was going on.
I feel like whatever he said couldn't have been nice!!
And yet even in the midst of what seems like endless fighting...I have hope! My bloggy friend, Kristi, calls these RAV's (Random Acts of Violence). And now her first 2 children love each other so much! I know it will happen for us too!!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The rest of the story....
So we found out on Thursday that Sara got her emergency visa approved and would be there on Saturday night about midnight. The rest of the week in Nanjing consisted of getting Rhett and Violet Hyatt's passports, sight seeing, and preparing to fly to Guangzhou. Brian had his surgery on Thursday morning and it was determined that we had made the BEST decision by sending him home when we did. Had we waited even another day we may very well be discussing a different topic...one which I would prefer not think about. Lets put it this way...the infection in his hip was so bad that his kidney's were shutting down. There was concern on Friday that the infection had gone to his heart valves(You'll need to forgive my very general terms! I know nothing really about how to speak about medical issues!) which, again, sent fear through every portion of my body and soul. I really do have another post about some things the Lord has been teaching me...I just wanted to do the "facts" first.
Christina and Nathan Hyatt had already planned on sending Nathan home on Friday to spend the second week of the trip with their other kids at home. So Christina and I got the joy of traveling by plane with 2 small children to Guangzhou...by ourselves!! Wow! And did I mention that Christina is TERRIFIED of flying? It was quite commical!! (I dont' think SHE thought it was commical but now that we're home I hope she can!) In China, there is no such thing as "Ladies first" or "After you". People shove their way to where ever they want to be even if you are a lady with a baby. But on the tram out to the airplane a nice man stood up and gave Christina and I his seat! We tried to convey how grateful we were but not sure he understood! We made it through the flight by feeding the kids some snacks and reading scripture! It was fun!
We finally made it to Guangzhou and got checked into our hotel after a very long day! Our guides, Maggie and Rosa, had arranged for a group dinner so we could all get together and meet each other's new children. Actually, it was my first real time to meet the group. Brian and I had opted out of the Bejing portion of the trip so we could spend Christmas with the kids so we didn't get to meet them before.
The next day was the medical appointment that we had to take the kids to. Rhett did fine and didn't cry at all until he had to get his shots. He ended up getting 6 shots and a TB test because he is over 2. One of the dads, Chuck, offered to hold Rhett for me during that portion since I was already having a hard time with Rhett liking me or respecting me. The dads in the group were absolutely amazing for Rhett. They helped me out tremendously by playing with him and running around with him even though they had their own children to be with. I was so thankful to the entire group for encouraging me, helping me, praying for me!! Chuck was also the one who called our agency and got the ball rolling for us to come home earlier than we were supposed to. I couldn't be more thankful!
Sara arrived on Saturday night and I was SO happy to see her face! We shopped on Sunday and hung out in our room that evening because of the huge fit Rhett decided to throw while looking for some dinner....we ordered room service instead!
Funny story: This may not be funny to you but at the time, in our delerious state, it was super funny! We ordered room service a couple of times while in Guangzhou. At one point Sara said "I would love some fried rice but the only thing on the menu that sounds like that is this Fried Rice with Ell. What do you think Ell is?" We debated back and forth (I wish someone was there to record that conversation!!) for awhile about what Ell was. Could it be eel? Is it something else? We finally decided to see if we could order with out it and get Rhett some congee and rice. So I take Rhett into the bathroom for a bath and I hear Sara on the phone...."Hi. I'd like to order room service. Yes, I'd like 2 orders of Fried Rice, no ell. No. NO ell. Ell. Fried Rice no ell. Don't laugh at me." At that point I lost it. We ended up being brought 2 plates of white rice with some greasy fish smelling oil on it. Funny!
Monday morning we found out from our guide, Rosa, that the consulate had agreed to expedite Rhett's visa and have it ready by Tuesday afternoon! We were so thankful to hear that news and I know it did wonders for Brian too! Knowing we would be home sooner than Friday just seemed like a good idea! We were both ready to see each other with our own eyes! So Monday we went back to the medical clinic to get Rhett's TB test read and then finished our shopping on Shaiman Island. Tuesday I had to go to the Consulate's office to "swear" and sign some papers and then back to the hotel to pack up.
