tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54034508636169716382024-03-14T00:43:56.912-07:00The Long Way Home<center>Our Journey to Ethan and Reese</center>Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-18324174065861417462015-12-16T19:10:00.003-08:002015-12-16T19:10:16.574-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzfNyGgHcwc/VnInY0ACjxI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/WHi_Don_T5A/s1600/DSC_1029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bva="true" closure_lm_249168="null" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzfNyGgHcwc/VnInY0ACjxI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/WHi_Don_T5A/s320/DSC_1029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-10741333420666009502013-07-08T22:18:00.000-07:002013-07-08T22:18:19.808-07:00Happy 6 month Gotcha Day Anniversary!
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cI1MP1Nx6s4/Uduc6Jj5DfI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/Y2IHcEzMY-M/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cI1MP1Nx6s4/Uduc6Jj5DfI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/Y2IHcEzMY-M/s320/Slide1.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Six months ago today our family became complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to believe it has only been six
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am still amazed at the events
and God-moments that led up to January 8, 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that Tim and I have done a good job telling our story to
people, as it is such a testimony to the power and love of our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I feel a huge burden to talk about
how God formed our family because I want to share the love of Christ with
anyone who will listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately I
feel like some people who need to hear it the most have distanced themselves
from us in the last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is on my
mind so often that I know God is talking to me about it for a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a large family is exactly what God
prepared us for and I feel so blessed every day for each one of my six
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that to some it may seem
that the chaos, penny-pinching, and exhausting nature of such a big family is
crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I say that I wouldn’t have
it any other way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly believe if we
hadn’t answered God’s call to adopt we would be spiritually broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would be searching for happiness and joy
in all the wrong places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But because we
did follow God’s plan, our hearts our filled with a joy only Christ can fill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the Women of Joy conference in April, one
of the speakers talked about this and gave the analogy of filling a “Jesus” cup
up with water and visualizing that part of your heart that was made to be
filled with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then I have had
my little glass in my kitchen window and I fill it up and pray that I can keep
listening to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All
that being said, I don’t want to pretend that our life is perfect and we are
smiling all the time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had our
rough days and our moments of frustration for sure!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still get very angry about the August trip to China and the
money that was lost because our agency wasn’t honest with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cringe at the debt we have and the
impossibility of paying it off any time soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The problems with the adoption world, especially the waiting and cost,
weighs on my mind, and I wish I could find a way to advocate for other
families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are definitely done
adopting, but I want to stay involved with orphan care and adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have some friends that are waiting to
travel to adopt their little girl from Thailand and the wait has been
excruciating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should have traveled
in June, but keep getting delayed for no apparent reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart aches for them, especially since
Lauren is turning two this month and isn’t home to celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know that God’s timing is perfect, so
all we can do is keep praying for them and for Lauren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be a huge relief when they finally
get the call that they have their First Approval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I had the magic words to comfort them while they wait, but
I know that nothing but God can take away that empty feeling of missing a child
you have never met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our church has so
many adoptive families and I want to continue to build our Adoption
Ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim and I have so many ideas,
but lately, so little time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
there are big things in store and I have to have the patience and remember that
this season in my life is short and I need to devote attention to my family to
make sure I am being the best mommy and wife I can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a very delicate balancing act going
on in my life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay,
enough about me…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my little ones have
changed so much in 6 months!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan is
so healthy, you would never know he had all those problems with his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He acts like a two year old boy, and I have
discovered that boys really are different than girls!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is rough and tough, but sweet, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can be very stubborn, but most of the time he is just an
awesome little Momma’s boy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t
sleep very well and most nights we are up with him at least once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if he has bad dreams or just
wants someone in with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stay with
