videos

I was unable to post last night due to computer problems.

We went to a Buddhist Temple yesterday.  It was very crowded and hard to get around, especially with a stroller.  Weather is very humid...not miserable yet but uncomfortable.  We are headed to the Great Wall today so I will try to get a picture with my phone to post tonight.

Zhou Duo loves noodles, he must have gotten it often at the orphanage, it is not the healthiest so we give it to him every other day.  He doesn't over eat but he eats really fast and take very large bites.

He loves fresh fruits, so far he likes watermelon, apples, bananas, and pears.  We are trying peaches today to see if he likes it.

He discovered a cabinet by the bathroom.  He was hiding in it. More to come...

Swimming!

We now have 7 days to hang out and wait for Zhou Duo's Passport so today we went to Summer Palace.  The place where Chinese Emperors spent their Summers.  Can't believe it has been there since the First Century. It has been rebuilt many times of course.  Sorry, no pictures of the Summer Palace...it is all on Mark's camera and can't load them on this computer.

Zhou Duo sporting Mark's sunglasses.

It was a hot day!!!  We decided to go for a swim after his afternoon nap.  He loved baths so we figured he would like it.

I have to explain the caps!!!

It is Chinese policy to wear swimming caps, even if you don't get your hair wet.  The hotel conveniently sell them at the pool.  The indoor pool is part of the Spa and there is no one ever swimming in it, kinda weird.  We will be swimming every day I am sure.

For all my Korean friends, Zhou Duo loves kimchi, I had to rinse off the spices but he loved it.  That's my boy!!!

Haircut

Zhou Duo must be getting use to us now, he is a ham...he tries to act up to see what he can get away with. He  is always smiling and happy even when he acts up.  Because we cannot communicate, it is hard to let him know why he cannot do what he tries to do.  He is very mature in many ways but because he wasn't expose to many things he is around now, he is curious about everything like a two year old.  He plays with the phone and the light switches in the room.  Also, he opens every doors and drawers in the room and takes everything out,  but because he is so tidy, he always put everything back  the way he found it.

We spent all morning getting Adoption certificate and his Passport.  We were told we should get Zhou Duo's Passport in seven business days.

Taking Zhou Duo to the bathroom is hard because the sanitation is so bad in public bathroom so I put a diaper on him today.  I asked Grace tell Zhou Duo he could use the bathroom in his diaper and he  looked at Grace and gave her the craziest look and started to laugh.  He wouldn't go in his diaper!

We went shopping for Zhou Duo's shoes and get a hair cut.

He is the best kid, he just sat there and did everything he was told.

We got him couple of pairs of shoes, he picked out this one.

We walked to the food court at the mall close by and found it to be great because there is a lot to choose from and we can just point and order.  There was a great picture opportunity at the mall so we couldn't resist.  He looks so big in this picture.

 Zhou Duo always shares his food....Chinese Lays potatoes chip, can't explain the flavor, but better than Chinese Cheetos.

We had ice-cream after dinner and he was blowing on it like it was hot.  He must never had anything cold before.  Everyday we learn something new about Zhou Duo and it is so much fun.

New discoveries

Zhou Duo woke from his nap crying.  He realized where he was and it was not his familiar surroundings.  He was quickly soothe and was back to his happy self.

 Zhou Duo showing us he can walk.

Dinner at McDonald's, he likes milk, chicken nuggets with ketchup. 

He loves his back-pack, he put all his toys in it and likes to wear it all the time. It is so funny to see him getting around with it because it is so heavy.

 His first bath...he knows to clean himself.  The orphanage did a good job teaching him self cleaning skills.

After bath we read a book and it was bed-time.  He knew it was bed time and went right to sleep. He sleeps very restless.  I don't know if it is the CP but he tossed and turned all night.  He fell off the bed and I had to pick him back up in bed.  He didn't seem bothered he fell off the bed.  Needless to say I didn't sleep because I was afraid he would fall off the bed again.

He woke up very happy.  We had breakfast and found out some of his dislikes.  Broccoli...look at his face.  He likes eggs, rice, dumplings and steamed buns. It is good to know he has likes and dislikes in food, it means he hasn't been deprived of food.

We are going shopping for him this afternoon, he needs better shoes for walking and shorts that fit. We need a stroller, he is pretty heavy.  He also needs a haircut so I hope Grace can fit that in to our schedule today.

Gotcha Day!

I can't believe it!  It happen so fast and I couldn't get the video and photos as planned.

