Transitioning to a New Normal

Well we have been home one week today.  Jet lag did get the best of all of us!!  Cameron would fall asleep around 4-5 in the evening and then be awake at 2-3 in the morning wanting  breakfast.  Rhylan would sleep for a few hours then only sleep if she was being held....ughh long nights!!  Anyway, we are finally getting into a routine and we have all been sleeping better.  Rhylan is adjusting SO well and we are SO thankful for this little girl!! She is exploring more of the house and loves interacting with her brothers and sister.  She never wants to miss out on any of the fun!!  She is genuinely a happy little girl and still loves to eat!!!  Tonight we met Brian and Sharon at Solly's, the place Madisyn dreamed of while in China ha!!  She really enjoyed her filet and we found out Rhylan loves it too  (she fits in well with this steak loving family)! She would exchange her carrots and try to grab the filet from Cameron's plate if hers was gone, it was funny to watch.
We started school again and that has been a challenge for all of us.  Rhylan wants held, Cameron has trouble focusing, Braden wants to play with her and Madisyn can't hear her teachers with all of the commotion.  It has been hard, but I am trying to be patient and each day it has gotten a little easier.  We are gradually settling in and are so glad to be home with ALL our children under one roof!!!  Love to all!!

Journey Completed....Rhylan is Home!!!!

We finally arrived home after another loonng plane ride. Our trip home did not go as scheduled, but nothing new there ha!  By the way, we made time warp speed (our plane departed at 11:15 am on Friday Jan 24 from Hong Kong and we landed in USA at 11:45 am on Friday Jan 24???) Oh don't forget the 13 hour time difference HA!!! Anyway, our hotel was located inside the airport so after much debate we decided to check in our luggage before eating breakfast.  As we reached the check-in point another Bethany family said,"Did you see our flight is delayed until 5:20 pm)  Oh we all really groaned and groaned.  We were called up and the attendant said she could get us checked into the flight leaving shortly but our seats would not be together.  At this point we did NOT CARE and grabbed our chance, but we had to quickly move she told us because plane would be boarding and gate would close soon!!!  Well, we rushed up escalators, down escalators, onto a short tram and of course to gate 63 a distance away and when we arrived they were boarding.  We felt bad because we had family that was planning to meet us at the airport but we had no way of contacting them about the last minute change and my kids WERE HUNGRY and NOT looking forward to airplane food!! We all survived (ha) and were so thankful for the direct flight and an earlier landing time.  It still worked and we rearranged and have seen the family members that were going to meet us at the airport.  All ended well!!! Rhylan has handled everything in stride.  She has in the last 10 days, stayed at 3 hotels, rode 2 airplanes, bullet train, bus, car (car seat she DOES NOT LIKE),van and boat! WHEW!!! We have all really enjoyed our time in China but are so glad to be home to the USA.  It really hit me as we walked in the door with Rhylan that we have dreamed, planned, and longed for her to be here for SO LONG and she finally is!! Thank you to our dear Heavenly Father and to our family and friends who followed us and most importantly prayed for us. Please continue to keep my mom in your prayers, she is so sick and has really been a trouper traveling feeling so ill!! Love to all from home, the good old USA!!!

Goodbye Guangzhou!

We are waiting in the lobby for Rhylan's visa. We will start our long journey home as soon as we receive her visa. We will travel by van to Hong Kong and leave tomorrow at 12:55. Today we head to our 4th and final hotel hallelujah!!! We have packed, swam, napped, and had manicures today. Mom has been sick but thankfully feeling better for travel. Please pray that we will have physical, emotional, and mental strength for the final stretch of our journey!! Many mixed emotions as we leave China with our precious treasure!!! Love to all from Guangzhou!!

The Newest and Cutest US citizen

Today we visited the US Consulate office to get Rhylan's visa. We took a very informal oath  (yes you were right Jan) and she became a US citizen. I had fun dressing her in red white and blue that  attracted attention everywhere we went. We said farewell to half of our group today as they headed to Hong Kong to connect flights home tomorrow. We were all sad to part as we have formed some wonderful friendships!! I was jealous because I am ready to come home. We have had a wonderful trip one we will never forget and created lifetime memories but... tired of living in a hotel room and scrounging for clean clothes ha!! We will miss the wonderful buffet breakfasts that have something to please each of my kids! Next week will be a breakfast shock for them!!!
Rhylan continues to be a joy and fits our family so well. Honestly, I could not imagine life without her!! The boys still continue to argue over who gets to sit by her at meals and tend to smother her. Sigh!! Madisyn is already teaching her forward rolls and the splits. She is very active while awake and sleeps wonderfully!!! Yayyyyy, finally a sleeper in our family.
Tomorrow after we are issued her visa we will leave for Hong Kong and the final stretch of our trip. One more hotel room and lonnnnng flight!!! Love to all from Guangzhou!!