him in his room until he falls asleep, but I try to make the most of that quiet
time and read my bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to have
patience with this, but after having my girls be such great sleepers, it was
hard to come to grips with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
probably sounds selfish, but I am just being honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan’s language is improving, but he is still very hard to
understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has made up some sign
language to get his point across and definitely makes us aware of what he
wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves to build with any kind
of block, I love watching him concentrate on balancing things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He uses his left and right hands
equally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants to be with me the
majority of the time, but he does well at daycare, even when he sees me in my
office or with my class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got to
attend summer school in June and his teachers said he did well!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He learned to recognize his name on his
carpet square and made some super cute crafts that he was really proud of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made a portfolio of all this work and
it is so adorable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves his sisters
and he has some special times with his daddy, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still calls Reese “Mei Mei” and I hope that he always does
because it is so cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They like to
water the plants on the porch together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We just got back from Wisconsin where we visited my grandad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is who we named Ethan after and it was
great to finally introduce them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
a 12 hour trip and went pretty smoothly considering it was our first long car
ride with two 2 year olds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Reese
is still our little peanut and is very feisty!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She gets in to stuff and does things the other kids never would have
thought of doing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gives us a run
for our money but also has us laughing hysterically most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a somewhat picky eater, yet she will
pick stuff up off the floor and try to eat it no matter what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can be pretty gross, but so stinking
cute you just have to laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is
talking pretty well and saying a lot of words very clearly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She still jabbers like she is speaking
Chinese, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To say thank you she
still says it in Chinese and I hope she never stops because it is so cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went to summer school, too, where she
“pushed the limits” as her teacher said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think she makes up for her small size by being a very mighty
presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the naughty things
she does are not being mean, just ornery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has bitten Ethan several times really hard, but so far, no other
kids, so at least I don’t have to worry about kicking her out of my
daycare!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her attention span is pretty
short with toys and she loves to drag toys all over the house and leave
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is showing a lot of interest
in potty-training and is highly motivated by candy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are proud of her for going on the potty and hoping now that we
are back from vacation we can be more diligent with helping her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She does not like to keep her ponytails or
hairbows in which drives me crazy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
is a good sleeper except when she falls out of her bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also loves her big sisters and her
brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she is more of a
daddy’s girl but that might be because Ethan gets jealous when she is having
mommy time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes she laughs at
herself for no apparent reason and it is really funny, her giggle is contagious
and precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she knows she is
really in trouble, she closes her eyes and pretends we can’t see her
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very hard to discipline
her because she is so hilarious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is
finally outgrowing her size 5 shoes and her 18 months shirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of them have such tiny bottoms that 18
month shorts still fit them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have made a lot of special memories as a family in the last 6 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been so awesome to watch the girls
bond with Ethan and Reese, each in their own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To say they have been helpful is an understatement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They amaze me every day with how responsible
they are with helping with the little kids and household chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a pretty good system with laundry
and cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isabella, bless her
heart, loves to do dishes, so 99.9% of the time she does all of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loves things to be neat and tidy, so she
does a lot of housework for fun, especially this summer when she is home during
the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The others help, too, but not
quite as willingly as Isabella.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just
got two kittens for her today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has
wanted a new pet since Justin, the guinea pig, died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know she will take excellent care of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Becca
kicked butt in soccer this year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
