Andrew's first surgery scheduled

Hello once again. Andrew finally seems to be sleeping through the night, at least for the last 4 in a row. :) Mama seems to be sleeping better now also. Now if we can just get him to take a nap a little easier. It fights it so hard, bless his heart! My little explorer has been having a blast. Last Friday we went to the park and he tried the slide out and seemed to enjoy that. Did not like the baby/toddler swing. The one there was too much like a harness. Perhaps he remembered the one's at the orphanage? He started crying when I put him in it to swing. He did okay when I held him  and we swung in the big swing. Got to meet some moms from my friend Karen's mops group and their kids. One of the kids had even gone through the cleft lip/palate surgeries. Saturday we went up to see family in Reidsville. While Kevin worked we played and went to another friends to scrapbook for another friend's daughter who graduates from high school this year. Andrew got to play with Julianna there. They got along pretty well. Sunday was our first visit to church. Andrew got to meet quite a few of our friends and enjoyed playing in the lobby of the welcome center while Mama tried to listen to the message on the TV and chase him around. Dad was in the worship center listening. Didn't think Andrew was quite ready for a classroom or the worship center. LOL! He does love to run around and stay busy! He also went with us to our small group/Bible study on Sunday night. He got to see most of the gang and meet some  more of their children. They'll probably be all best buddies before long!

Yesterday, my parents drove up to meet Andrew! They loved him and fussed over him making him feel real special. They brought him his own cell phone/tv control to play with. He was talking away on it yesterday! LOL! Been watching his mama and daddy talking away. The phones been ringing off the hook with friends/family checking in, welcoming us home and wishing Kevin a Happy Birthday! Finally let  Nanny pick up for a brief second or 2. I know that will get better soon. I'm including a picture of us so you can enjoy it too. Kevin's not in it because he was the photographer. The other 2 pictures are of Andrew with one of his favorite toys, the popcorn popper and exploring the red bucket. He is precious and my little engineer and explorer.

We went to see the surgeon today. His first surgery will be on May 14th. They'll close his lip and do a little shaping on his nose. We go for a tympanogram to check his ears on 4/28 to see if he'll need tubes at the same time as his lip surgery. (Value pack surgery!) He'll be in the hospital anywhere from 1-3 days. It depends on how he eats and drinks after surgery. We'll get to do the surgery before I go back to work on 5/22 which is an answer to prayer. I'll have 8 days with him before I have to go back. He was a champ at the doctors and charming everyone. We even met on of our AWAA fellowship group members when we were leaving Baptist Hospital. She went to China in December to bring her daughter home. So we had a brief little celebration.

Tonight we go to Fuddrucker's to have a belated birthday celebration for Kevin with our local family and friends. Yummmm! One of Kevin's favorite places. Will it be one of Andrew's?!

Thanks for praying for Abby Grace. She did well with surgery. They were able to complete all that they had planned for that surgery and she may even be going home in the next day or so. She is one tough cookie and we love her. Praise the Lord for His healing and many blessings!

And Lord, thank you for all  the rain you've been sending to this dry and parched land!

Love you all.

Lisa

Andrew's First Week Home!

We finally into Greensboro around 11:15pm after being delayed in Chicago. We got to spend extra time in Chicago with the Teague's and Welborne's because their flights were delayed also. It was so hard to say good-bye to everyone in Guangzhou, Beijing and Chicago. We had become family and been through so much together. 

We had a wonderful greeting  at the airport from friends and some family. Andrew was making new friends fast and furious and flirting with all the girls there!  Finally made home around midnight and to bed at around 1:30 Saturday morning. Boy, did our Tempurpedic mattress feel so good! Andrew has not been sleeping as well as he did in China. He's probably getting used to his home and routine here and still grieving all that is left behind in His China. He used to sleep in a room with other children and now has to sleep in a room by himself. Last night was finally a better night and he took a nap this afternoon. Yeah! That Mama could take a short one as well. :) He seems to be adjusting fairly well and continues to enjoy his oatmeal and grits. He scarfed down some scrambled eggs tonight and even ate some dried cranberries and raisins earlier today. We're really trying to get a routine down for his and our benefit! 