Pictures

Our wonderful guide Shiyan

Our family of six

The boys with friends from Bethany group

Rhylan enjoying pizza

Giggles from Rhylan

New News

Lots still going on! We have had puking princesses (both girls were sick although I think Rhylan's was more from over-eating) Madisyn was SICK!!! We have a joke but it's very true Rhylan is the only one on this trip that has gained weight, the rest of us have lost weight! Our guide was even commenting on her double chin.
We went to the Guangzhou Folk Art Museum which was one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. We also went on the Pearl River boat cruise which showed the city all lit up (the pictures do not begin to show how awesome it was. The boys got to see the 3rd largest building in the world!! We were not brave and were craving American food so opted to eat Papa John's pizza on the boat instead of the Chinese buffet(hum it was good) Rhylan had her first piece actually first two pieces in her life and enjoyed the crust and all!!
Today we went to the Guangzhou zoo and it was NEAT!! We saw many animals that we do not see in the US and we got to be close up!! The kids ALL really enjoyed it.
Tomorrow we go to US consulate for Rhylans visa. Our trip is coming close to an end and we have all really enjoyed it...but we are sure getting ready to come home. Mom told the kids that as soon as we land in San Francisco she would find hamburgers(that brought smiles). We are excited to introduce you all to our greatest souvenir, our little Henan baby, Rhylan!!! Love to all from Guangzhou!

Madisyn doing her splits

Fun at Shamian Island

Today we had a great time visiting Shamian Island a famous spot in Guangzhou. It was beautiful and we really enjoyed the warm sunny weather. We had NO exciting drama incidents today, thankfully!! The kids each bought "treasures". Madisyn found some neat sweaters and Chinese hairpins and the boys each found another sword they had to have. Rhylan now has shoes, squeaky shoes! We have had some better food lately and the kids have not complained and are eating!! Yayyyy! Braden chose eel last night because his uncle Nick told him to try something new while in China, and he cleaned it ALL up. The kids are having a great time with the other kids in our group, three other families all traveled together along with 3 sets of grandparents. Mom was sick today but thankfully it passed quickly. Rhylan is doing great and each day we fall even more in love with her. We are SO thankful and she seems to fit into our family so well. She now will play on the floor and let me out of her sight for at least a few minutes. She has a constant smile and is loving the games of peek a boo and patty cake.  We have read every comment and are sorry that we are not replying but internet is difficult to connect to here and is sporadic. Madisyn, Braden, and Cameron wish their friends the best and miss you all! Love from Guangzhou!!

This eel's for you Uncle Nick!!

Pictures

Her best friend also from SanMenxia orphanage

Flying to Guangzhou

Loving French fries

Rhylan and Chloe

Making memories in Guangzhou

Well we have had some unique moments we will never forget...some good and one BAD! Rhylan has had many fun first moments and is blossoming into the happy baby we were told she was. She smiles ALL the time, coos, and loves being the center of attention! She now enjoys playing with her 2 brothers and sister and visiting with grandpa and grandma with babbles. She did wonderful on the flight (ate practically the whole time) she loves to eat and will eat anything so far. She is officially a McDonalds girl and thoroughly enjoyed French fries and chicken nuggets. She had her medical appointment today with little tears. The weather is awesome here around 60 degrees and flowers everywhere. It will not  be fun coming home to winter weather after this!!
The bad moment was Bad!! We arrived in Guangzhou and were tired but hungry so we went to a little coffee shop close to our beautiful hotel. We had finished eating and dad came down and sat next to Rhylan to chat. All the sudden we heard 2 girls at next table yell, he took your bag at least twice before it registered. Chris and dad heard me say "oh no it has my wallet and baby stuff" and ran out the restaurant. Cameron immediately was frightened and started crying and then Rhylan followed suit. Mom and I paced by the door and I asked waiters to call police. Minutes passed and we worried about their safety and I kept remembering all the items I had in bag, phone, car keys, baby items and I worried maybe Rhylan's passport?? Meanwhile dad and Chris were racing after the thief in opposite directions. Chris had him in sight but he was a good block ahead. My husband was a hero and leaped the fence and this alarmed the thief and he dropped my bag in the middle of a 4 lane highway. Needless to say we have learned a valuable lesson!!! Chris is enjoying his popularity! Ha! Love to all from sunny Guangzhou!!