There was another family from Orlando picking up a 4 years old little girl also so we will be together through the whole process.  I did not get  a photo of them but will later.  We got to the orphanage and was escorted into a room where we signed some paper work and got finger printed.  Without a notice a lady brings Zhou Duo in and my heart just stopped.

I was able to get my phone out to get a video...

He walked in with an assistance and said momma and babba and came to us very happy.  He has changed quiet a bit from my last photo taken in August of last year.

I put him on my lap and I was surprised to find out his right hand is very stiff and spastic as well as his legs.  I thought only his legs were affected by his CP but it looks like his arms are affected as well.  I tried not to cry and was thankful he was finally ours.

Orphanage Director gave Zhou Duo a cookie and he ate them right away and I gave him his back-pack and pulled out his juice and he drank some from it.  We ask for his care-giver and when she finally came in we ask her questions about his schedule.

I forgot to ask her name...hard to think straight with so much going on.  Zhou Duo didn't seem to be attached to her which made me little concerned.  I don't know if he is being brave and is doing what he is told by her.  I heard the orphanage often tell the kids to be good to make the adoptive parents feel better.

We were quickly escorted out.

 The foyer to the Orphanage is pretty impressive.

We headed to the Beijing Civil Authority to sign some more paper work.

We met a couple from Italy doing their adoption paper as well.

While we were waiting for the other family to do their paper work we were able to play with Zhou Duo.  He is very organized, he was straightening out the brochures on the racks and showing us he can walk by himself a little.  He is such a happy kid.

We made it back to our hotel and took him to lunch for some noodles.  He is so well behaved!!!  He knew we were there to eat and sat down quietly. He played with his chopsticks until his food was ready.  Mark took the cutest video of him eating his noodles (will post it soon as it is down loaded), he blows on the noodles because it was too hot to eat...so cute.  Soon as we got back to our room, he laid on the bed for nap without being told.  So sweet...love, love him.

More to come.....

Made it to China

It was tricky getting on a VPN to post the Blog but we figured it out.

The flight from San Francisco to Beijing was 12.5 hours.  Pretty brutal, United Airline try to accommodate us by feeding us 3 meals and showing 4 movies.  Beijing Airport's AC must not work well because it was hot.  It took us over an hour to get through customs and get our bags.

Our driver came to pick us up at the airport.  He was holding a sign with our adoption agency name on it.  He couldn't speak English and soon as he figured out we were the right couple he was picking up, he grabbed one or our bags and took off.  We had to run to keep up with him, it was pretty funny.

Here is the Chinese toilet at the airport...you squat!  Pretty clean, most important, not sure about other facilities.

We met our guide Grace at the hotel and she showed us the super market by our hotel so we can get some drinking water.  We settled in our room by 7 pm Saturday and went to bed shortly after.  Beijing is 13 hours ahead of our time so it will take some time to get use to the time change.

I was up at 3:30 am, I was glad it wasn't earlier.  I went down to the lobby not to wake Mark and got a picture of the Hotel staff.

Our first food experience in Beijing was very good.  Our Hotel offered a buffet breakfast, Mark stuck with the American fare and I tried the Chinese. Noodles and Congee is the traditional breakfast and it is very similar to Korean.  There were pickled toppings for the Congee and Kim-chi was one of the toppings and it was actually very good.  My grandmother use to eat Congee all the time and it reminded me of Korea.

We pick up Joseph early tomorrow morning and Mark is practicing his Mandarin and I am focusing on getting Joseph's play are in our hotel room ready for him.  Our room is pretty small so it will be pretty cramped.

Knowing there are many prayers being prayed for us, I have peace beyond understanding.  Thank you everyone for your prayers.

Adopting from China, is it hard?

The bed is made and ready.  The monkeys were a good choice, I hope Zhou Duo likes it.  His bed is next to ours...we didn't think having his own room would be good idea, he is use to sleeping with bunch kids in one room.  Ideal situation would be if he had a brother they can share a room but for now we are his room mates.  Hopefully, he will want his own room only after he has a healthy attachment to us.

I was overwhelmed and scared when we decided to proceed to adopt from China.  I have heard stories of the paper chase, authenthicating legal documents, and seemingly endless visits to the notary.  And what in the world is a Dossier?

Well, ADOPTION is not hard if you know how to read and follow directions.  A Good Adoption Agency will give you step by step instruction.  Just like going through a pregnancy, waiting is the hardest part and the last few weeks seems to be the longest.