We went by my work on Monday and Tuesday. Boy is he a big flirt! Tuesday afternoon, we took him by Kevin's old job so they could meet him. That's where he picked up Scott's putter and started hitting golf balls in the office. Watch out Dad and Papa. He'll be ready to take you on soon. He's really enjoying his surroundings and loves his mega blocks and the little popcorn popper toy that's been in the family for a long time. You know all the things that make lots of noise! LOL! He's even enjoying bath time now. Still not fond of tooth brushing time. That's a real fight.

We took him to the pediatrician Monday. He got 4 immunizations and his finger pricked. He was not a happy camper. :( Dr. Miller called us back on Tuesday and told us she does not feel he is Hepatitis B +. Praise the Lord! After reviewing his lab work and immunization records, she feels the lab work is result of his vaccinations for Hepatitis B. That is a major answer to prayer! 

Andrew and I went on our first shopping excursion together on Tuesday. Poor guy was worn out from visiting and shopping. I think I'm going to take him to the park in the morning with a friend and her children for our first play date. We'll have to see how he likes the park and the swing and slide, etc. Have to remember to pack the camera. The other picture I included is of my multi-tasking son. He was drinking from his sippy cup and dragging his blocks behind. He's exploring everything. He even managed to connect all 3 of the straps together on his high chair seat. Got them all snapped into place and correctly I might add! Am I a proud mom or what?! When I realized what he had done, I disconnected them and watched to see if he would go do it again and he did. He even did it for his Dad when he got home.

I have a few prayer requests. I included a picture of Abby Grace. She is Jennifer and Sean Mitchell's adopted daughter. She has cleft lip and palate and had been diagnosised with a heart murmur in China. They did a heart catheterization on her today. One of her ventricles did not completely open when she was born and she has a hole in her heart. They will be doing heart surgery on her tomorrow at MUSC to repair both. Please be in prayer for them. Micah is doing better. We got word that all his mouth ulcers had healed and he's eating and running around now. They feel like his vision may not be as bad as previously anticipated. All the kids have been having sleep issues so far. So that's another request for them and their very tired parents.

Andrew goes to see Dr. David at Baptist on Tuesday of next week. Hopefully, she'll tell us when we will be doing his first surgery (closing the cleft lip). All of us have felt your prayers and we greatly appreciate them previously and now. God has truly blessed us. Our cup runneth over.

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet husband, Kevin, tomorrow (4/18). His birthday as a new dad!

He says Andrew is the best birthday present ever! He doesn't need anything else. Of course, I did get a card from me and his first one from his son, Andrew!

God Bless you all. In His Mighty Grip,

Lisa

PS-Have to go get some sleep while I can. Hopefully, he'll sleep through the night for the first time since we got home. ;)

Good-bye from China

Parting is such sweet sweet sorrow as the old saying goes. We must say good-bye to the land which has given us our son, Andrew. We leave with such mixed emotions. We are so blessed and honored by the gift of Andrew. It will be difficult to take him from all he knows but we will do our best to teach him about his culture. It will not be the same because he will not be saturated in his culture as he has been here. The land here is beautiful and people have been so nice to us. We received many stares and questions yes, but no ugliness. Just politeness. It feels like we have been here a month or more not just 2 weeks. I will not miss boiling water so I can wash Andrew's bottles and spoons etc. It will be so nice to be able to get water straight from the tap! We're doing the last bottle washes now. Andrew has finally fallen asleep and all is packed except the last minute stuff. It will be a very early morning again. We'll be up at 4:30 to take a quick shower and throw toiletries and jammies in the bags. Our bags have to be outside the door at 5 and us in the lobby at 6. We get in to Beijing around 11 or so, collect our bags and recheck with United for the long flight home. We leave Beijing around 4:10 pm and get into Chicago around the same time on the 11th! We'll have approximately 2:30 to get through immigration, customs and baggage claim and then recheck luggage for the last leg. Hopefully, we and all our stuff makes it through to Greensboro at the same time tomorrow night. We look forward to seeing everyone there! 