Smiley Rhylan

Family with our guide in Zhengzhou, Danielle

Pictures

Ready to visit Henan Museum

Family with our wonderful guide Danielle

Animal with a human face Can you see resemblance to Chris

See bundled baby from head to toe

Smiles and Giggles Finally

We have once again been very busy touring and sightseeing in Zhengzhou, China! Here you walk at your own risk because motorbikes are EVERYWHERE, thousands of them ( not exaggerating)!! No driving rules either, today our bus driver decided to take the sidewalk to get around traffic ( no joke).
Rhylan is making friends with her brothers and sister and we are seeing her smiles and giggles for the first time (lots of smiles)! I am so thankful for this because for 2 days we saw little expression. When I would look into her eyes it made me wonder what she is feeling fear, sadness?? We went to a Zinjinshan Park yesterday and Henan Museum today. Tomorrow we will be issued Rhylans passport and will be flying to Guangzhou, China. Love to all from Zhengzhou, China!!

Rhylan sober at start of day

Smiles and Giggles at end of day!!

Officially Ours!

In the most unofficial, brief, unorganized legal ceremony I have ever attended Rhylan legally became our daughter yesterday! It was a VERY full and exhausting day. It started at Civil Affairs office yesterday at 8:00 and we did not get back from the orphanage until 7:30 pm. We experienced the bullet train and had first class seating... Very nice ride!! It would have been a 4 hour trip by car, but took 1 and 1/2 hours by train.
Not sure what to say about orphanage visit except that it was hard, very hard especially when we saw her crib where she always slept. I am still processing visit myself. It was hard on Rhylan and she did not want to much to do with her caretakers. She did eventually go to some of them but was very eager to come back to my arms!
She has bonded very well with me and goes well to Chris. She resisted kids at first which shocked me, but is starting to warm up to them. She does NOT want to be put down and likes to walk which has made me tired. She is sick now with a horrible cough, runny/stuffy nose with diarrhea. We have started her on an antibiotic and pray she will start to feel better soon.
A Few Things We Know About Rhylan
She has a personality and is not afraid to tell you if she doesn't like something.
She loves to eat and is not picky about food.
She sleeps very well at night (so far).
She was loved and well cared for at orphanage.
She loves her bath.
She loves to be held.
She is shy and it takes her awhile to warm up to people.
We are so thankful she is now a cherished daughter, adored sister, and loved granddaughter!! Love from Zhengzhou, China!

SamMenXia SWI

Rhylan Grace Nuest

One Less Orphan!!

Because Jesus said....I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18

The news we have been waiting to share and you have been waiting to hear....WE HAVE Rhylan!! It has been a wonderful day full of emotion and excitement. She has done wonderfully with little tears. She is absolutely beautiful, precious, and very tiny. We all are in love with her and she has not lacked attention. We are SO thankful to our Heavenly Father for entrusting us with another eternal treasure!! Here are a few pictures to enjoy!!!

Traveling to Zhengzhou

I have mentioned this before, but we are traveling with wonderful families. We met last night in Rob and Laura's room for a prayer before we separate to leave for our child's province. Our group will be going to 9 different provinces, some by train and some by air. We will leave for the airport at 8 this morning. We are traveling by air; and yes Grandpa as you always say, " time to spare go by air." Our flight is relatively short thankfully because kids are not thrilled to be going to airport when we SO recently got off a 15 hour flight!! This will take us to Henan province just a few hours away from our precious baby girl!!!
Braden did not feel well yesterday and Cameron had a slight fever. Thankfully this morning they seem to be doing so much better, an answered prayer!! Cameron is still not on China sleep schedule, he falls asleep around 6 and wakes up at 2 am. FUN!! Madisyn, Chris, Cameron, and Braden had a meal in China that they finally liked! It was at a restaurant where she prepared food in front of us and it at least tasted like steak!! Madisyn felt full and was happy, another answered prayer!! Sending love from Beijing and excited to be moving forward to Henan!!

Our Bethany group before Babies

Cameron having a snack at 5 am because he slept at supper

More Pictures

We FINALLY have figured out the VPN and loading pictures process! Yayyyyy so here are some additional pictures from the Cloisonné Factory, Bird's Nest (this is for Madisyn's team), Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Hutong tour. Believe it or not we have seen and done even more than listed here in the last 48 hours!! Whew BIG DAYS.

