This morning marks our 4th day home from China, and I'm still waking up at 3am and falling asleep by 5 or 6 pm. Brighton has no trouble going to bed at 9 and getting up at 7. This jet-lag is really getting to me though. Everyone told me what it was like, but I guess I didn't think it I would get it. I've been irritable, groggy, indecisive, and I feel like my head is in the clouds. It feels like having the flu without the cough and fever. Nothing seems real here yet and I still don't feel like I'm home. When people talk to me, I feel like I'm in a dream and I'm just to tired to respond. There are gifts to give, people to thank, family to call, people who want to meet Brighton, and I just don't feel like i can do it yet.

Thankfully, David and the girls have been keeping things going smoothly and watching over Brighton when I've napped. I'm going to try to stay up ALL day today and not go to bed till 9pm. Maybe I'll even tackle unpacking my things today. Brighton had his bags unpacked and his room in order within an hour of being home. He was so cute organizing his room how he wanted it.

Brighton's birthday is coming up fast and I know I should be preparing for it, but I just can't seem to get things together in my head to plan a party yet.

Does anyone else have any advice on jet-lag???? It was so nice to hear from a friend who's been to China. She said that it took her several weeks to feel normal again, so at least I know I haven't lost my mind. LOL! I just feel like I need things to slow down a bit so I can catch up. Is it better to sleep when you can, or stay up and be miserable all day to try to sleep all night? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated from moms who've been there, done that!

Love,
Tina

Dani and Brighton cutting cloth to make a quiver for Brighton's toy bow

Brighton with his sisters

Listening to the announcement that Charly made first vice president of the 4-H clubBrighton's first time to pull a bow back!

We arrived home from China on Thursday night right at dark. It was a long, miserable trip, but I was so happy to be home. I think Brighton was more excited than I was. He was exhausted from me dragging him, running at top speed, through the San Francisco airport to make our connecting flight to Houston. It was, of course, on the opposite side of the airport.

Brighton has been just amazed by everything here. He was really scared of the dogs, but he's already used to them. His first night was unbelievable. He didn't want me to sleep in the bottom bunk, he wanted to sleep in his room by himself. The smile on his face and look of contentment when he first snuggled into his cozy bed with his memory foam pillow was priceless. He slept all night long and woke up smiling. He folded all of his sheets and blankets and put them at the bottom of the bed in the morning. At breakfast, he ate a bowl of cereal, fresh fruit, orange juice and a container of Wonton soup.

At 8:30 we went for his physical and blood work. He was a trooper and just smiled the entire time. Then we went to have his eyes examined. The optometrist told us that he has Retinitis Pigmentosa, which is a hereditary eye disease. He is losing his peripheral vision and could be blind when he's an adult. Most people with this disorder retain a small bit of tunnel vision throughout their lives. This discovery prompted us to start talking about the possibility of a cochlear implant. If he is going to be deaf and possibly blind, he will have to have some way to communicate as an adult.

Later, we headed to pick up his glasses, and he was in shock at how good he could see! He looks so handsome in them too. That night, when I told him it was time for bed, he went to bed with no problems. I went in to tuck him in and he held my hand and put it to his cheek. He snuggled in and fell asleep right away.

In the morning, his dad asked him if he wanted to go to archery practice with him and he was so excited that I thought he would bounce all the way there! He loved every minute of it and did really well. Everyone was so happy to see him. His sisters have been really enjoying him and love to help him.

Signing papers at the civil affairs office!

Eating lunch afterwards at the famous Fungus Factory in Shenyang

First ever visit to a zoo!

Looking at the swans at the zoo
The Forbidden Tomb in Shenyang

Brighton in front of the Forbidden Tomb entrance in Shenyang

My little Anshan warrior
His first plane ride...from Shenyang to Guangzhou

The top of the waterfall at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou Bottom of waterfall with a good looking boy next to it!

Brighton and Sam waiting for medical exams in Guangzhou

Brighton and the Piper children in Guangzhou

STARBUCKS!!!!

Brighton with the Bruins family waiting to fly from Guangzhou to Hong Kong

Hello from Guangzhou! It's a balmy 94 with a heat index of 104. After 5 minutes outside we are soaking wet. It's very tropical here. We are on Shamian Island. It's beautiful! Palm trees, beautiful lights and buildings, and our hotel (White Swan) is right on the Pearl River, which is the third largest river in China.

Things here have gone wonderfully!!! Brighton is having the time of his life. It is exciting to see him experience all of this. It's a bit hard to get on the internet because he gets so impatient and wanders.

