It has taken far too long to write a blog post! I did try while in Harbin but our wifi connection was so spotty in Harbin that I couldn't log in to Blogger and then didn't try again until now.
I don't even know where to begin. We've been in Beijing, Harbin, and Guangzhou. All 3 very different yet similar cities. We've been to Tienammin Square, the Forbidden City, Hutong, an acrobatics show, the Olympic Park, the Great Wall of China, Sun Island Park, the Siberian Tiger Park, Shaimian Island, shopping at the Pearl market, on a night cruise on the Pearl River and to the Safari Park.
We almost got stuck in Beijing the night before our Family Day due to bad weather. We felt extremely clueless as we were almost the only Americans flying this domestic flight to Harbin with the exception of an expatriate who was very kind and helpful. After a bit of panic that we were going to be stuck at the Beijing airport overnight, our flight was the only one that made it out that evening! Praise God! Further, our guide who met us at the airport said that we would be meeting Gabe in the afternoon vs the morning so we were able to get some rest and settle in the hotel before family day!
Meeting Gabe was a moment I'll never forget. He walked in and his caregivers told him we were his ma ma and ba ba. He hugged my neck and said "I love you, Ma Ma" in Chinese. That about did me in! He held onto my neck for a long time. He then hugged Jacob for a bit. The first day we just signed papers for temporary custody of him. The next day we went back to make it official. Gabe's caregivers were very loving to him and seemed to prepare him very well for being adopted. He knew who we were, that he would be going home with us and flying on an airplane. All answers to prayer. He did cry when his caregivers left but not too long. We brought matchbox cars that helped distract and entertain him and he warmed up to us quickly.
From the moment we got to our hotel room, he has been wide open and busy. This we weren't prepared for and has been exhausting and challenging. I think I was expecting a bit more grieving in the form of shutting down but I think his way of coping was revving up! He is funny and sweet and delightful at the same time. He loves to give kisses and hugs. He loves to share. Yet he loves to touch everything and if he is awake, he is moving! He is 4 but is developmentally more like a toddler. He talks all the time but even to our Chinese guide his speech is not clear. He will need another surgery to completely repair his cleft palate and speech therapy as well.
He is quite attached to me now and likes me to hold him all the time (no easy task at 35 lb)! That is good news. He warmed more slowly to Jacob but they have a fun time together! Gabe is going to fall right into place in our family and I'm sure the kids will help teach him the family skills he needs to learn. He has learned a lot in one week, though! Thank goodness for this phrase book we brought!
Harbin was actually quite challenging as it was our first week with Gabe and we were the only family adopting there that week. We stuck out and especially with Gabe! We got blatant stares and questions.
We had to carry around a photo copy of our adoption certificate for those curious individuals! We could only eat at places that had pictures so we knew what we were ordering! Nothing was in English and no one else spoke English except our guide! I was so focused on preparing for adoption and phrases for communicating with Gabe that we didn't spend as much time on general travel terms! Oh well!! We managed! It just was a complete week out of our comfort zone.
I would not trade that experience though as I feel we were completely immersed in the Chinese culture. Here in Guangzhou at the Garden Hotel, there are SO many other families who are here with their adopted children. It is really encouraging and fun to get to know some of these families especially after being so isolated last week. There are 5 families from our agency here that we have been doing outings with, swimming with and sharing meals with. My heart is full as I look around and realize how many fewer orphans there are being here!
Today was our consulate appointment. Tomorrow we get Gabe's visa which means we get to come home! We can't wait!!
I have so much more to share and process. This journey has been everything I was expecting and nothing like I was expecting. It has been easy and it has been oh so hard. I know God has carried us every step of the way and will continue to do so!
We love our Gabriel Wen Li Darling!
