Add this picture to the bottom of last post:)

Here is the picture I was trying to add in my last post. 

Finding spot Day!

Today was actually a really good day.  Today we went to Cole's finding spot.  The finding spot is where he was left at to be found .  Our guide said that most babies are left in boxes with a blanket and a bottle.  I asked if they would still have that blanket and she said no. 

Here we are at his finding spot which is another orphanage.  But this orphanage houses kids who have lost their parents to death and they are not adoptable.  I did not understand it all but while standing there school let out so the kids could go eat lunch at home and a bunch of kids went inside.  They were vert cute and seemed very happy. 

It was very rainy and wet and  his finding spot was located in a small village just north of town.  We decided to do some shopping in this small village to kind of support where he could have come from.  Something that really meant alot to me was that while we were shopping and I was holding Cole, a Chinese woman came up and tried to hold him.  He held on tighter to me and started to cry as she was reaching for him.  It made me really happy to see that he is attaching to me. 

Also, while there we bought this shirt.  Try to read it:)

We thought it would be perfect for Cole.  Even though it makes no sense it is his first American flag shirt!

We then went to the Tengwang Pavillion.  It is very famous in China and it was beautiful.  I wish we were there when it was not raining.  But because of the rain it was not too busy.  I was going to try and post a picture in the garden in front of the tiger which is the year Cole was born.  But I am unable to add any more photos right now.  :(  Maybe in a little!
\

Our God is a God who answers prayers!

First I need to give a shout out to a friend I meet online.  She is on a facebook page called Spring time in China and happens to be in the same hotel at the same time!  Her husband fixed our VPN.  Praise God!!!  I am back:)  You never realize how much you miss something until it is gone and I hate to admit it but I love technology and facebook and blogs:) 

I must thank everyone who prayed for us!  The first two days were really tough.  It is starting to get better but I know if is going to be a long road ahead of us.  As I said to Dan it is alot like Groundhog Day.  Where you have to start over everyday. 

I was feeling very lonely but I think because of your prayers we met up with two other families.  One we just happened to meet while eating breakfast and the other is the one mentioned above.  We had pizza night:)  It was so nice to be able to hang out with them and talk about our experiences.  I needed that soooo bad!  Just to be social was nice. 

Today we decided to stay and hang out in the hotel room, which I am so thankful we did.  It was nice to not have to rush anywhere but to hang out.  Dan took Donna and Cali to the pool.  They had a great time while Cole and I took a nap.  During the nap, Cole kept crying in his sleep.  So we did not have a great sleep but that is ok. 

Not many pictures from today because we did not do much!  Here is one where they all were coloring together. 

Thanks again for your prayers because they are working!  Please keep praying:)

Forever and a Day

First, I need to thank my friend Rebecca who is posting on my blog. It is driving me crazy but I can't access my blog or facebook! I feel like I am living alone right now:( Oh well. Can't get the vpn to work.

Now on to the update: We arrived in Nanchang on Sunday and found out from our guide that we would not be meeting Cole on Monday as thought but instead at 3:30 that day. Hence the title. We now not only get to spend forever with him but a day extra! It was a little unnerving and exciting all at once. I was not prepared and did not have a chance to write down my questions for the director. I felt so lost also in what to do. I know a lot of times people see their little one for the first time and everything goes perfect and there is an instant match and no questions asked. Not so for us. When they showed up with him they came to our hotel room. We were able, with the agencies help, get a great deal on upgrading to the executive suite. So we knew there would be plenty of room for us all.

So a little after 3pm they show up and we meet Cole for the first time! He looked at us like he did not know or trust us. We found out that he was actually in a foster home with a foster Mom and Dad. He called them MaMa and BaBa (the chinese for Mom and Dad). I found out later that on the way up to the hotel room the director and helper were telling him that his Mama and Baba where waiting to see him. So understand his confusion when we open the door and we are not who he expects. (Because of this we have asked our guide to refrain from calling us Mama and Baba and let his foster parents be those words to him but instead call us Mommy and Daddy). After they all left, Cole started crying and frankly I wanted to also. He did calm down but Dan and I felt horrible for him and was questioning if we were doing the right thing. I know we are but sometimes that is so hard to see. I felt so inadequate. I did not even know how to feed him. The information they gave us was vague. For example, he does not eat formula and eats something his Mom gets in a glass bottle but we can't get it. Also, he drinks out of a bottle but they did not bring one for him. 

We had to cry out to God because we felt alone, confused and not strong enough. But we know His strength is strong enough. We thank God we brought the girls because Cali immediately started to play with him and talk to him. He threw a few tantrums. He did not want me to hold him or take off his shoes. I think he knew that if his shoes came off he was stuck here and he did not want that. I finally had to take off his shoes and force him to let me hold him. He cried and screamed (he is strong willed). He finally calmed down and began to accept us. But it is a slow process. 