Changes

As I am putting away all of Zhou Duo's things generously given to me by friends and family, my emotions are taking its toll on me.  Joy, sadness, concern, excitement, nervousness, peace, anxiousness...

As Zhou Duo's mom, my focus the first year will be to work on his attachment to both me and Mark and try to reverse the survival skills learned at the orphanage.  Teaching him family skills and to depend on us not on himself.  This means I am not to leave him.

Changes in life are the only thing constant and I embrace it without fear, but these last few days as I say good-bye to all that I come to love, I realize how much I will miss it.

Serving every week as a Nursery Coordinator at my Church...I will miss seeing all the babies and their parents, Church Staff and Volunteer leaders that faithfully serve whom I have come to love.

Working with God of Hope Ministry...the ladies in Lockhart Unit have become my community for almost 2 years.  I learn what true worship looks like by watching the ladies have such hunger for God's Word.  We all grew together in faith as we cry, laugh and encourage each other.  What fun times we had.  I can still hear the buzzing of the doors opening and the clanging as it shuts behind me.

Last night I finished my 6th year of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship international), it has been instrumental in my growth as a Christian.  I will miss small group discussions, Holly's precise pronunciations as she lectures and singing those old Hymns.

I know my New Journey will not be anything I imagine.  Better, because I trust God is leading it.  He always gives me more than I ask.

Zhou Duo's sisters and a brother

Sister Cortney and her husband Eli Yaremenko.

Sister Cortney

Sister Taylor

All excited to meet their brother <3

Blog...Me?

Well, I never thought I would ever start a blog but here it goes....Facebook is closed in China, bummer!
This blog is for all our family and friend that want to share in our journey to Zhou Duo in China.

Here we are, Mark and Min Werkheiser.

When God called us to adopt, we both envisioned a healthy baby!  We were surprised how long the wait is for a healthy baby...5 years!!!  But there were thousands of children waiting to be adopted labeled "Special Needs".  In other words, they are not babies and they are not perfect.  Not perfect, sounds like me and Mark.  

Introducing Zhou Duo, pronounced Joe Doo-Au.

I saw this photo on our Adoption Agency's Special Needs Waiting Children's List.  The photo is not the best quality but I thought he was the cutest boy.  I think he looks like Mark, see the big forehead.  BTW, I love my husband's forehead.

We requested Zhou Duo's files for us to review and we receive these 2 additional photos.  HOW CUTE, don't you just want to give him a huge hug and a kiss.

His Special Need is Cerebral Palsy (mild).  He was found in the neighborhood area in urban Beijing on 12/7/2009 wearing green sweater, blue pant and blue wool cap wrapped in blue cotton quilt.  He had a note with his name and a birthdate.  He was born on June 28, 2008 which means he was abandoned at 17 months of age.  He is described as a extroverted happy child with a ready smile.  Other than not being able to walk alone he is normal in every way.  Zhou Duo is already 4 years old and these photos and the update was already 2.5 years old so we requested an current update.

What a big boy he is!

We received these 3 photos with an update on his development.

I know many people with Cerebral Palsy Mild and they all walk on their own so I was surprised he was not walking at the age of 4.  See the cute brace on his legs?

He weighs 30 lb. and is 36 inches tall.  Hs personality is not so extroverted anymore and he is delayed in his motor, language and social development.  It is to be expected living in an institution with thousands of children.

We wanted to be parents and He needed a mom and a dad.  In our hearts, he is ours so we sent in a Letter of Intent to our Adoption Agency so they can lock his file for us and start the adoption process.

Adoption Timeline

Letter of Intent 8/21/2012
Pre-Approval 8/27/20012
Hague Training 9/1/20012
First Homestudy 9/13/20012
Second Homestudy Interview 9/26/20012
Third Homestudy Interview 10/1/2012
Fourth and final Homestudy interview 10/3/2012
I-800A and fingerprinting 10/26/2012
Dossier completed and sent to China 1/4/2013
Dossier Received by China 1/7/2013
Log In Date 1/9/2013
Letter Seeking Confirmation 3/4/2013
I-800 mailed 3/5/2013
I-800 approved 3/19/2013
NVC Letter received 3/26/2013
DS-230 sent to China 3/26/2013
Article 5 approved 4/16/2013
Travel Approval (TA) 4/26/2013
Travel Date 5/25/2013
Gotcha Date 5/27/2013