freshman, she earned a Varsity letter, the Team Spirit award, and Most Improved
award.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also had a trip to the
Emergency Room when she was playing goalie in her first Varsity appearance and
she sliced her hand open on the goal post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had left the game because we had no idea she was going to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really disgusting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ended up with five stitches between her
middle and ring finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This prompted
her teammates to hold their hands up in a Star Trek pose all the time to greet
her or cheer for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she
plays basketball, too, there is nothing better than watching the determination
and love she has for the game of soccer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She gives 100% all the time and we were so proud of her for not getting
caught up in some of the upperclassmen drama and bad attitudes. We are thrilled
that her 8<sup>th</sup> grade basketball coach is the new head coach for
soccer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a great guy and
coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ryleigh
is looking forward to starting junior high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She loved sixth grade with all the extra things like archery and
band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been going to summer
basketball and we are praying that it goes well for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got to join the Youth Group at church
and she loves it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is still our
worrier, but is also like a second mommy to Ethan and Reese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan calls her “Dah-way”, it is so
cute!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Reagan
is getting so big all of a sudden!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
has changed so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she has
had the biggest adjustment of all, but for the most part, she has accepted her
role as middle child like a champ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
loves us to compare Ethan and Reese to her, just to make sure that she was
adorable and funny when she was their age!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is still shy outside of home and we have noticed that she prefers to
be at home rather than out and about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is still sure that she wants to be a “hair-cutter” when she grows up
and spends a lot of time practicing on her Barbie heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of the most difficult things about life right now is not having a lot of time
for just Tim and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We haven’t had a
date night in a very long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
so exhausted at night and we talk about needing to plan some time for us, but
it seems like that gets pushed aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am hoping that will change because I don’t want to neglect our marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
continue to feel so blessed by all the friends and family who have loved and
supported us, cried and celebrated with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love that Ethan and Reese are surrounded by the wonderful people who
prayed them home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-19035338915205410222013-01-28T11:13:00.001-08:002013-01-28T11:13:52.559-08:00FAQ<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
So, there are several questions that keep getting
asked, so I thought it would be fun to just blog the answers!</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
1. Do Ethan and Reese play well together?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
Answer: Hmmm... if you call always wanting to play with
the same toy at the same time, getting along! :) Ethan is nicer to her than she
is to him, like he will try to give her a cup or toy to make her stop crying
and he shares more easily than she does. Maybe because she is younger or maybe
she is just a drama queen in the making! They are very cute together and they
both love to have the freedom to just play! </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
2. Is Ethan healthy?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
Answer: Yes, so healthy I cannot believe it! James 5:15
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well..."
He is very active and "normal" for a 2 year old boy. He is fond of
throwing himself on the floor and hitting his head when he is mad! I am sure he
will be my first child to need stitches!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We will visit Dr. Brus on Thursday for a well-check for both kids and
then Dr. Tong again at the end of February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
3. Are you exhausted?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
Answer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel
like we are over the jet-lag, so that part of being exhausted is thankfully in
the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids are both sleeping
well, so we can sleep soundly all night. They also nap very well during the
day, so I get a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think when I
go back to work, I will feel a different kind of exhaustion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now, I can focus on Ethan and Reese
during the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have time for
laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
will change drastically when we all leave at 7:40 and don’t come home until
after 4:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to be off on
Mondays, which is new for me to have a day off during the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am praying I can keep up with work stuff
and make the most of that day at home, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Phil. 4:13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt 27.6pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 27.6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span>Are you adjusting?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
Answer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Isabella- yes, she is so sweet with the little kids, she is her normal
very helpful self!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is very
