Home Sweet Home

Everyone's home now. This is our first family photo taken at the Louisville Airport. Jackie's still a little jet lagged but, all in all, the whole gang is doing well.

We are humbled by so many of you guys reading about our family expansion. Jackie and I prayerfully wish all your families would be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Friends like you are the best!

We hope to be able to talk to all of you in person soon. Especially if the Lord has laid the thought of adopting a child on your heart.

Amazed by His Grace,

Bruce

Homecoming Take 2

Jackie and Kendyl Shea Shea SHOULD be on AA3487 due to arrive at 9:55 this morning on a French manufactured Airbus. Great design huh? Hopefully she will have an upperdeck window seat.

Jackie was SO disappointed that she would not be getting home last night.

Sorry about the late update.

Bruce

Overnighting in Texas

Yep, they missed the flight. Now they should be in tomorrow at about 10a. I'll write later with more info.
Bruce

The Ladies are on Their Way!

It's 4PM Wed. and Jackie/Kendyl has just arrived in LA. They have a very tight connection for ther Dallas flight, so I hope that they make it.
Now about the picture. Jackie couldn't fit all her China purchases in her luggage, so she hired some help to get a few extra items home. ( If you think his bike is small you should see the raft that he uses for the Pacific! )

If Jackie makes it on time she will arrive in Louisville at 10:40P tonight on AA1912.
Thanks for following our adventure.
Bruce

Just waiting

One more of day of killing time. Today we shopped. Kendyl grabbed a power nap in the stroller and thought that was enough for her. So, I didn't get my nap. We went to Lucy's for dinner. This is a Western style restaurant. I had a good old greasy hamburger and french fries. Kendyl is eating more textured stuff. She actually ate some rice and a french fry. A river boat cruise was planned, but we opted to not go. It was raining and Kendyl was tired. Plus, I did it last time in China. I was going to shop some more, but Kendyl fell asleep in the stroller. So, I rushed her to bed. Since no nap, she went to bed at 630pm.

Tomorrow, we eat, shop and go to US Consulate at 3pm for our oath ceremony. Then we order pizza for dinner and pack. It is actually almost time to go home. It has been a wonderful 2 weeks, but the loooooongest ever.

I still haven't heard from Bruce. Hope he is making his way home some way.

I'm heading to watch HBO, work Suduko puzzles and read.

Good night.
Jackie

The giggles have come....

As you can tell by the picture, Kendyl has let her guard down some. Still cautious at times and especially to strangers, but I can definitely get her to laugh now. She is a good girl. I love this age because all they need is a water bottle cap to play with. It seems every little thing amazes her.

Bruce has had some trouble getting home. He was delayed in Hong Kong for a very long time. Not sure why. Please pray for him and our trip on Wednesday. I'm not sure if the computer problem in Los Angeles will effect us or not. PLEASE PRAY!!! 14 hours on a flight plus delays will put a lot of us and the babies over the edge.

Love to all.
Jackie

Bruce leaves tomorrow....

We have had a fun day in Guangzhou. Great, Awesome buffet breakfast. Western and Chinese food.

First stop was picture taking for the visa. It took Kendyl awhile because she was crying so hard her eyes were closed. For the picture, eyes have to be open. This confused Bruce because her eyes are brown just like all the other Chinese girls. Then we were off to get the physical exam. Kendyl was so tired. She screamed if she thought a doctor was even looking her way. We made it through that.

Then the shopping began. I wanted to buy as much of my stuff as possible so Bruce could bring it back. I want my luggage to be as light as possible on my trip home. And I needed Bruce to bargain for me. He is the master.

We had a great dinner because Kendyl actually ate food. She loved this custard egg stuff with Sesame oil. She even put broccoli and rice in her mouth. I was sooooo excited. She is definitely coming out of her shell a little bit. She has giggled out loud. I can't wait for everyone to see this precious girl.

Tomorrow we have the opportunity to go to a church in English. I'm hoping I get everything packed for Bruce so we can go.

Pray for Kendyl after Bruce leaves. I can't imagine that she won't be sad and miss him a lot.

I'm using a friend's computer, so I better let them get to bed. Me too.

Love to all.
Jackie

I'd complain about the heat here but...