Wednesday morning we met our guides in the lobby at 7 am with our bags packed and ready to go. We had a 9:40 flight to Shanghai with a 6 hour layover before boarding our plane to Chicago. When we landed in Shanghai we had to gather our bags from baggage claim and have them with us so we could recheck them for our international flight. However, we weren't allowed to check in until 3pm (I think...Its all blurry at this point) so we had about 3 hours to kill. So we found ourselves a restaurant to eat some Chinese food (I KNOW...who would've thought you could find Chinese food in China?) that was actually quite good! We found a place to park our bags and tried to get on the internet and play with Rhett before our big long flight.
When it was time to check back in we got in the LONG line and waited. It was then and there that Sara and I both realized how I would have NEVER made it by myself with my very active new son! Finally we made it up to the front where the nice young lady proceeded to inform us that Sara and Rhett's tickets had been changed by our agency in order to fly out that day but mine had not. And that I would not be leaving until Friday. WHAT??? And that they were indeed going to make me pay the change fee of $250 something dollars because I didn't have medical proof that Brian was ill and the reason we were flying out early was because of that. I was willing to pay the money but they kept insisting that I didn't have a ticket for that day. I asked her how she thought it was ok to send my son and my sister home to the states but not me? She didn't understand. So the tears were FLOWING!!! Sara was confused because she missed the first part of the conversation but when she saw my tears she kept telling me to breathe in and breathe out. I was not in the mood after the week that we'd had to hear that there was now a problem. So off the lady went to talk with her manager and then escorted me to a different desk. The manager came out and I immediately began blubbering to her about my ticket, my husband, my son, my sister....she said..."Would you be quiet for a minute?". Gulp....huh? She then told me that it was not in their policy to wave a change fee but they would...for all of us. And that she got me a seat on the flight WITH Sara and Rhett! I think Sara was more thankful than I was for that!!
We finally boarded our plane to Chicago and realized they had put us in the Economy Plus section!! Praise Jesus for 5 extra inches of room! Rhett slept about 7 hours on the flight (wish Sara and I did too) with only one "fit". We had super understanding flight attendants and people sitting around us! Once in Chicago we went through the dreaded customs. I guess it just felt worse than it probably was because we were SO tired! But we made it through security again and on to our flight to Dallas. Rhett was pretty much done with airplanes before we even got on that flight so it was rough for him(and us!) but we finally touched down in Dallas around 11:30pm. We walked through the doors and saw SO many wonderful, smiling, familiar faces!!! I couldn't believe they were all there that late at night! But my favorite part was seeing my sweet children and my husband!! Brian had been released from the hospital on Monday afternoon and was there to greet us. Of course, I cried. Alot. And that is where I'll leave it until I the next post about the other stuff....the real stuff. The stuff where our lives are changed forever....how He is still changing us and growing us and teaching us....and opening our eyes....and SAVING us!
And if you are still with me after ALL of that I want to thank you! And I have some more thanks real quick, if you don't mind. The word thanks will never say exactly what I want to say but please know I mean so much more! Thank you to Sara and Matt for giving up your anniversary together and sending Sara across the world to hold my hand. And for helping us with the arrangements ALL the way around! Sara, you are brave! And I 'm so proud of you for doing what you did!! I will forever be grateful to you! Thank you for helping me to laugh in a very dark time! Matt, you encouraged me, kept me informed, prayed for me....thank you. Thank you to Mark and Chelsea for giving Sara your points so she could fly to China! Wow! Your giving hearts are inspiring to me! Thank you to my parents who took care of the kids and helped Sara get to China to be with me! You guys never fail me and I know you were so worried about me. Thank you for standing by me and for encouraging me when I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. Thank you to Dale and Larry Moreland(Matt's parents) who sent Dale to help take care of Sara and Matt's kids while she was gone! I know this turned your world crazy for a while too and I appreciate you both! To Gina...thank you for encouraging me and praying for me. You would skype me at just the right time and I know the Lord was speaking through you. You were about to leave for Ethiopia and I know you had lots to be preparing for yet you took the time to go and encourage your brother and that meant so much to him and to me. Thank you to Carol, Jim and Linda...thank you for being there for Brian and loving him. Knowing you guys were there and that he wasnt alone helped ease my mind so much! Michael, Lorisa, Britney, Brad, Liz, Clayton, Chris, Justin (who took my kids to a movie while Brian was in the hospital!! Thank you!!), Phil and all the other people who went to see Brian in the hospital! You encouraged him and lifted his spirits and reminded him about who he is and who is Healer is. Thank you!!! (If I didn't say your name I'm sorry! I wasn't there!!)
Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and left encouraging comments while we were there....!!
And thank you to all of you who were at the airport!! Clayton, Justin, Byron, Shane B and Beth, Shane E and Kellie, Britney, Lo and Michael, Rebekah Pitts, our entire families...wow!!! Thank you for staying up so late!!
To my kids....you are stronger than you will ever know. You have not let these circumstances discourage you. You have been sad and thats ok! But you have let things change you for the better...you inspire me.
And thank you to my husband who is SO strong! I couldn't believe you had to go through what you did but you never once took your eyes off of Jesus. Thank you for telling me I could do things I didn't think I could. Thank you for reminding me of the reason we were in China in the first place and Who took us there. I love you and I'm so proud to be your wife. I love you forever....!!!
And I'd like to thank the academy....sheesh!! Sorry!!
Brian has to have another surgery on Feb 3. If you think about it on that day would you say a prayer? Thank you!
Rhett with some of the dads on the back of the bus
Aunt Sara and Rhett trying to fall asleep. Actually she was trapping him so he'd be still enough to shut his eyes.
Rhett loved to push Miss Maggie Beams around in her stroller!
Jake loved Rhett! He would call him little brother in Chinese!
Our entire travel group! AWAA TG 155b...I love you!
The Jiangsu prince and princess! My sweet travel buddy, Christina, and Violet!
Sara and Rhett in the Shanghai airport eating some lunch. Doesn't Sara look energized and ready to go?
Rhett is good with a spoon!
In the Chicago airport eating his first chocolate chip cookie!
Together at last!!!!!!!!!
Enough said...
Adiah meeting Rhett for the first time!
I missed this man so much....
Christina and Nathan Hyatt had already planned on sending Nathan home on Friday to spend the second week of the trip with their other kids at home. So Christina and I got the joy of traveling by plane with 2 small children to Guangzhou...by ourselves!! Wow! And did I mention that Christina is TERRIFIED of flying? It was quite commical!! (I dont' think SHE thought it was commical but now that we're home I hope she can!) In China, there is no such thing as "Ladies first" or "After you". People shove their way to where ever they want to be even if you are a lady with a baby. But on the tram out to the airplane a nice man stood up and gave Christina and I his seat! We tried to convey how grateful we were but not sure he understood! We made it through the flight by feeding the kids some snacks and reading scripture! It was fun!
We finally made it to Guangzhou and got checked into our hotel after a very long day! Our guides, Maggie and Rosa, had arranged for a group dinner so we could all get together and meet each other's new children. Actually, it was my first real time to meet the group. Brian and I had opted out of the Bejing portion of the trip so we could spend Christmas with the kids so we didn't get to meet them before.
The next day was the medical appointment that we had to take the kids to. Rhett did fine and didn't cry at all until he had to get his shots. He ended up getting 6 shots and a TB test because he is over 2. One of the dads, Chuck, offered to hold Rhett for me during that portion since I was already having a hard time with Rhett liking me or respecting me. The dads in the group were absolutely amazing for Rhett. They helped me out tremendously by playing with him and running around with him even though they had their own children to be with. I was so thankful to the entire group for encouraging me, helping me, praying for me!! Chuck was also the one who called our agency and got the ball rolling for us to come home earlier than we were supposed to. I couldn't be more thankful!
Sara arrived on Saturday night and I was SO happy to see her face! We shopped on Sunday and hung out in our room that evening because of the huge fit Rhett decided to throw while looking for some dinner....we ordered room service instead!