We have made such dear friends with the group. It will be so hard to part company in Chicago and Beijing. They are like family to us now. We have all come to rely on each other so much and shared all our belongings as needed. Joshua went to the doctor today and had a bad ear infection and rash. He received several medications for it.

Rosa and Maggie told us we are now family and part of China since we have adopted China's children so we will always be family. We are taking part of China with us. For that, I will be eternally thankful to China and most of all to my heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, from whom all blessings flow.

Last night I promised you a picture of Andrew is his pj' that he walks out of the feet in. Here it is. The next picture is of our travel group taken in the lobby of the Asia International Hotel where we stayed here in Guangzhou. The third picture is me and my little emperor in his traditional Chinese outfit sitting on one of the famous red couches at the White Swan Hotel on Shamian Island. The fourth is of all our new blessings in their outfits. This is a tradition for all the groups who come to do the red couch pictures at the White Swan. Last picture is of Kevin and Andrew in front of the waterfall at the White Swan.

After taking the red couch pictures we headed to the consulate to swear all our info was correct and for them to make sure we had the right babies according to all our paperwork and it all matched with our passports and his. It all did. Soon as we make it through immigration tomorrow in the US, Andrew will be a US citizen! Yippee!! Thank you Lord! It's getting late so I need to get ready for bed. Must get my beauty rest! LOL!  I know I could say much more but for now, I am at  loss for words. Go figure, me at a loss for words! Night, night. 

Lazy Day/Consulate Appointment-Part II

Finally got a picture with most of the Welborne family from Burlington. They live about 20 minutes from us. Brian stayed back with Emerson who wasn't feeling well. Last but not least is a kiss from my little man! Oh, how sweet!!!!!! How I love him. I am truly blessed. Love to you all. Thanks for your prayers. We'll see you very soon now! One more day here and then we're on the long journey home. If we're incoherent at the airport please understand. It was well worth the journey!

Lazy Day/Consulate Appointment

Today was a fairly lazy day. We slept in until 7am and then went up to breakfast. After that we had to hang around in the room from 9:30-11:30 while Rosa and Maggie were at the consulate with our paperwork just in case there were questions. They called about 11 and said we were free to leave the room. Yeah!!!!! Andrew was in the middle of his nap so we waited for him to wake up and fed him so oatmeal and off we went to explore. First stop was Starbuck's and then we walked around the little mall there and stopped at the 7-11 for water. Andrew loves to look all around at all the sites. Came back to the room and he took another nap and we got a few prunes down him. He actually ate them! His mom doesn't even like them. We met in the lobby at 5:30 to go the the Banana Leaf Thai restaurant for a group dinner minus a few people who were under the weather or don't care for Thai. Was also a 11th birthday celebration for Kailee Teague. We even had bday cake. The wait staff also sang and danced for a show. I even got up and danced with them! It was fun and I loved the Thai. Kevin was so so about it. You know him. Give him red meat and potatoes! 

Picture 3 is of the Hina's (Amy, Dave, Kalie and Jocelyn from California). Picture 4 is of the Boughton's (Randy, Laurie and Joshua from Virginia Beach).Next you see Denise with Maggie and Denise's traveling friend, Kristy. On the way back to the hotel we went by a Chinese tea shoppe and sampled some tea. We're currently laughing at Andrew walking around in his footie pjs that are too long for him. Will put a picture in later, maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow at 3pm we go to the consulate to swear an oath to care for Andrew and to get his Visa. Started packing our things this afternoon. Gotta make sure everything fits! Stay tuned for more pics.

Morning at the Park-Part II

First pic is of Ray and Carol Frisch and their new daughter, Katie. They are the other set of first time parents in the group besides us. Next, we have kevin with Mia and Tony Bergman. Jill was back in the room with their new daughter Jade who is still not quite well yet. Here's our guides Maggie and Rosa. They are absolutely wonderful!  Then you have our messy room on the 32 floor. We go to breakfast on the 45th floor where the top revolves. So we get different views of the city while we eat.