Bruce here. Okay, I know it's hot at home, but it was 38 Celsius here yesterday! If my calculations are correct, that's 182 Degrees Fahrenheit. It's a dry heat though, so it only feels like 180. I really felt sorry for the 72 year old man pulling the rickshaw down the busy street. I can't believe he made the 3 of us get off before pulling us completely into the hotel lobby!

Just kidding. We don't see many rickshaws here but still plenty of bicyclists. Many people carry open umbrellas while they ride. Our guide says that the people here like to keep their skin as fair as possible. Also, heavy rains come suddenly here. So, as you can see, it can keep you as dry as a bone too... sometimes.

God's still being very, very good to us. Kendyl seems to be smiling more (not much though) and her food is coming and going okay too. As you can see, Kendyl is always willing to keep guard over us while I get my much needed beauty sleep.

Thanks for all the prayers and taking the time to read about us. We love you all very much.

Bruce

One more day in Nanning

Friday at 6pm we fly to Guangzhou. Let the shopping begin. Last trip I had to buy 3 extra suitcases to bring all my stuff home. I'm not going to be that bad this year. This is the last leg of our trip. There we will do our US Embassy stuff. Bruce flies out on Sunday. I'm going to be very sad to have him leave us, but will be happy that he will be with our kiddos at home. It will be good to get some routine going and him get over jet lag before Kendyl and I get home.

Kendyl is opening up just a tad more. She walked around the room more today on her own. We saw glimpses of smiles. It is going to be hard on her when Bruce leaves. She loves her Papa. I can't imagine what she will think. This nice man comes in my life and then leaves.

I can't believe I am still up at 1230am. We have gone to bed between 830p-930p every night. Embarrassingly, we also have taken naps during the day. We are following Kendyl's schedule. We bought some movies to watch on the laptop today at Walmart. This helped me stay up later. Bruce, as usual, lasted about 15 minutes and then fell asleep. Tomorrow, we don't have to be anywhere so I can sleep until Kendyl wakes up. Breakfast buffet closes at 10a. That will be our only deadline. Then checkout at 3pm and head to the airport at 4pm.

Well, I'm off to bed now. Please pray the next 6 days will go quickly. I miss my children soooo much. But I am cherishing this time with Kendyl and Bruce.

Good night
Jackie

Thank God for Poopy Diapers

Jackie here:

It is Wednesday evening and good news, Kendyl has had 2 poopy diapers. Now the bad news. She hasn't eaten or drank anything since breakfast. We took her down to breakfast w/o giving her a bottle hoping she would eat some regular food. That didn't work. She turned her head at anything that came her way. She drank her bottle at breakfast, but has refused bottles and anything else since. She seems to have a slight fever. Please continue to pray she will eat and drink regularly . She has cold in one of her eyes. It has a little gooey stuff. Pray this doesn't develop into anything.

It is hard not to compare Kendyl to Josie. By this time, Josie was smiling and laughing. Kendyl is very reserved and cautious. This may be due to the situation or it could be her personality. If her personality, her siblings are going to run circles around her and she will probably stand there screaming. I think she just still needs time, patience and love.
Jackie

Bruce here:

Today our adoption guide, Mary, took us to a large park in Nanning called Green Hill Park. One of the big attractions here was approx. 100' tower (also called a pagoda) on top of a hill over looking the city. Jackie wanted pictures from the top of it but we couldn't carry the stroller up all those stairs and I was complaining of being too weary to walk to the top by myself. So, after much discussion, I went into the tower. I found a little Chinese boy and offered him 10 cents to climb to the top and take the photos for me (the little guy was asking for 15 but when I started to walk away he came down to10). Just kidding! I climbed to the top and snapped the pictures.

The people driving downtown on mopeds and bicycles are really something to see. You often see a family all riding on just one. If they have a toddler, no child seat necessary, he merely stands up right in the very front and of course w/ no helmet! Mom rides on the back "side-saddle". I can't wait to get home and try all this out ourselves! (Just kidding, Heidi)

We went to the pool this afternoon. Kendyl was too scared to put her feet in. Personally I think she was frightened of the man wearing the Speedos... I know I was!