Funny story: This may not be funny to you but at the time, in our delerious state, it was super funny! We ordered room service a couple of times while in Guangzhou. At one point Sara said "I would love some fried rice but the only thing on the menu that sounds like that is this Fried Rice with Ell. What do you think Ell is?" We debated back and forth (I wish someone was there to record that conversation!!) for awhile about what Ell was. Could it be eel? Is it something else? We finally decided to see if we could order with out it and get Rhett some congee and rice. So I take Rhett into the bathroom for a bath and I hear Sara on the phone...."Hi. I'd like to order room service. Yes, I'd like 2 orders of Fried Rice, no ell. No. NO ell. Ell. Fried Rice no ell. Don't laugh at me." At that point I lost it. We ended up being brought 2 plates of white rice with some greasy fish smelling oil on it. Funny!
Monday morning we found out from our guide, Rosa, that the consulate had agreed to expedite Rhett's visa and have it ready by Tuesday afternoon! We were so thankful to hear that news and I know it did wonders for Brian too! Knowing we would be home sooner than Friday just seemed like a good idea! We were both ready to see each other with our own eyes! So Monday we went back to the medical clinic to get Rhett's TB test read and then finished our shopping on Shaiman Island. Tuesday I had to go to the Consulate's office to "swear" and sign some papers and then back to the hotel to pack up.
Wednesday morning we met our guides in the lobby at 7 am with our bags packed and ready to go. We had a 9:40 flight to Shanghai with a 6 hour layover before boarding our plane to Chicago. When we landed in Shanghai we had to gather our bags from baggage claim and have them with us so we could recheck them for our international flight. However, we weren't allowed to check in until 3pm (I think...Its all blurry at this point) so we had about 3 hours to kill. So we found ourselves a restaurant to eat some Chinese food (I KNOW...who would've thought you could find Chinese food in China?) that was actually quite good! We found a place to park our bags and tried to get on the internet and play with Rhett before our big long flight.
When it was time to check back in we got in the LONG line and waited. It was then and there that Sara and I both realized how I would have NEVER made it by myself with my very active new son! Finally we made it up to the front where the nice young lady proceeded to inform us that Sara and Rhett's tickets had been changed by our agency in order to fly out that day but mine had not. And that I would not be leaving until Friday. WHAT??? And that they were indeed going to make me pay the change fee of $250 something dollars because I didn't have medical proof that Brian was ill and the reason we were flying out early was because of that. I was willing to pay the money but they kept insisting that I didn't have a ticket for that day. I asked her how she thought it was ok to send my son and my sister home to the states but not me? She didn't understand. So the tears were FLOWING!!! Sara was confused because she missed the first part of the conversation but when she saw my tears she kept telling me to breathe in and breathe out. I was not in the mood after the week that we'd had to hear that there was now a problem. So off the lady went to talk with her manager and then escorted me to a different desk. The manager came out and I immediately began blubbering to her about my ticket, my husband, my son, my sister....she said..."Would you be quiet for a minute?". Gulp....huh? She then told me that it was not in their policy to wave a change fee but they would...for all of us. And that she got me a seat on the flight WITH Sara and Rhett! I think Sara was more thankful than I was for that!!
We finally boarded our plane to Chicago and realized they had put us in the Economy Plus section!! Praise Jesus for 5 extra inches of room! Rhett slept about 7 hours on the flight (wish Sara and I did too) with only one "fit". We had super understanding flight attendants and people sitting around us! Once in Chicago we went through the dreaded customs. I guess it just felt worse than it probably was because we were SO tired! But we made it through security again and on to our flight to Dallas. Rhett was pretty much done with airplanes before we even got on that flight so it was rough for him(and us!) but we finally touched down in Dallas around 11:30pm. We walked through the doors and saw SO many wonderful, smiling, familiar faces!!! I couldn't believe they were all there that late at night! But my favorite part was seeing my sweet children and my husband!! Brian had been released from the hospital on Monday afternoon and was there to greet us. Of course, I cried. Alot. And that is where I'll leave it until I the next post about the other stuff....the real stuff. The stuff where our lives are changed forever....how He is still changing us and growing us and teaching us....and opening our eyes....and SAVING us!