Please continue to pray for Micah and his parents, Roy and Debra. They gave Micah IV fluids, penicillin and vitamins last night. Dave also got sick last night after dinner. Amy reports that he's back up to crackers now. Not ready for a full meal yet! Thanks everyone for all your love, prayers and support. We feel them all. Walking in His Almighty Power, Love and Grace,

Lisa, Kevin and Andrew.

Morning at the Park

Today is another really hot day. It is currently 88 degrees outside and very humid! After breakfast, we loaded up the bus and headed for a beautiful park here in Guangzhou. It's one of the largest parks in China. The first picture is of our friends the Teagues. We have been with them since the beginning of the trip. They adopted Hudson. The second pic is of our pitstop for some ice cream. Helped take the edge of the heat. Each of us shared with Andrew!. Denise and her adopted daughter Maggie Mae had the same idea. Them we have the 2 men of my life. Check out that tough guy pose of Andrew's. The last picture is of beautiful orchids in the greenhouse at the park. Aren't they gorgeous! Andrew is really starting to get more comfortable with us. His true character is starting to come out. Think we're going to have a bit of a strong willed child on our hands. I'll have to read Dr. Dobson's book on them. He just has a blast running around and playing. We're trying to set some limits with him and boy does he get made when he doesn't get his way. We definitely have a 2 year old with us. We may still venture out this afternoon to do some exploring and hit the Starbuck' s a few blocks down the way. Have some more pictures to share so will do 2 post. 

My 2 favorite Men

Even got 2 kisses from my little man today.

At the Park on Shamian Island

Waiting for Medical exam

Paperwork Party/Medical exam/Shopping on Shamian Island

Wow! There was a lot of consulate paperwork to do. I think it took about 2 hours. Kevin took care of Andrew while I went to the conference room with other parents to do paperwork. Boy, does he owe me! :) Andrew's definitely worth the pain of it. It really wasn't that bad. Kevin gave Andrew a bath (which did go better today)  and wore him out. He took a 2 hour nap and we had to wake him up for lunch before we left for his medical exam. He weighed in at 21.6 lbs and was 32 inches long. Doesn't sound that heavy but sometimes I feel like he's a heavy sack of potatoes when he starts squirming! Medical visit wasn't that bad or long. The looked at his ears externally, looked in his mouth and checked his nose, checked out his "plumbing", listened to his heart and lungs, took temperature, height and weight and we were out of there. We ran in to Andrew's little friend, Natalie (Feung Yu) from the orphanage again today. 

After the exam, we continued shopping on the island and of course, we went to Starbuck's again! Shopping is fun! Boy, was it hot! Nora, I looked like you when you get hot. The back of hair was soaking wet! 

I think we're finally through paying all the fees! Yeah! Except for the post-adoption reports and re-adoption so we will have a local birth certificate. Little man ran all over the room exploring when we got back. After we got back from dinner, he ran some more and then got really ornery! We figured it out! He was wiped out! I think the heat really zapped him today. He just crashed in the blink of an eye! He hasn't moved an inch since we laid him down about an hour ago.

Tomorrow we are going to a park and whatever else we want to do. Not sure what that will be yet. It's 9pm and I think  we're going to bed soon. Andrew woke up at 6 this morning and wouldn't go back to sleep until I got in the shower and Kevin was watching him. Wednesday is our consulate appointment and then on Thursday we go to swear before them that we will take very good care of Andrew, etc. Friday, we head home!!!!!!!!!!

See ya tomorrow, here at least! Love to all.

PS- Please be praying for Roy and Debra Larson's little boy, Micah. He has been sick for several days now and is not eating or drinking. They took him to the hospital today for the second time since they got him. He has infected tonsils according to the ENT doctor who did his medical exam today. We think he needs IV fluids but they were just watching him. Haven't heard anything else lately. Will let you know. Please keep all the parents and their children in your prayers. Just about all of them and some of the parents have gotten sick on this trip. Also, please continue to pray for attachment and adjustment and grieving for all the kids and parents. 