He has started to bond more with me than Dan and more with Cali than any of us:) He really likes her and likes to play with her. Donna is a little more reserved but she is starting to warm up to him as well. 

Dan and I are really confused on whether to visit the orphanage and foster parents or not. We can tell that he was definitely bonded with them and don't want to create any more wounds for his poor soul but we don't want to miss an opportunity to see where he has spent a year of his life. If you have any insight then please email me at rbberry@hotmail.com. Also, I really could use friendly words of encouragement so please email me:) As I said before, I can't get on facebook or the blog so I feel like I am in the dark right now. I would also really like to hear from those springtime ladies who are going to be in Gaungzhou at the same time. I would really love to see a friendly face when we get there!

Prayers are much appreciated! Also, he is sick right now with what sounds like a respiratory infection and could be something that is causing problems. He has a fever. So please pray for healing for him and that we don't get it!

Love Rebecca

This is us meeting him for first time

This is after him being really upset from them leaving and finally letting me hold him and touch him

I finally figured out how to feed him and he fell asleep while holding him

Finally letting Dan touch him!

Today he was not wanting to go to the guide like he did on Sunday and stayed with me the whole time

 He is starting to become a part of our family. I just feel sad for him and what he has lost.

Hello from the other side of the world!

We are having an awesome time here and things could not be going better. I am unable to blog right now or check facebook (and I miss my spring time in China peeps) because China blocks those sites. My VPN is not working at the moment and I am hoping when we get to Nanchang it will not be as strict. The hotel we are staying at is awesome. It is very authentic and we feel like we are truly immersed in the culture. Which is very interesting to be in a culture that knows very little English. It is truly an adventure. We have the money down which is actually not too hard. And we are learning a little Chinese!

One thing that I am truly happy about is that we are sharing this with the girls. They are having a great time and just to be able to share this with them is unbelievable. They are also our little rock stars here and Cali is enjoying it. While out and about we are always having people asking for picture with us and our girls. It is fun but gets old when you are trying to head some where.

Here are a few pointers for those traveling to China:

1) Don't be so afraid of the squatty potty. Dan has made it his mission to never use one, while I am always happy to. Why you may ask? Well the reason is because when you are out and about and stop off at a really dirty restroom you don't have to touch anything! I don't have to worry about cleaning a seat or anything:) So I am a fan when out and about.

2) Pack cup ramen noodles for flight to China. The food on the plane is sooo horrible I can't even describe it. It would be a crime against humanity to serve that stuff to criminals in prison. I don't even know what the sauce was on the chicken. Was it bbq? We don't know! I found out the hard way that if you bring cup ramen they will put hot water in it for you. At least it would have been edible.

3) Get a translation book. It has been very handy.

4) Look at your day differently. You go to bed at 8pm. Sleep until 3am when your body will wake up and refuse to sleep anymore! Don't fight it, not even worth it. Get up and start your day. Hang out and drink tea or coffee and relax. We don't normally eat breakfast at home so we will eat nothing until 7am. While our kids eat breakfast so they will eat oatmeal or protein bar. Then at 7am when the hotel serves its free breakfast buffet you go and stuff your self. Think of this as lunch. Go and have fun and around 3pm eat a bid meal for dinner. Eat a snack before bed and go to bed at 8am. I am actually really enjoying this schedule right now! I am an not an early riser:) And those that know me know how much I hate waking up early.

When I get the vpn working again (which pray it does) I will go back and post pictures and make comments about our trip. I miss you all and thank you for your prayers! BTW we get Cole soon!!!! This Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!

I just want to wish our new little guy a Happy Birthday!    Here is my note to Cole:

"Mommy so wanted to be there for your second birthday but just was not able to get paperwork and everything ready in time.  I promise that I will not miss celebrating any more of your birthdays with you!  Can't wait to meet you and discover the life the Lord has for us!  Love you more than you could understand right now!  Also, your sisters and Dad miss you too and can't wait to have you around.  Don't ever forget that we loved you before you knew us.  That is how it is with God.  He loves us way before we knew Him.    Love Mommy!"

Less than 24 hours and Counting!

Trying not to panic but in less than 24 hours we will be on a plane heading to New Jersey!  Then getting on a plane and heading to China.  I have mixed emotions today.  A little calm mixed with panic:)  My paranoid but lovable husband has asked that those friends from facebook please not comment about our trip on facebook.  He doesn't want any riff raff know we are leaving and my facebook page is filled with them!  lol  Just kidding but seriously please post comments on here instead.  And just to let you know...I really appreciate any comments so feel free to leave them and leave them often!  Only those that truelly love me will leave comments;)  Ok so I feel a little goofy today also!  Just trying not to loose my mind but I think that is too late.  Oh well I better go and shower, clean house, hyperventilate, finish packing, cry and yell at the kids.  Oh yea it is going to be a fun day in the Berry household!