And if you are still with me after ALL of that I want to thank you! And I have some more thanks real quick, if you don't mind. The word thanks will never say exactly what I want to say but please know I mean so much more! Thank you to Sara and Matt for giving up your anniversary together and sending Sara across the world to hold my hand. And for helping us with the arrangements ALL the way around! Sara, you are brave! And I 'm so proud of you for doing what you did!! I will forever be grateful to you! Thank you for helping me to laugh in a very dark time! Matt, you encouraged me, kept me informed, prayed for me....thank you. Thank you to Mark and Chelsea for giving Sara your points so she could fly to China! Wow! Your giving hearts are inspiring to me! Thank you to my parents who took care of the kids and helped Sara get to China to be with me! You guys never fail me and I know you were so worried about me. Thank you for standing by me and for encouraging me when I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. Thank you to Dale and Larry Moreland(Matt's parents) who sent Dale to help take care of Sara and Matt's kids while she was gone! I know this turned your world crazy for a while too and I appreciate you both! To Gina...thank you for encouraging me and praying for me. You would skype me at just the right time and I know the Lord was speaking through you. You were about to leave for Ethiopia and I know you had lots to be preparing for yet you took the time to go and encourage your brother and that meant so much to him and to me. Thank you to Carol, Jim and Linda...thank you for being there for Brian and loving him. Knowing you guys were there and that he wasnt alone helped ease my mind so much! Michael, Lorisa, Britney, Brad, Liz, Clayton, Chris, Justin (who took my kids to a movie while Brian was in the hospital!! Thank you!!), Phil and all the other people who went to see Brian in the hospital! You encouraged him and lifted his spirits and reminded him about who he is and who is Healer is. Thank you!!! (If I didn't say your name I'm sorry! I wasn't there!!)
Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and left encouraging comments while we were there....!!
And thank you to all of you who were at the airport!! Clayton, Justin, Byron, Shane B and Beth, Shane E and Kellie, Britney, Lo and Michael, Rebekah Pitts, our entire families...wow!!! Thank you for staying up so late!!
To my kids....you are stronger than you will ever know. You have not let these circumstances discourage you. You have been sad and thats ok! But you have let things change you for the better...you inspire me.
And thank you to my husband who is SO strong! I couldn't believe you had to go through what you did but you never once took your eyes off of Jesus. Thank you for telling me I could do things I didn't think I could. Thank you for reminding me of the reason we were in China in the first place and Who took us there. I love you and I'm so proud to be your wife. I love you forever....!!!
And I'd like to thank the academy....sheesh!! Sorry!!
Brian has to have another surgery on Feb 3. If you think about it on that day would you say a prayer? Thank you!
Rhett with some of the dads on the back of the bus
Aunt Sara and Rhett trying to fall asleep. Actually she was trapping him so he'd be still enough to shut his eyes.
Rhett loved to push Miss Maggie Beams around in her stroller!
Jake loved Rhett! He would call him little brother in Chinese!
Our entire travel group! AWAA TG 155b...I love you!
The Jiangsu prince and princess! My sweet travel buddy, Christina, and Violet!
Sara and Rhett in the Shanghai airport eating some lunch. Doesn't Sara look energized and ready to go?
Rhett is good with a spoon!
In the Chicago airport eating his first chocolate chip cookie!
Together at last!!!!!!!!!
Enough said...
Adiah meeting Rhett for the first time!
I missed this man so much....