conscientious and watches for ways she can help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Becca- yes, she is super eager to help and loves Ethan and Reese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gets frustrated when she tries to help
and it doesn’t work out so well, but she is learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are looking forward to
watching the rest of her basketball games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryleigh- yes, she is so good with Ethan and Reese, she is like another
mother, for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan warmed up to
her quicker than anyone else and I think it is because she didn’t give him a
choice!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful for her help and
proud of her maturity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reagan- yes, but
we are making an extra effort to let her know even though she isn’t the baby
anymore, we still love her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asks a
lot of questions like “did I do that when I was a baby”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and “remember when I was doing that”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she wants to make sure we don’t
forget how cute, charming, special, and amazing she is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She likes to feed Reese and play with both
of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She helps at bathtime, but not
diaper changing time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan- yes, he is
still most attached to me, but he is very happy and can be stubborn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He understands time-out in his room!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese- yes, but I worry that she is not as
attached to one of us as Ethan is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have been rocking her at night and most of the time, she lets me and seems to
enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will go to anybody, which
of course, is not a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will
see how time changes that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as
anyone says “bye-bye” she starts blowing kisses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She found her very loud voice and chooses to scream extremely
loudly when things are not going her way or just for no reason at all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then she also has the most contagious
smile and laugh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is getting better
about walking instead of being carried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tim and I- yes, so far we are making a good team and keeping everything
running relatively smoothly in our crazy house!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes a lot of effort to make time for each other, but we have
made a promise to do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel so
blessed to be on this journey with my perfect match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt 27.6pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 27.6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span>Are Ethan and Reese good eaters?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
Answer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes and
Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese is not a huge fan of meat,
but she is a good (and very slow) eater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She takes little tiny bites and likes to be fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is doing much better drinking from sippy
cups by herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan is a great
eater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t like very many cold
foods, but pretty much eats everything on his plate most meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been so blessed by our Small Group
and other family and friends with delicious meals, so we have all been eating
some very yummy food!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things may change
when it’s mommy cooking all the time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They both ate tuna sandwiches for lunch the other day, so I am happy to
have someone to share that with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
also love milk and water, so that’s good, too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
So, I think those are the Top 5 Frequently Asked
Questions and the best answers I could come up with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our family continues to feel so blessed to all be together and
slowly we are getting back to all the regular activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh started basketball, so we have that
to work into our schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I said,
I know when I go back to work, things will change again, so I am going to
really try to enjoy this week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-17017375586027932872013-01-23T12:06:00.001-08:002013-01-23T12:06:20.057-08:00Settling In To A New Normal
<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
I have waited for this time for so long and now it
is here... New Normal! I think I would be enjoying it much more if jet lag
wasn't kicking my butt. I remember how hard it was when we brought Reagan home
to get back to the right timezone, so I know it just takes time, but it's
frustrating to be so tired. Tim went back to work yesterday, so I was on my
own! We dropped Ryleigh and Reagan off at school and then went to Wal-Mart. It
went well. I am hoping I get more efficient about getting the little kids in and
out of their carseats. We worried they would hate being strapped in carseats
after being free in China, but they don't seem to mind! I guess I should back
up and start where the last post left off (forgive me if none of this makes
sense!).</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
Our trip home was looooong. Our flight from GZ to
Beijing was delayed and we ended up getting to our hotel room at 1:30, so we
went to bed at around 2:00, but Ethan was wide awake and jumping around in his
bed. I wanted to cry! He was being hilarious, but I kept thinking that every
minute that passed was less time to sleep before the long 24 hours ahead of us.
The alarm went off at 5:30 and we got ready and met Grace in the lobby about
6:45. Pretty expensive nap and shower! We made it to the airport and got
checked-in. Thank the Lord for Grace, she talked to the guy at the counter
about our seats (after getting us moved to the front of this crazy long line!)