In His Grip,

Lisa

One Week With Andrew

We all slept a little better last night. The mattresses are finally a little softer! Andrew's appetite is definitely better but the poor little guy is struggling with constipation. Go figure! We've only stressed him out by changing his entire schedule, diet and being  stressed with leaving all he ever knew. It makes your heart break. So guess what we had to do this afternoon? Give stuff to go poo. Finally, after much crying and being miserable, we had results and he was a much happier camper! After breakfast we went over to Shamian Island for shopping. The picture where he's wearing the yellow shirt has a cute story. When he had a high fever, our guide had given us fever patches to put on his forehead. So, he had torn some paper up and was putting it up on his forehead like the patches he wore! The picture in the park was a man going through exercises with a sword. Sorry you can't see the sword. Another picture is of Andrew and I outside a church on the Island. A communion service was going on so we didn't go inside. Took Andrew shopping for some sandals so his feet would be cooler. Darn if he didn't put them on himself without us prompting him when we went to try them on! And yes, they do have a 7-11 there and yes that is a cup of STARBUCK'S in my hand! Yes, finally a great cup of coffee even if it was hot and muggy! It was well worth the sweat! We had Pizza Hut for lunch and KFC for dinner! Gotta get Andrew to eat some fruit to help make things a little easier for him. Unfortunately, he's not the only one of all the kids who' s had the same problem so all us parents are commiserating! Enough for now. Sorry about the Tarheels. :( We heard they lost to Kansas. Guess I'll have to pull for Kansas against Memphis for the finals since that was Roy's old team. Love to you all. Tomorrow it's the paperwork party and medical exams and a little more time on  Shamian Island.

Guangzhou at last!

                               It's been a looog dayyyyyy but we survived it. We dragged out of bed at 4:30 AM and made it downstairs to load up for our hour bus ride to the airport. They had take away breakfast for us on the bus. We could tell Andrew's feeling better because he started eating and continued all day. He ate 3 rolls on the plane! He's much more energetic for short periods and then will poop out and need a power nap and then kicks back in. Definitely warmer and more humid here. I was so proud of Andrew! He was an all star traveler on his first flight. You would never know it was his first. Mary, thanks for the drops!  Since we got to our room ( much nicer and on the 32nd floor! Lots of space for him to move around and a larger crib.) he's been exploring and running around having a good time! After a brief nap, we all gathered in the lobby to head for good ol' McDonald's. Ahhh, Western food! :) It was the best any of us had had in days. KFC and Pizza Hut are right out the hotel door and McDonald's is just up the block. Here's a pic of Andrew's first trip to McDonald's. He ate  a little chicken and a few bites of hamburger and a couple of bites of french fries. He even ate a bite or two of Kevin's strawberry sundae. He's been laughing and jabbering all day long. He just fell asleep after the dramatic tooth brushing ceremony! Does not make my little man happy. We'll save the bath for in the morning. We head over to Shamian Island tomorrow for church and shopping. No medical visit or paperwork til Monday. Sent a load of laundry off tonight. We actually have more than one channel on TV we can watch. We only had BBC news in English in Lanzhou. Maybe I can even catch a few minutes of the Carolina/Kansas matchup at 8:47 in the morning online. GO Heels! I'll see if I can find some Carolina Blue to wear in the morning if not the stroller is close to it!

All in all a better day. He still has a low grade temp and cough but better. His temp was 99.8 tonight. My throat is still sore and I have a cough but have already started my antibiotic. So, hopefully, will keep at bay. Kevin's throat is still a little scratchy and he's taking his drugs also.

Happy 49th Anniversary Mom and Dad! You are the best. You taught me so much in life and I've learned alot that I will use in raising Andrew. May God continue to richly bless your marriage. Continue to remember Ecc 4:9-12.

Love to all and thanks for all your prayers and comments! See you in a week!

Pooped!

My 2 pooped travelers! Finally in Guangzhou!

Andrew's First Flight!