Family picture at Cloisonné Factory

Tiananmen Square

Birds Nest building where Olympic Games were held in Beijing

Pictures from the Great Wall

The Great Wall truly was awesome, and it was a difficult climb! Our family did great and made it up to the highest tower in that section!! Cameron slept for 5 hours after the climb and was wide awake at 2 am. Ughhhh!!! To Kathy and gymnastics team: Madisyn felt like she got a workout equal to being in the gym for practice!!!

Touring Beijing

We had a very full day of sight seeing today. The Great Wall was awesome to see and a challenge to climb. Cameron slept for 5 hours after the climb!! We are all having a great time with one GREAT challenge... The food!! The kids are not impressed with Chinese food and Madisyn thinks she is going to starve. According to Madisyn and Cameron even Subway is not the same here. Sigh!!
We are traveling with 10 other families and are enjoying getting to know each other. One in our group has waited nearly nine years to meet her little girl( I can't imagine). We are so happy that one other couple is getting a little one very close to Rhylan's age from Sanmenxia too. We are getting SO close to getting our little Rhylan.
My brother was right when he said that the driving here is crazy and crossing the street hazardous! They believe in honking horns too....ALL the time. Hoping to sleep better tonight because I am so tired and was grouchy today. The jet lag, time difference,and wall climbing is catching up with me and tomorrow my body will feel it. Madisyn said that everyone is more interested in pictures than what I have to say so I am going to try to post some of our sights from today. Love to all from Beijing!!!

Safe in Beijing

We are safely here and the city is huge, (20 million people), beautiful, and noisy. The kids were AWESOME travelers on the LONG flight. Of course traveling was easy because they had more screen time today than ever before!!! So very tired and hoping for a good nights rest. Sending love and thanks for all the prayers from Beijing!!

Safe in Chicago

We have made it safely and with some adventure to Chicago! Already creating memories ha! The boys are disappointed because the hotel does not have a pool! All three kids thought the trip to Chicago was long.  Sigh, the plane ride to Beijing should be fun!! Hoping it offers decent, kid friendly movies or games to help the time go by quickly!  Next time we communicate hopefully we will be safely in Beijing. We leave the US as a family of five and will return as a family of SIX!!! Thanks for all the prayers,

Packed and Ready BUT Snowed In

We are currently ready to go...BUT completely snowed in!! We had a plan....BUT that also did not go as smoothly as we thought it would!  My dad's snow blower, which we were depending on to get us both out of our lanes and to the main roads, is currently gelling up due to the extremely frigid temperatures.  As of now we are  waiting on the county trucks to come get our road and lane cleared!  To add to the fun, Chris's truck is stuck in a 5 foot snow drift in the middle of our lawn (long story)! Good news is that according to our travel agency United Airlines has been continuing flights out of Chicago!  Thanks for keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers!!

Well wishes and Prayers

As we went thru the church doors this morning I mentioned to Chris that the next time we came to church we would have Rhylan with us!  We were so touched by the many safe travel comments and most of all by the knowledge that our church family will be remembering us in prayer!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!!  We are thankful to have such a supportive church family and appreciate all the love and kindness shown to us.
On another note, we had been going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth (ha) on when we should leave with the approaching storm.  The kids of course wanted to leave NOW!!  We have decided at this point to leave as soon as wind calms and roads clear which maybe tomorrow (Monday) or Tuesday hopefully at the latest. Hoping and praying our flight will go as scheduled on Wednesday morning. Trying not to worry and remain calm at this point.  Reminding myself that God is in control and has a plan!!!
Here is a picture we received with an update of our little Rhylan in October.

Winter Snowstorm Warning

 I went to bed exhausted after a long day of school and work, but was unable to sleep very well.  The culprit was worry and fretting over something I have absolutely no control over.... THE WEATHER!! I  had my head so buried in the busyness of school and preparing to travel that I was not even aware of the weatherman's predictions until I arrived at work.  Well not only was it the 3rd day of the month (social security money in account to pay for medicines), the weatherman's warning of impending storm had EVERYONE swarming into the pharmacy wanting their medication NOW!!! I quickly learned that we are in area where they are predicting 8-12 inches of snow!! NOT WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR WHEN WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEAVING FOR CHINA AT THE SAME TIME!!  I definitely have not been able to practice what I preach to my children, "Ninety percent of what we worry about never occurs, so don't worry about the what-ifs." I keep reminding myself that weathermen are often wrong and that God is in control of this situation! We are almost all packed and Chris wants me to finish in case we do leave early to get to Chicago.  The day will be spent once again checking things off the travel list of to do's that seems to keep growing instead of getting smaller HA!!
 I am comforted by the verse, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."