and we got bulkhead seating and a bassinet for Reese. Answered prayers! I knew
Ethan was exhausted and just hoped he would sleep 8 hours and get a full nights
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started crying when we took
off and as soon as we were up in the air, I unbuckled him and held him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He instantly fell asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was pretty restless, but stayed
asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He moved from me holding him,
to his seat, to the floor periodically, but he ended up sleeping the entire
flight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He woke up a couple of times to
eat and drink a little bit and I changed his diaper one time, but pretty much
he was out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was worried because he
was so sleepy for so long, but I knew he had a little cough and cold, plus he
had two bad nights of sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese did
great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She liked sitting in the
bassinet playing with toys and ate great, slept some, and was generally happy
the whole trip!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I consider it a God
thing because I had prayed so hard for our trip to go well and it exceeded
anything I could have hoped for!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes,
Tim and I were completely exhausted, but the kids did so well, I was
thrilled!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard for us to rest
because of all the people up and talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have never seen anything like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a large group of young people that obviously knew each other
and they just stood in the aisles and talked and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard to get to the bathroom because
they wouldn’t move!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very annoying, to
say the least!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our flight attendants
were nice and friendly and curious about the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was another answered prayer because we just hoped to have
understanding flight attendants and we did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We arrived early in Chicago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were able to take our time since we had a very long layover, so we went through
immigration, which was just as simple as could be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We checked to make sure that Reese didn’t need a boarding pass
for our last flight, since we didn’t get one in Beijing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got on the shuttle to the right place to
wait and once we got settled in the right terminal it was about 9:45!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our flight didn’t leave until 5:00 so we had
quite a bit of time to waste, which is very difficult when you are so tired,
have two toddlers, and a bunch of stuff!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We found Chili’s and sat down to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our plan was to eat slowly and hang out there as long as we could, but
then a group from the plane (the ones that talked so long and loud) came and
sat right behind us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UGH!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we finished up and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hoping to find a nice quiet corner to
camp out for several hours, but there was no such place in the O’Hare that
day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we did the best we could to
make ourselves comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan slept
in the stroller most of the day and Reese slept on a little palate we made out
of coats and blankets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought we
shouldn’t both sleep, so we took turns dozing, but it was very hard to get any
real rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly, but surely, the time
passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At about 3:00 we refreshed
ourselves in the bathroom and I changed the kids into their Little Brother/Lil
Sister shirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked to the girls
on the phone and could feel the anticipation building!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
The flight to Springfield was short and sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we landed, I couldn’t stop the tears
from flowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was such a huge relief
to be home and to be facing that moment we had waited on for so long….
Introducing our kids to each other!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
got Ethan in the stroller and Tim carried Reese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we rounded the corner we could see the girls and a huge
crowd of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t stop the
tears!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were so many people there
clapping and cheering as we passed through the doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just as amazing as I knew it would be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan just stared at people, like he
couldn’t believe all the hoopla!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese
was smiling at everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started
hugging and thanking people and just taking in the moment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was incredible to see our friends and
family and to have them share this special time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that so many people were relieved and happy to see us and
Ethan and Reese are gifts to them as well!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the best parts was to see all the kids who have been so faithful
to pray for Ethan and Reese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smiles
and greetings from them were so precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
Our friend, Lance, drove us home again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was such a different atmosphere than in
August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we were thankful he agreed
to be a part of this last leg of our journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was so much fun to talk with the girls and get caught up on what went
on while we were gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got home,
we unpacked all the souvenirs and showed the girls everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone went to bed when we decided we were
too tired to talk anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh and
Reagan slept on Reese’s floor to make sure she did okay in her bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan went right to sleep in his bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
Ethan felt a lot better on Saturday and we had a great
day just hanging out at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls
were shoving toys at the little ones left and right trying to show them
everything in their rooms!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan and
Reese did great not getting overwhelmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They played and played.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