We sat in the very last row with the Mitchell's from Lanzhou to Xian to Guangzhou. Kevin and Andrew were on the aisle so he kept peeking into the galley to check things out. I think he was really flirting with the flight attendants. :) 

Just like Dad!

Tv remote in hand just like Dad, Grandpa John, and Papa! They learn way too early! Also eating his first piece of chocolate and loving it!

Hadn't posted pictures for a few days so thought I'd put a few extras in from Sunday's tour of Beijing. 1-bird's nest, the olympic stadium; 2-the aquatics center at olympic village. We still workers at both places getting it ready for this summer.  There were people up on top of the bird's nest. 3-What a load to have pedal around. This load was small compared to some we have seen. I should've taken pictures of the traffic. No one complain about traffic at home. It's much, much worse here! Pedestrians do not have the right away here. You really have to pay attention to what's going on.

Better day!

Praise the Lord for His mighty works for He is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise! We lift His name on high! As I sit here typing with one hand, I'm trying to keep my inquisitive son away from the keyboard!  As you can tell he is beginning to feel a little better. The highest his fever has been today is 101.  At least it is more of a low grade temp now. We just may be turning a  corner. Yeah! He scarfed up a big bowl of maple brown sugar oatmeal this morning and finally drank some milk again. Still using a dropper to get it in. He's still taking long naps which has allowed us to rest some in between.

Andrew ate his first piece of chocolate and loved it. He really is part of the family! We packed our suitcases this afternoon. Still have a few things to throw it but they should be ready to go downstairs at 9:30 tonight. We're going stir crazy.  I got my shower and went down to breakfast with the group while Kevin stayed with Andrew. Then he went to lunch and I stayed in the room. Kevin also went and had a foot massage this afternoon. He really loved that.

Thanks everyone for your prayers and comments. We talk to you next in Guangzhou. Will be a early morning. Have to be in lobby ready to go at 5:30 in the morning. We have a long day tomorrow. We think we have our Chinese medical visit for Andrew tomorrow and the paperwork party for our the consulate and Andrew's visa. Said could take a few hours.

Talk at ya tomorrow. Love to all!

Strep Throat, oh my!

Andrew's temp was back up to 103 at 7pm so we had our guides take us to the hospital. He called his sister and found out which hospital had the best pediatrics program. She told us to go to the university ( 1st Hospital of the University of Lanzhou) and so we did. We were back at the hotel by around 8:30pm. The doctor told us he has strep throat. We're continuing on the antibiotics we brought with us (Thanks Dr. Miller!), the fever medicine they gave us and an enema. Such a tiny little bottle but went pretty well. Hospital didn't look to bad. It only cost us 23 yuan (just over $3 in US currency) and we were in and out a lot quicker than we would have been at home! Hopefully, it all works. He already is starting to feel a little cooler. Will let you know more. Think we are in for another long night. Thanks for all your prayers.

Long Night into a Long Day

We were taking Andrew's temp every 4 hours and alternating our tylenol and motrin. By this morning his temp was down to 99.2. We were able to get a little breakfast and lunch into him today. We called our head guide, Steed, this am to let him know what was up especially since we have promised to take care of Andrew and provide medical care for him, etc. They bundle these kids up tight over here and especially if they have a fever. So we have him all covered up and gave him some chinese cough medicine our guide brought us. It has helped with the cough. I even took a little to help with mine. This afternoon, Andrew's temp was back up to 101 so we called Steed back and he brought something else for the fever. So we are trying that also. We're still trying to get fluids in to keep him hydrated. He's now on his 2nd nap of today. We're starting to get cabin fever, even Andrew. He had us walking/carrying/strollering him down the hall for a good while this afternoon before his 2nd nap. We've taken small cat naps when he's been sleeping. We're both exhausted. We spelled each other to go down to breakfast this morning. We're keeping him in the room and away from the other kids so they don't get sick. Everyone else has gone to the museum this afternoon. They're going to share pics and experiences with us. Last night the Teagues' brought us left over dumplings to eat since we couldn't go out. Like I said, everyone has been so supportive and helping us out. Even the other adoption group on the floor above us was being supportive and encouraging at breakfast this morning. We've gotten to know a few of them and seen them at all our other government stops and at breakfast. 

