Our Birthday

David and I both celebrated another birthday when we got home. Mady loved helping make the cake. I think the icing was her favorite part. David let her help with the candles and she would clap after she put each one in the cake.


Mady is having a lot of fun. She loves the water. Here are a few pictures of her playing in the water table and taking a bath with Jackson.

We are HOME and Settled in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I have been a bit of a slacker since we have returned home. The ride home was great. Mady and Kaylee slept most of the way. Mady did great with her potty chair on the plane and did not have a single accident. Our flight was delayed in CA which made us miss our flight to Pensacola and we had to fly into Fort Walton Beach. My parents picked us up. Upon getting home we realized we did not have Jackson's Blanket, video, or pillow. It was a crying fest. I joined in. You have got to be kidding me--we travel for 30 hours and arrive home to a child who does not have any of his necessary comfort items he needs to fall asleep. Well we made it through.
Jackson is really enjoying his new sister he is very attentive to her. He still gets a little jealous but is doing well.

After a week of being home we eradicated the children from our bed. I simply could not take it anymore. Jackson on one side of me and Mady wrapped around me like a koala bear. Not the ideal way to get some much needed rest. They are both in our room still just not in our bed. Mady is really settling in. She is a bit stubborn and likes to have her way. She is going to bed now without having a fit and is really enjoying playing with the other kids. She laughs and hollars and is having a great time

Since we have been home Kaylee and Bo have started Blended School at the Gulf Breeze Zoo. They both really seem to like it. They go one day a week. The first day Jackson was very upset that he could not go with them. However, he will be starting his school next week.

Another day in Guangzhou

Well Saturday night we went to Lucy's for dinner. It is an American style resturant. You would think that they would have an American style bathroom. However you would be wrong. Soon after arriving Kaylee had to go to the bathroom. The resturant does not have a bathroom at all. Lucy's sits right next to the park and has their customers use the park bathroom. David took Kaylee and quickly they returned after describing how bad it was. Nope she could not wait, so I grabbed a handful of napkins and we headed back to the bathroom. It was quite the ordeal. It is really stressful taking kids to eat and praying they dont need to use the bathroom because you know how gross it is going to be.

Today we did some shopping and went swimming. Madelynn is quite the shopper. She loves shoes and lights up when we go into the store. Pointing and babbling about what she sees and wants. she likes to run around in the stores and tease the sales people. I think tonight we are going back to Lucy's. David has had an upset stomach since we got here and does not think he can handle eating anymore chinese food. So we have been eating a big breakfast and snacking and then going for a late dinner.

Here are some pictures taken today of the kids.

Cute Picture of the Girls

We are in Guangzhou

Today we got up early to prepare to Hefei. Our guide took us to the hospital where Madelynn was found. They believe she was a newborn because of her umbilical cord still being attached.

We arrived in Guangzhou on Friday evening. Madelynn did well on her first flight and we were happy to settle in at the White Swan.
Today, Saturday, was a busy day for us. We had breakfast and visited with several other families. It is fun to hear their stories and meet their children. After breakfast we were off to the medical exam. The girls did great. The doctors were pretty considerate

Today was a day of many first for our daughter. She smiled and laughed--which is huge. This is the first day she really interacted with us and played with her toys. She really enjoyed playing with Hayley, our friends daughter. Hayley is very patient and enjoys mothering her. It is funny because both girls are very girly. It is a close competition to see who can get the most hair bows, barretts, ribbons etc in their hair. Both girls seem to be under the opinion that more is better. The more they have in their hair the happier they are. They are very cute together. Today we actually ordered Papa Johns pizza and took the kids swimming tonight. They all seemed to enjoy in but the water was a little cold.

Madelynn likes to play with her snacks. She picks them apart and puts them in bowls and stirs with whatever she can find. It is so good to watch her play.

Visit to the Orphanage

Today has been a very long day for us. Madelynn is a hard nut to crack. She is still very scared and will not let me out of her sight. She becomes frantic. At night, she literally sleeps on top of me. Poor girl she is so sad and mourning something terrible. We have manage to get a few smiles but that is all. We hope as the days come and go she will begin to feel more comfortable.

Today I visited the orphanage and was able to meet her foster family. Talk about emotional. Dave and I decided it would be best not to take Madelynn back because she is having such a hard time. I could tell from the time we walked in the foster mother was disappointed I did not bring her. However, I knew she understood. It was very emotional. I cried and she cried. Words can not express the feeling you have meeting the woman who has raised your child for the past year and a half. How do you say thank you.It is obvious the love she has for her. She showed me her bed and gave me her bowl and spoon. I also received a very nice picture album of her growing up.

After we visited with her family we went with our friends to meet their daughters foster family. Yet again I cried. It really pulls at your heartstrzings to know these kids are leaving everything they know and love to be adopted. In your heart, you know it is what is best for them, but it is still difficult.

Tomorrow we leave for Gaungzhou. THe challenge of trying to fit everything in the suitcase begins tonight.

Oh yes, Kaylee got a McDonalds happy meal today.