both ate well, we are enjoying lots of delicious food from our friends and my
mom’s awesome chicken tetrazini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
made it to church on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
wonderful to be back at Lifepoint and to introduce Ethan and Reese to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up having to take Ethan out of the
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was being loud and not
wanting to sit still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was laughing so
hard at him and I know we were distracting everyone around us, so I just took
him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese sat nicely on Tim’s lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
We didn’t make it to Small Group Sunday night even
though we really wanted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were so
exhausted and couldn’t get fully awake after taking a long afternoon nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Monday, Ethan had his doctor’s
appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to my parent’s
house first for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My nieces were
there so they got to meet their new cousins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we got to Dr. Tong’s office, we were informed that we were
late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought the appointment was at
2:00 but it was really at 1:00, but luckily they were nice about it and let us
stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were so impressed with the
nurses and Dr. Tong was as amazing as we thought he would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan did so great at each of the
stations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laid so still for each
test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they did his pulse-ox he
knew how to work the machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nurse
said he was the best patient ever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were informed that everything is fine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His pacemaker is working 94% of the time for his lower heart, which
apparently is normal and fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
said he has 6.5 years left on the battery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am in awe of medical technology and so thankful for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The appointment took about 2 hours and the
other kids waited pretty patiently in the waiting room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully Reese is so easy going!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will go back in a month to check
everything again, since this first appointment gave a baseline of everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 9.6pt 0pt;">
It still seems a little bit surreal that we have them
home and life is moving along with them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am so thankful, so blessed, and so grateful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will stay home with them for a couple of weeks and then we will
transition back to Bright Beginnings where they can play with their friends and
hang out with me in my office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
anxious to get back to BB and let Ethan and Reese get to know everyone
there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I will have Tim put some pictures on here later! </div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-31027864288074176732013-01-19T20:12:00.003-08:002013-01-19T20:14:15.834-08:00What else can you say?<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mbYDhQUwq0E?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-1715620488581427032013-01-15T23:59:00.000-08:002013-01-16T00:17:48.045-08:00Winding Down in Guangzhou<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SV_TqO0I1VY/UPZenWSZE3I/AAAAAAAAAwc/zVA4o7Ta594/s1600/IMG_8142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SV_TqO0I1VY/UPZenWSZE3I/AAAAAAAAAwc/zVA4o7Ta594/s320/IMG_8142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Yesterday we went to the zoo. It was a beautiful day and we had fun. We have heard some negative things about zoos in China, but we had a pretty good experience. It was cool to see the panda bear. The cutest thing was some teeny tiny piglets. Strangest thing… grasshoppers! The kids seemed to like it and it was a good way to spend the morning!
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsvLOP-IEFM/UPZfJ5Jsd0I/AAAAAAAAAwo/j0oJXTZ4bd0/s1600/IMG_8210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsvLOP-IEFM/UPZfJ5Jsd0I/AAAAAAAAAwo/j0oJXTZ4bd0/s320/IMG_8210.JPG" width="320" /></a>We came back to the hotel and napped and then met our group to go out for Mexican food! We had a good time and the food was amazing! Ethan and Reese both loved it! They ate nachos with beans and cheese and shared a burrito! So happy they like Mexican food! It was a good night out, it’s always fun to be with our group.
<br />
<br />
This morning was an early morning- BOO! We had to meet at 7:45 to go to the Consulate. Just like with Reagan, this part was very anti-climatic. We said an oath as a group that all of our paperwork is true and correct, blah, blah, blah. Then they called each family up one at a time to do the paperwork. Guess who as last? Yep, the Tuckers! Luckily they had a little play area for the kids and a western toilet for me! When it was our turn to go up to the window, there was a group of people standing behind the lady helping us. They explained that they were a group from the CCCWA visiting. Kind of neat to see the people who work there! Everyone acts surprised and happy that we are adopting two kids at one time. Someone made the comment today that “you saved money making one trip”. I didn’t have the heart to explain the whole thing. And it doesn’t really matter now anyway! It is what it is and we are almost at the end of this crazy and unbelievable journey.
<br />
<br />
We went back to Shamain Island to shop today to get the last of the gifts and souvenirs. Kelly only allowed an hour and twenty minutes for the group, so one of the other moms, Dana, and I decided to stay and take a taxi back. It was so much fun shopping with her! Ethan stayed with us and he did great, what a trooper he is! We took our time finding exactly what we wanted and shared our stories as we shopped. I absolutely loved hearing her story and how God led them to adopt. I think every adoptive family should write a book. Nobody’s story is the same, yet they are all so awesome. We got a taxi and loaded up our stuff, put the stroller in the trunk, and told the driver where to go. As we are driving a long chatting, we notice that the trunk popped up. Dana tried to tell the driver but he didn’t speak English and ignored her. The next thing you know we hear a terrible thud, thud, thud and we are just sure the stroller fell out and got run over. I was freaking out a little bit thinking Tim would be so mad to have to buy another stroller and that there’s no way we could make it without the stroller on the trip home. We were laughing and trying to figure out what to do. We couldn’t see enough to tell if the stroller was definitely gone, so we just had to wait until we got back to the hotel. Thank goodness it was still in the back of the trunk when we got back. It gave us a good laugh, though! Who knows what the noise we heard really was!