Ordered Pizza Hut in the room tonight. The food was surprisingly normal. Although, no sauce came on it. Guess that's considered an extra topping here. Also, you have to hire a taxi for the delivery guy.

We decided to stay in tonight since it is so hot outside. We didn't want to add factors in Kendyl dehydrating. She has been very weepy today. Surprisingly, she did have a wet diaper tonight. (Maybe too much information, but we need specific prayers) If she isn't taking a bottle in the morning, we will go to a doctor or hospital. No liquids or food for 24 hours isn't a good thing for a little girl. Pray all will be well when we wake up.

.....WAIT.....STOP THE PRESS............

As I'm getting ready to hit send, I turn around and Bruce has gotten her to take her bottle. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
He is so watching out for us and Kendyl Shea.


All for now.
Bruce and Jackie

Settling In

Since Walmart was close by, we decided to walk there and eat at McDonald's. I wonder what everyone looks at if there aren't a couple of pale, big nosed Americans pushing a stroller around. They say there are a lot of adoptions that come out of this province, so I wonder why they look at us like we are aliens. Actually, most people have a smile on their face. They know Kendyl is getting a new life.

After enjoying a Big Mac and fries, we walked around the department store. It had several floors of very nice things. I would love to have tried some dresses on, but I was afraid an XL wouldn't fit. They are such small framed people. We walked in an electronic department store and you wouldn't believe the selection on cell phones.

Kendyl actually enjoyed the walk. I let her cry a few minutes in the stroller and then she decided it wasn't that bad. She is still only drinking a bottle. Turns her head when food is offered. Hey China Family, did any of your girls do this? I don't remember this being the case. No bowel movement either. Please pray she will settle in to eating.

At breakfast this morning, we saw several other families with their children. There is a group of about 4 families from Finland. One American couple got a 6 year old and another got 3 yr old twins.

Kendyl is asleep in her little crib. Like the stroller, she cried a few minutes and then was fine.

I'm going to bed now. The only choices on TV is a badminton competition or really really bad movie on HBO.

Good Night.
Jackie

Update

We finally have her now. We met the director and nanny at a hotel called Civil Affairs Hotel. She was dressed in a pink shorts and top outfit. She is so big. She won't be in 18 months clothes long. She came to me the first time without crying, but that didn't last long. She really cried for her nanny. The nanny had to hide so Kendyl couldn't see her. It was just heart breaking how her world was being turned upside down. Kendyl has nice plump thighs. She has been fed well, but her torso is weak. After sitting up a few minutes, she will start to lean or slump. When you carry her, it feels like she is twice her size because she doesn't carry any of her own weight. It won't take long at all for her to strengthen. I don't think she is walking yet. She allowed us to stand her on her own in front of a mirror this morning, but she didn't venture anywhere. She enjoyed looking at herself and patting the mirror. We have had some slight grins, but nothing too big yet. We could definitely see a difference in her this morning when she woke up. Her eyes weren't as scared. My prayers have been answered. She is definitely a Papa's girl. She prefers him to me and will cry sometimes when I take her. Good thing I'm not sensitive.

She was exhausted last night, but wouldn't lay down. Bruce got her asleep while sitting up leaning on his legs. She would cry if we laid her down. So, she slept with us. We'll give her until the States, but then we will have to lay the law down. Hopefully, Josie being in the same room will help.

This morning we just ran around doing our final paperwork then made a trip to Walmart. Bought a stroller, but not sure if she will ever sit in it. She is sleeping now with two fingers stuck in her mouth. The orphanage has cut her hair, so not sure how long it should be. I can't imagine how hot it must be in the orphanage. I had sent a care package about 3 months ago with 2 disposable cameras. They took pictures. We dropped the cameras off to have them developed. I can't wait to see them. I hope they took pictures of the orphanage itself. It is 3 hours away. It would be nice to have pictures without going there.

Wednesday and Thursday we will do a little sightseeing. Nothing compared to the whirlwind schedule of Josie's trip. Later this evening we are going to walk to the People's Park behind our hotel.

I just can't wait to get her home and to have my family back together.

Love to all.
Jackie

IT'S A GIRL

IT'S A GIRL!... Oh, yeah, you knew that already.