Yesterday, he tried me a bit, which was exhausting, but it is a wonderful feeling to know that he is comfortable enough with me that he's acting like a normal 9 year-old boy! He has picked up quite a bit of sign language already. His orphanage director said he doesn't like meat, but he's been eating EVERYTHING!

Yesterday was the medical exam. Everything went great, but he needs glasses. A family was sitting right next to us with big open sores everywhere and they told the doctor that it was spreading fast. We tried to scootch over without seeming disrespectful, then took a shower and changed clothes when we returned to the hotel.

Brighton is really helpful. He wanted to iron my shirts, but I was afraid he would burn them so I got out his pj's and he had a blast ironing them. He really loves french fries and noodles. He LOVES the pool!

We are going to go on a riverboat cruise today, then shop for Chinese silks and pearls. We will be going to the US Consulate tomorrow for the swearing-in ceremony, then flying home on Thursday. (Wednesday in the US)

Love you all!!!!
Tina

Hi, everybody- my mom wanted for me to post this for her that she sent in an email, because it won't let her post anything on her blog from where she is right now in China.

~Charly



Brighton is just the most amazing little boy! He is so smart and learns things the first time you tell him. He is polite and holds doors for others, offers his gum to others and loves to help with everything. I had to tell him it was ok for him not to clean the hotel room. The second day here he was thoroughly amazed when we got back to the room and it was clean and the beds were made. He ran to the bathroom to see if it was clean too.

He is finally starting to not be nervous around me and hugged me this morning. It was really hard not to cry. He is so sweet. Every time I answer the phone, he wants to know if it's his dad. When I say yes, he waves hi.

We went to the mall the day before yesterday and bought many clothes, shoes, and a few games. He was so excited! When we went to Walmart Supercenter, he was throwing everything in the cart and I had to establish boundaries really fast and teach him to ask and what yes and no means. He had a lot of fun teaching me the games. We played a mean game of volleyball in the hotel room with a beach ball I took. It was so fun that we both fell on the bed laughing.

We are having trouble getting Brighton's passport. Can't elaborate, but please pray that we can get it today. We are supposed to fly to Guangzhou tomorrow.

Miss everyone!
Tina

Hello from Beijing, China! It is 7am here and I thought I'd get everyone caught up on what's happening. Our flight was delayed in Chicago for 7 hours due to mecahnical problems. (6 hours in the airport and nearly an hour of waiting on the plane with no airconditioning and waiting to take off on the runway) It was a very uncomfortable feeling sitting on a plane that was having engine trouble. The flight over was long and uncomfortable, but the food was excellent and the company was even better. I sat next to a gentleman who has adopted from China and said a prayer for us as we took off for safe travel! While at the airport, a Chinese gentleman gave me Chinese language lessons. He was very kind, as was his wife.

Beijing reminds me of Houston. Everyone smokes here, so it's hard to get used to smelling the smoke all of the time. The weather is nice. The other families I'm traveling with have been wonderful. They let me borrow their Panda Phone because mine was not delivered. Please pray that I will get that today so I can call David and the girls.

We are getting ready to go to see the Great Wall and the Forbidden Palace. I'm so excited that tomorrow I will get to meet our son!!!!!

Love,
Tina

I received my passport back today with my visa stamped into it for China, receipts for our plane tickets, and travel maps. Then I received an email from Virginia with my itinerary in China. It makes it feel so close. Everything is nearly finished, and I'm starting to pace the floor in anticipation! The thought of that first day meeting our son makes so many emotions bubble up at once. Please Lord, help me to be patient!

I was at Hallmark picking up some 'thank you' cards, and look what else I brought home! This mama panda hugging her cub was just too precious to pass up. I am going to take them to China with me for Brighton. Every little boy needs a teddy bear.

This is it! It's really happening! This has been the longest we've had to wait as expectant parents. One entire year will have elapsed from the time we knew we were going to have another child, until we actually have him in our arms! When I received the phone call that the date was set for me to travel, I started running around here with an overwhelming urgency to "get things done", just like the nesting period towards the end of a pregnancy. Brighton was conceived in our hearts and has been growing there for 11 long months.

God sure has taught us so many things over the last 11 months. We've learned that the plans we had made for our future were not God's plans (His are SO perfect!), and that God can grow love in a person's heart for a child they've never met (just like pregnancy). We've learned to let go and let God, to trust that He is always faithful in all things, and that His timing is PERFECT. We've learned patience and we've learned that God's people are truly amazing!!!!!!!! God is so good, ALL of the time! Praise Him, Praise Him always!!!!