<br />
<br />
We are pretty much free until we leave tomorrow night. We will meet Kelly in the lobby at 5:45 so we can head to the airport to fly to Beijing (where the pollution is worse than it has ever been- yikes!). We don’t get there until really late, I think it’s 11:30. We will have to drive all that way back to the Poly Plaza hotel, where we stayed before. Then we will have to leave there early the next morning to go back to the airport to fly to Chicago. Although it will be a short stay in the hotel, it will be a bed and a shower! Grace will meet us in Beijing. I am praying that he kids will do well on these flights, that everything will be on time, and God will put patient people in our path. We know this will be a long trip, but it has to be done to get us home! We cannot wait to introduce these two to their big sisters, grandparents, relatives, and friends! I am happy with how well things have gone in China and with all the wonderful blessings that have come out of this trip. I bought myself a necklace today that has the Chinese symbol for Blessing on it. I think that sums it up nicely!
I don’t know if I will blog anymore for awhile, but if you live in our area I hope I will see you at the airport. We arrive in Springfield at 6:30 on Friday night! This will be the beginning of a whole new life for Ethan and Reese and it will be the first moment that our completed family will be together… I am smiling from ear to ear and getting teary eyed just thinking about it! <br />
<br />
I think it is an appropriate time to give some advice… the only way to find true joy is to follow God’s plan for your life. He is speaking to each of us and will walk to path before us, all we have to do is give our lives to Him and follow His lead. An outsider looking in at our family would probably think we have every reason to doubt, be angry, be bitter… but we are blessed, especially knowing that we never gave up on God. He has been right beside us all along. He picked us up, comforted us, and blessed us. I am so thankful for our church and our small group and our dear friends who have believed in our family, who have prayed for us and supported us in so many ways. This is the story God intended and I am so glad to be a part of it! My prayer is that anyone reading this blog will find the same joy and peace in Christ that we have. It’s a gift for everyone, no matter what your circumstances, so don’t let your life pass you by without receiving it!
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-47926147000361557162013-01-14T05:32:00.000-08:002013-01-14T15:16:56.311-08:00Missed a day of blogging, so I feel behind! Exhaustion and crappy internet service is to blame.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UO4-k7982tI/UPQIWOudI8I/AAAAAAAAAv4/-n0p1STF-rA/s1600/IMG_7903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UO4-k7982tI/UPQIWOudI8I/AAAAAAAAAv4/-n0p1STF-rA/s320/IMG_7903.JPG" /></a></div>
On Sunday, we went to the Chen Family Temple and the Pearl Market. We had done this same thing in 2005 with Reagan so we knew what to expect! Ethan was not impressed at the Chen Family’s place, he got mad at threw himself into one of his tantrums and bumped his head pretty hard on a marble floor. So needless to say, the Tuckers excused themselves from the group and wandered around trying to make the Little Emperor behave! He perked up and even let Tim hold his hand to walk. We took our time and looked around and then went back out to the meeting spot, where another little one in our group was throwing an Ethan-like fit. Chinese people think it is a great show to watch American parents trying to control their Chinese children. They just stand there and stare and it is really kind of infuriating!
After that we went to the Pearl Market, where Kelly took us to a reputable store. The sales people lay out a bunch of strands of pearls and tell you the prices and you pick your strand. Then they make it into whatever you want. We got a bracelet for me and 2 little ones for Reese. The kids were really good while we waited. I was very impressed!
When we got back to the hotel we had lunch from McDonalds, napped and played. Reese and Ethan are starting to interact a little more with each other and so far they really like each other! We’ll see how that changes through the years!