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wednesday
Wednesday, December 30, we woke up really early in the morning with Brian being in EXTREME pain and running a fever. We knew then that he needed to go home. I have only been that afraid one other time in my life and that was when Brian had his accident in 2004(which is the reason for this issue we are having now). Because it was morning time in China it was evening here in the states. We got on skype with my brother in law, Matt, and my sister Sara. They immediately began to get to work finding flights for Brian to get home. They called our agency contact, Kristen, at her home that evening and between the three of them and our guides in China, Brian was getting in a taxi just 1 1/2 hours later. Unbelievable!!! I'm still not sure I can ever thank Matt, Sara, and Kristen enough for the amazing things you did for us that day. And it wasn't just them either. So many people were working behind the scenes to pull this together! As we were skyping with Sara and Matt that morning is when they offered to send Sara to China to help me. At that point I was so overwhelmed with grief and fear I didn't know what to say. But finally Matt said..."Amy. The only way she isn't coming is if you say no." I couldn't say no. Even though its not "who I am" to ask for help (which will be another post in and of itself! Oh the lessons the Lord needs me to learn!) I said ok. And thats when Kristen and Sara started the mad dash for her emergency visa to come to China. ANYWAY.....we frantically started packing a suitcase for Brian to take home with him, got all his medicines ready for him to have on the plane and headed to the lobby. It was so chaotic and we didn't really get a chance to say goodbye because our guide, Susan, was standing there trying to help Brian into the car. As he got in the taxi and it drove off I stood there praying, crying, and looking at this new son of mine who I didn't really know...and I was in shock. I went back up to the room to feed Rhett and figure out what I was going to do. Susan had already told me that she would be back to get me, Rhett, and the Hyatts for some sight seeing at 2pm. Bless her heart, she decided that since Brian was gone she would now escort me everywhere. EVERY. WHERE. She didn't know what else to do so I'm so thankful to her for her care. That afternoon we headed out to Rhett's finding place, the city wall around Nanjing, and a farmer's market. Honestly...its all a blur. I'm so glad I took pictures! I knew I needed to get my mind off of Brian for a while so I remember just asking lots of questions about where we were and taking pictures. Rhett preferred Susan at this point and I had little energy to fight him so while she toted him around I tried to enjoy the view.
So fast forward a little...Brian landed at DFW around midnight on Dec 30 and was immediately checked into the hospital and booked for surgery. It wasn't good and I knew it. I was so thankful he had made it safely but in my gut I knew....we've been down this road before. It was a distant memory but the fears and panic that crept up on us both were definitely not distant at that moment. I will say this...my family (both sides!) were amazing to me during this time. They did everything they knew to do to help me from across the world. They were skyping, emailing, texting (which I didn't get until I returned) with any information to give me about Brian. They were praying, encouraging, speaking truth over me!! Thank you so much...I love you more than you can know!
I feel emotionally drained just writing this so I'll do another post tomorrow if thats ok.(I hope! My side of the family is coming in town to celebrate Christmas and birthdays!! And my new niece and nephew arrive from Ethiopia tomorrow too!)
What I fed Rhett after Brian left. Isn't that a pitiful excuse for a lunch? Kiwi and some Chinese cracker. Hey! Its all I could muster up!
The gate to the hospital where Rhett was found...
The entrance to the hospital...
At the city wall there was a bonsai farm! It was so cute! Did you know you can make any tree into a bonsai tree? Just keep it in a small pot...see, I was listening!!
Bonsai!
A little shack in the bonsai garden. Very quaint!
Mr. Rhett at the bonsai garden. I just wanted to type the word bonsai one more time. Bonsai.
A statue of a warrior guarding the city wall
A view from half way up...
I must have liked these little red lantern things. There were like 20 pictures of these on my camera!
Rhett with his BFF at the time, Susan. AKA: our guide
The farmer's market right outside of the city wall. This place was crazy weird! Not your typical farmer's market. Check out the photos below of some of the foods you could get there.
Chicken anyone?
Or how about a pig snout?
Or a tongue?
Or how about the whole pig's head? Why noooootttttt???? Live a little, gaw!
So as we pulled up to the city wall Rhett fell asleep. Susan said..."Why don't you leave some snacks with the driver and leave him in the car while we walk around? If he wakes up the driver will give him snacks."
Nathan Hyatt said..."Yes. Why don't you do THAT, Amy. Leave your kid with a guy who may or may not come back!!" It was so ridiculously funny at the time! She didn't mean anything ugly by it because thats just the culture there. But oh my word!!! Can you imagine????
So fast forward a little...Brian landed at DFW around midnight on Dec 30 and was immediately checked into the hospital and booked for surgery. It wasn't good and I knew it. I was so thankful he had made it safely but in my gut I knew....we've been down this road before. It was a distant memory but the fears and panic that crept up on us both were definitely not distant at that moment. I will say this...my family (both sides!) were amazing to me during this time. They did everything they knew to do to help me from across the world. They were skyping, emailing, texting (which I didn't get until I returned) with any information to give me about Brian. They were praying, encouraging, speaking truth over me!! Thank you so much...I love you more than you can know!
I feel emotionally drained just writing this so I'll do another post tomorrow if thats ok.(I hope! My side of the family is coming in town to celebrate Christmas and birthdays!! And my new niece and nephew arrive from Ethiopia tomorrow too!)