It's Tues 6:30A here and we just received baby Kendyl yesterday at about 4:00P. We call her shey shey (which means snow) for now, because that's what they called her in the orphanage. Sorry no picture yet, we can't figure how to get it attached to our email.

I did send a few photos to show you what it's like here.

The hills are beautiful outside of the city. They look more like mini-mountains. We got the view of these on our plane into Nanning.

Here's what some of the streets that we walk on look like. Very, very, busy. Early in the morning and even late at night.

Mopeds pretty much rule the roads here... or at least they think they do. The concrete trucks that occasionally drive head on toward them really do.

The elderly people here are big into communal exercising. These exercising parks are located throughout China's cities. No couch potatoes here!

All for now. Jackie's sitting on the couch right now feeding little Kendyl.

ISN'T GOD GOOD?

Bruce

JACKIE HERE.....

We are now in Kendyl's town.....Nanning, Guangxi. It is beautiful. From the airplane it looked very green and flat with big huge rocks sticking up here and there, but it was actually rolling hills. The sun is bright and skies are blue..........but very very hot. Our view from the hotel room is the hotel pool. It is huge and very crowded at 8pm.

Hopefully, we will be able to post pictures when we get Kendyl. We have had trouble with our video and digital camera. We purchased disposable cameras tonight.

This trip is very different from my first China trip. We are now on our own. The other 4 couples have gone to their individual province. It is strange not meeting up with 8 other families to go everywhere. I miss my China Family from trip #1. Tomorrow at 3pm we will leave to get Kendyl. We will have a good amount of time to ask the orphanage director questions. The orphanage is 3 hours away. Not sure yet if we will visit.

Not much to write about today. Tomorrow is the BIG GOTCHA DAY !!!

Love to all.
Jackie

Greetings from Beijing

BRUCE HERE...GREETINGS FROM BEIJING!

It's 3:08 AM and we've now been in Beijing for about 36 hours. We've been blessed every step of the way. Our kids at home are doing great (Although Camden had to go to the doctor to get a few stitches in his lip due to some unauthorized furniture gymnastics.)

It' s a small world after all. My very, very first Chinese experience was when I landed in Hong Kong. The door had just opened on the aircraft when who walks in, on literally the other side of the world, someone I knew from Louisville, Jeff! My first thought was that I made a terrible mistake and flew to the wrong city. Come to find out, Jeff now lives in Cambodia and runs a motorcycle shop there. Pretty weird huh?

Yesterday, we toured a Jade factory and the Great Wall (and yes, I made Jackie climb to the top with me!). We also toured the Summer Palace (see wikipedia.com for details) and finally a huge pearl store where we bought Jackie and Kendyl some pearls. (Don't worry Josie, we already bought you some. )

In the morning, we will do some more touristy stuff. After that we will fly out at 1am Louisville Time (we are exactly 12 hours off) to Nanning. So the next morning after we arrive at Nanning is when we'll get to meet our precious little Kendyl.

Thanks for all your prayers and other support. The Lord has always been good to our family and this on trip we've enjoyed His typical goodness. So many things that could have gone wrong didn't. As with our other children, we are confident that Jesus has a special purpose for baby Kendyl's life. We are so thrilled to be a part of His plan in a country so far from our home.

Enough for now. Gotta be up for breakfast in 3 hours. Please keep the prayers coming!

In His Loving Care,
Bruce and Jackie

PS 106:1-2 Hallelujah! Say "thank-you" to the LORD, because he is good. His kind love will always (remain).
(Nobody) can tell about all the great things that the LORD has done. (Nobody) can praise him enough.

Hello,

I am now in Beijing and very tired. Bruce will be arriving in about 1 hour but I am going to bed. Tomorrow morning we will be going to the Great Wall among other places. I will be giving you more updates later.

Jackie

I'm in Hong Kong

Well, I've been traveling for about 29 hours now and I look it. I'm in Hong Kong waiting to leave for Beijing. The last 14 hours on the plane was very cramped and long, but Kendyl is worth it. I got to watch about 4 movies.

How are my kiddos doing. I don't like the feeling of being 1/2 way around the world from them.

I'll be in touch later when I get to Beijing.

Love to all.
Jackie