Oh what a wonderful Christmas!!!

How wonderful to be back home and have our family complete for Christmas.  It was interesting adjusting back to the time change not to mention getting an oh so yucky cold.  Things are getting back to....what I guess you would call normal.  Isabella's done really well getting used to everything, Aidan is doing well getting used to a sister.  They're not playing a whole lot together, but I can see each day they interact a bit more.

Wednesday December 16th -- Group Pic

Very interesting things they sell in the market. they have tiger paws with the bones and claws, turtles, sea horses, dead dried snakes, puppies/cats (not for eating) scorpions and much more, yuck. Anyways, went to the jade market and pearl market and the huge downtown shopping area. Isabella's TB test should be fine, she doesn't have a raised area at all, but we still have to let a nurse look at it to give the A okay. she doesn't really like her stroller so we just used it the one time when we had to walk a really really long ways. Not to eventful today, ready to come home and get adjusted back to our timezone. oh yeah and i found a Siamese banana

Mel

 

 

 

 

 

Friday December 11th 2009 -- Guangzhou

Guangzhou is where you meet back with your original group and everyone has their babies. It's nice to be on the down slope and have friends with ya. Eric arrived back safely, and Aidan was ecstatic to see him. These are pictures of Isabella's first flight, which was really funny because she's really independent and wanted to sit in her own seat. So, as soon as the flight took off she was in my lap in no time and slept the whole way. When we arrived she was an absolute trooper, not having much of a nap and eating dinner around 9:00 pm. She was fine ate her grilled salmon came back to the room and she went right to sleep. Today we went to the medical examination office and got her examined and thankfully she only had to have 3 shots and the TB test, some of the other little ones had 6 plus shots. It was really pitiful. Some of the other pictures are of some of the other kids and of Isabella on the phone, she likes to do whatever i'm doing. If she is at the table eating she'll make sure everyone else has food, she wants everyone to be eating or drinking, kind of like a little mother hen. So far her arm looks good where they did the TB test. Oh yeah, I'll survive they actually have really good food here, we've got Italian restaurant and american:)

Like they say in china....
Rest Well,
Mel

Thursday December 10th 2009 -- Sight seeing in Fuzhou

Hello everyone so sorry these have been so spaced out, it really messed me up not doing my blog. However, my sweet sister in law is updating the blog for me :) So, these are pics of around our hotel, at the park, the Buddhist Temple, and just playing around. As you can see our little FuYi Bella is full of herself. She is doing really well, eats well, likes to play, sleeps well in her own crib, and she has gotten used to baths now. Sorry for the potty pic, but it was too cute to pass up, she is actually very well potty trained, she'll tell me when she needs to go and loves to go every time that I do, I know it's a girl thing. We got Her visa today and will be leaving for Guangzhou tomorrow around 4:00, really ready to catch back up with our group and see their little ones as well. So, happy and in love with an amazing little girl, and I can't wait for everyone to meet her. If anyone is interested at being at the airport when we arrive just let Eric know and he'll get you our flight time which will be like next Friday around 12:30 pm into Asheville, if you think it's weird that I'm telling you this...this email is going to several family members and close friends:) Catch up with everyone later.
Mel

Monday December 7th 2009 -- HERE'S OUR GIRL

Again the internet is crazy here and cannot get the blog to work. Note to Amanda please share this with Amber and Joe. Ok, so we go into the room and she has so much pink on, LOL!!!! The poor little thing is in a state of shock, it was pitiful. After all the paperwork was done, the orphanage Dr. and director gave us a bunch of things including the clothes she was found in, soil from the orphanage, and a baby book that they made up amongst many other treasures. So thankful for their kindness and taking such good care of our little girl. So, when we get back to the room she probably cried for about an hour and that was it. Eric totally got her out of her shell, by the end of the day she was feeding us, giving us kisses, giving us hugs while patting our back, and laughing/playing. She is an absolute doll, her cleft is worse than what we expected but she will be in good hands. To see what this little girl has gone through just to survive is amazing, her eating abilities and her happiness is absolutely amazing. She is making wonderful eye contact and reaching for us, she sleeps wonderfully in her crib and she eats. Anyone that knows Aidan, this is funny because she eats in one meal maybe what he eats in one day and she'll eat anything. If she wants something she'll let you know as well as tell you if she doesn't. She can't stand baby dolls right now, but loves bracelets and things that make noise. Jenna she loves to carry her glasses around that you gave her. Oh yeah she loves to give high fives and thinks it's hilarious to make an awwww noise after she drinks water. Enjoy the pics this is our little princess:) Sandy should have pics for you later today:)


Mels

Sunday December 6th 2009 -- Fuzhou

Hi everyone sorry for the non-update on the blog. I cannot get it to come up on the computer. so i'll send everyone some great wall pics. Today is sunday december 6 2:12 pm and we have flown to Fuzhou and are at our hotel awaiting our little girl around 3:30 pm. yes, we're very excited, nervous, hungry, and tired. For everyone who knows what a picky eater i am i feel like i'm on survivor, LOL:) Sandy, I am gonna get you updated pics but not going to orphanage. YAY, we'll have our little girl in like less than an hour, seriously i think i'm in a little bit of a state of shock. Love you all. will work on getting through to the blog so you can see pics of little girl.
Mel

Posting for Melissa

As computer issues are still occurring on Melissa's end of the line I'll be posting to the blog what she sends to us via e-mail.  Keep checking the blog...Keep praying. --Shannon Morris (very proud Aunt of Aidan & Bella)

Beijing/Fuzhou

So sorry everyone, my computer won't let me get to my blog. I'm having to update from Eric's blackberry. Doing well very tired went to great wall and olympic stadium very beautiful the great wall. Will try to get pics uplaoded from his phone. Right now it is december 6 on sundsy for us snd thid morning we flew into fuzhou and right now we have about 15 minutes or less before we get our Isabella. I'm a big ball of nerves, excited,tired,so many different emotions I can't even describe them all. I will most definitely get some pics of little one on here. So everyone we're alive and well. Next blog we'll have our girl!!!!

Lunch overlooking the New York City skyline

Missing my son and eagerly awaiting my husband.  My Mom and myself left out this morning, headed to Newark, NJ.  We have a 24 hour layover, but it was the only way to be able to fly out of Asheville.  We fly out tomorrow which is Thursday December 2 around noon to Beijing and arrive Friday December 3 around 3:00 pm.  My precious husband will join us soon after, and hopefully we'll get to do some sightseeing together and then it's off to Fuzhou which is where we will receive our precious little girl.  Less than a week and we'll be holding her.  Can't wait to put those pictures up.  So, for now gonna try to relax and get as much sleep as possible before our whirlwind adventure begins.  I know we won't be getting much sleep after that not to mention trying to re-acclimate to our timezone fun fun:)

We're off to China to get Isabella

So, here we go.  Today we find out that we leave for China Dec. 3 and later today I find out the my Mom and I fly out tomorrow.  Crazy crazy, I have been running around like a mad woman today just to get everything ready.  Less than a week and Eric and myself will be holding our little girl.  Let the journey begin.