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Are these the cutest little things you've ever seen? Can you guess what they are? The first person to correctly guess what they are will receive 10 of these in the mail, from me, with love!

Update: Karen guessed right. They are chocolates!

We received another call from Virginia today to confirm out travel dates. We contacted the travel agency and they set up the tickets for Brighton and me! I'm so excited that I'm nearly all the way packed.

I bought a 12" blow up beach ball that is actually a globe. It will serve double duty as a play ball to bop around in the hotel room or pool, and also to show Brighton where we are and where we will be traveling to. The kids and I have been having quite a bit of fun learning sign language. I haven't been able to learn everything, but I think we're set for the most important signs during the trip. I've also been trying to learn a few Chinese words to be polite.

Brighton's backpack is almost full too. We bought him some pj's, a few shirts and shorts, socks, a floppy hat like his big brother's to keep the sun off his face, sunscreen, and an overnight bag with his very own brush, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, chap stick and shampoo. We have to wait on an updated size chart to get underwear. I hope he hasn't already outgrown the clothes, but he is a boy and we know how fast they grow. We did buy them a little big, so they may still fit. I also packed him a drawing pad and markers, travel games, picture puzzles and a few small toys to keep him entertained on the plane. Once we're in China, I'll get him a few bilingual books to read as well. If anyone has any other wonderful ideas to help the time pass quickly, let me know. The flight is 14 hours long!

Blessings!
Tina

"I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:1-2

We received a phone call today from Virginia, our wonderful caseworker from CWA, announcing our TA! I'll let everyone know when the date is set for sure.

Today, I thought about Brighton all day long. I just couldn't get him out of my mind. It's on days like this that I wonder if he needs our prayers more so than any other day. It's my only connection to him right now. It's as if my heart string is attached to his and he's somehow pulling on it more than usual.

We didn't get our TA last week and we are now on day 103 of our wait (that's 3 1/2 months since our Log-In-Date). Surely it will come this week. I know that God's timing is perfect and He has a reason to keep us waiting. That is such a reassuring truth!

I sent out an urgent prayer request today about a little girl in China who is very sick and in the hospital. Her adoptive family is there, and they are hoping she will be well enough to travel home to the US this week. Please pray for Lilly to be well enough to come home! While reading their blog, I realized how much God's hand has been on this family's adoption. It was no mere coincidence that a man traveling with his own family to bring their child home at the same time as this family is an ICU RN. He has been able to intercede at the hospital on this child's behalf. What a blessing. Praise God!

Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of Brighton. We love you all!

Tina

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

We are in the process of getting more paperwork completed, and we're getting more and more excited as the time gets closer. We also found out that China has recently changed regulations for Liaoning Province and we must now stay an extra day. I will have to travel to the city where the orphanage is (3 hours round trip from Shenyang to Anshan and back) in order to get a document from the police station stating that the child is a resident of that city and a document from the orphanage in order to get a passport for Brighton. This wasn't required before. Since I will have to go anyway, I will visit the orphanage after all.



We are happy to have found this out before I travel. Another family we know that is in China right now found out after they had already arrived and were sweating it big time due to their appointments in Guangzhou. Please pray that China doesn't change requirements while I am already there!!!!



If you know of anyone considering adoption that has older children and that can handle a child with attachment disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, aggression, etc..., please go to the link for Forever Families (message # 1699). There are several children available from Russia that are already in the US, but the adoptive familes have had to disrupt the adoptions.

Thank you for remembering Brighton in your prayers!


Blessings,

Tina



"Those who know Your name will put their trust in You,For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9:10

URGENT from IAAP

Time is Running Out For
Fu Yang Yang



We have had Fu Yang Yang's file returned to us because the family that was to adopt him cannot continue. Unfortunately he will be turning 14 in July and will no longer be adoptable under Chinese law. We must find a family for him that is either already paper ready or can be in a couple of weeks. We will waive our agency fees for Yang Yang's adoption. This leaves the China fees of $4,500 which includes the orphanage donation, CCAA fee, and the fees in the province. Fu Yang Yang was born on July 15, 1993. His medical report states that he has congenital dislocated hips, but his diagnostic report says that his right hip is normal, only his left hip is affected and he has a club foot. What we know for sure is that Yang Yang is a charming, outgoing, talkative young guy who is quickly running out of time to find a family. On the day he turns 14 years old, he is no longer eligible to be adopted under Chinese law. We need to help him find a family as soon as possible. Yang Yang may be adopted by a couple under the age of 55.