Megan brought our copies of Andrew's adoption papers from the Registrar's office, his birth certificate and his certificate of abandonment. We'll take those with us to Guangzhou on Saturday. Yes, Saturday  not Friday. Steed told us today. There's national holiday here tomorrow so noone is working. We'll be hanging out in Langzhou one more day. That may be a God send after all to give Andrew another day to recoup hopefully before flying. However, we are very ready to get to Guangzhou. We want to be with the rest of group, be closer to home and of course more western food! Will keep you posted. Please continue to pray for healing, peace, strength and adjustment for us all. We love you all. God bless.

In His Grip,

Lisa

and of course Kevin

PS: Mom and Dad it was great to hear your reassuring voices this morning and thanks for calling Nora and  Dad and Nancy for us to update them. 

April 2, 2008- A Day of Many Firsts-cont.

Hanging out at the sports park, split pants and my sweet Andrew when he was feeling better!

April 2, 2008- A Day of Many Firsts

As you can see the hall is still a popular place to be. The rooms really aren't big enough to do any thing with us and all our luggage in the room. So, everybody moves out to the hall and socializes. We also leave are doors open a lot and run around and gab. Madi is using  Fireman Dan and a cowboy puppet to play with Andrew. (Madi is Sharon's oldest daughter.) Andrew threw his first temper tantrum at breakfast. He was through eating and starting using chop sticks to sling food and cheerios all over the table and floor. We took the sticks away and he started. He started throwing his cheerios and other near by food so Kevin got him and took him for a walk and on up to the room. I don't think he was feeling very well then. After breakfast, we headed to the big square (with the Teagues' where people exercise, dance and socialize. You can also see people performing martial arts exercises in the square. After being sufficiently stared at we headed to the indoor mall to look for shoes for Hudson. We bought a sippy cup for Andrew and a few groceries for lunch and headed fast.  That afternoon  he started running a low grade temp and had a cough. He was starting to be more clingy at times. Our group went to the water wheel park along the Yellow River and to another park where there is a statue of Mother River and her child. While there we crossed the first bridge in Lanzhou to cross the Yellow River and the 2nd oldest in China to cross it. Our guide Megan is in the lower picture with Kevin and Andrew. On the other side of the river we say quite a few Buddist and Daoism monastaries and an Islamic mosque right beside it. It's so sad to think about so many lost people. Please pray for all the lost here in China.  The next stop was the  sports park along the river. Mark and Jordan joined in on a game of basketball at the park. We spent about an hour hanging out. That's where you see us sitting with the river in the background. AHHHHH! The last picture will be of a little girl we made friends with. You'll see her from the back side. Just a quick look at the infamous split pants! These pics will be on the next post.

When we got back to the hotel we took Andrew's temp again. It was up to 104! That's the other first. It is so hard to see your son feeling so bad and feeling so helpless!:(  You all know that of course who have children. It was so new for us. We gave him infant motrin and put him in cool tub. Our MD had given us an antibiotic to start if we needed it. So that's what we did. He probably has an ear infection. We're also trying to keep him hydrated.  His poor little checks were so rosey. My heart was broken. He was balling as I had tears running down my face. Kevin and I were praying and sent out emails for prayers. This is hard enough at home but to be in a foreign country and in a hotel and not know the language or have your own doctor near by is another story! I'm a seasoned ICU nurse but I haven't done pediatrics since I graduated from school in 1982. I was scared! It was going to be along night. I already had very little sleep the night before because he was coughing. And now, I have a scratchy throat and probably a little dehydrated. Kevin's being great help and the Mitchell's and Teague's have been so supportive. God thank you for all that you have placed before us and I know you will help us through it. You have placed great friends around us here. They are like family we've had forever. Thanks gabby girls and families. Thanks to all of you who are keeping us constantly lifted up through this process and all your notes of encouragement. ( As you can figure out I've caught this up on 4/3 while Andrew is sleeping.)