What I fed Rhett after Brian left. Isn't that a pitiful excuse for a lunch? Kiwi and some Chinese cracker. Hey! Its all I could muster up!
The gate to the hospital where Rhett was found...
The entrance to the hospital...
At the city wall there was a bonsai farm! It was so cute! Did you know you can make any tree into a bonsai tree? Just keep it in a small pot...see, I was listening!!
Bonsai!
A little shack in the bonsai garden. Very quaint!
Mr. Rhett at the bonsai garden. I just wanted to type the word bonsai one more time. Bonsai.
A statue of a warrior guarding the city wall
A view from half way up...
I must have liked these little red lantern things. There were like 20 pictures of these on my camera!
Rhett with his BFF at the time, Susan. AKA: our guide
The farmer's market right outside of the city wall. This place was crazy weird! Not your typical farmer's market. Check out the photos below of some of the foods you could get there.
Chicken anyone?
Or how about a pig snout?
Or a tongue?
Or how about the whole pig's head? Why noooootttttt???? Live a little, gaw!
So as we pulled up to the city wall Rhett fell asleep. Susan said..."Why don't you leave some snacks with the driver and leave him in the car while we walk around? If he wakes up the driver will give him snacks."
Nathan Hyatt said..."Yes. Why don't you do THAT, Amy. Leave your kid with a guy who may or may not come back!!" It was so ridiculously funny at the time! She didn't mean anything ugly by it because thats just the culture there. But oh my word!!! Can you imagine????
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Gotcha Day retold!
Gotcha day was such a bitter sweet day! We were so excited to be meeting Rhett but with Brian's pain we were unsure how the day would go. We woke up early Monday morning to catch a flight to Nanjing from Beijing. Remember we had just landed the night before! My Uncle Jim, Aunt Jayne, cousins Mackenzie and Scott live in Beijing and they took us out Sunday night for a fabulous Chinese dinner!! We got to Nanjing mid morning and our guide Susan took us to the hotel to rest before going to get our kids. We were in province with one other family, the Hyatts. I was so sad that Brian didn't get to spend more time with them before he left. They were so sweet and helpful to me after Brian went home! Anyway, 2pm arrived and we met in the lobby to head to the registration office where our children would be. When we got there Rhett had not arrived yet so we got to be camera men for Christina and Nathan as they got their sweet, precious Violet! I kept my eye on the window so I could see when Rhett and his nanny pulled up. Around 2:45pm the van pulled up and I could see him sitting in the front seat on his nanny's lap!
The office where we got our children. Kind of like the delivery room!
Christina and Violet
The van pulling up with Rhett!
Our first glimpse of him
We made sure that Brian got to hold Rhett first this time. We wanted to help in anyway with bonding. Looking back on that decision I know it was from God. This is one of the few times Brian got to hold him until we arrived back in the states!
Not so sure of his mama just quite yet. He really loved his nannies at the orphanage!
Trying to get in close for a picture. We were very unsure of how his development would be. I remember when I was holding him and he started wiggling to get down Brian said "be careful...I'm not sure how steady he will be". We both laugh at that now because the boy can move!!
When we got back to the hotel Rhett immediately began exploring! We had left this pad of paper and pen on the bed before we left to get him. Rhett found it and started scribbling. So cute! He did not stop moving from the time we got back to the hotel until about midnight that night. So busy! And that didn't change the rest of the trip!
Brian drawing a smiley face for his son!
The next day we had to go back to that same registration office to finalize the adoption. I thought Rhett might enjoy carrrying around a backpack like me. Not so much! But we did get it on him long enough for a photo op!! Rhett came to us in that hat and scarf combo. He wanted to wear it constantly!! Especially when he was "done" with me and was ready to leave. He would bring it to me to put on him and then he would stand by the door and cry. It was funny and sad all at the same time! I kept saying..."buddy, if I could leave too I would!!"
Its official! This was CoCo, the nanny who brought him, and Rhett Han Miller Woods with his parents!
At this point, Brian was in extreme pain. Unbeknownst to us, he would be on a plane heading home less than 24 hours later.....crazy. Just crazy.
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