We discovered that Reese really likes icecream! Ethan took one bite and made a terrible face and refused any more, so Reese at almost an entire McFlurry by herself! She was so excited about it!
It is so fun to get to know their personalities after wondering for so long. Ethan’s favorite things: Mommy, helping throw away trash, cleaning up, listening to mommy and daddy sing the Kai Lan intro song, pushing elevator buttons, carbs, pork dumplings, being tickled, French fries, taking a bath, escalators.
Reese’s favorite things: icecream, rolls, hot tea, being held, chips, blowing kisses bye-bye, imitating people, riding in the Baby Bjorn, being tickled on her back and neck, being fed, fried rice. She turns when you say her name now and is way more spunky since she has pooped a few more times!
Today (Monday) we went to a really cool and very pretty garden. It was another gorgeous day so it was a great morning to be out and about. Ethan rode in the stroller and daddy carried Reese in the Baby Bjorn. We took lots of pictures and a video of Ethan throwing a tantrum. We got so frustrated with our audience of Chinese people giving us the evil eye. We just let him sit and we walk away and say bye and then hold out a hand for him to come and he screams a bit. Sometimes this goes on for a few minutes, but seriously, people stop and stare and watch the whole thing! It is so rude and weird! Tim finally said “okay, people, show is over!” when we were getting him back into the stroller. I know that him being so strong-willed is what helped him survive all he has been through, so I am thankful for my Little Emperor even when he is being a difficult two year old boy! As soon as his fit is over, he is back to his smiling little sweet self. He just has to take some time to show us that he thinks he is the boss! Reese just watches him! Wish I knew what she was thinking!
Later in the day we went on a journey through a Spice Market. That was quite an experience! We saw all kinds of things for sale, including lots of pets and even scorpions, that Kelly told us are eaten here in soup or fried! DISGUSTING! It was fun to walk thru the streets and just see it all. From there we walked to Shamain Island. This is my favorite part of China! Even though it is not the same as 2005 (the White Swan hotel is completely torn apart and won’t be finished for another couple of years) we loved being back where we made all those great memories with Reagan. Just seeing familiar places and shopping was awesome. We only had two hours, which was not enough time, before our group met the bus to head back to the hotel. But we made the most of our time and bought lots of good stuff! I feel like Ethan is getting the short end of the stick on the souvenirs because everything I want to buy is pretty girly! We got both of the kids some squeaky shoes, which they LOVED trying out in the hotel room! Our biggest purchase was an etching of all our kids’ faces. We won’t get it until tomorrow and I hope it turns out well. We have one of these of Ryleigh and Reagan and also one of Reagan with Emily, Lindsey, and Klaire. These are kids that were adopted around the same time in our town and the Bauers got it for us while they were in China. They are so cool and I am really excited about it. The prices of everything have definitely gone up since 2005. I hate that all those little shops have suffered from the White Swan being closed.
Tomorrow we are going to the zoo. I am excited about it! We didn’t do this with Reagan, so this will be new to us. Then our group is going to all go eat at a Mexican restaurant with our guide tomorrow night. We really have such a great group. I love hearing everyone talk about how adoption has changed their lives. The families who are adopting for the first time have been changed forever and I think about how they will go home and share their story with others and who knows how many people will decide to adopt because of them. I love how God works! At breakfast this morning they seated us in a separate room from the main area along with many other adoptive families. It was not convenient as far as getting to the food, but we met some new families from other agencies. One family was going to have their Gotcha day today. There is just nothing like the bond that adoptive families have. Reese is so friendly to everyone, she loves attention and blows kisses all the time! Ethan is a little more reserved and doesn’t interact with people as much. If Reese hears someone talking loud as we are walking around she shouts back at them. It is really funny. We discovered tonight that both kids love M and M’s, so that might help on the plane ride home! I am trying so hard not to have so much anxiety about the trip home, but I am really nervous. I appreciate all the prayers being lifted up on our behalf.
I am ready to be at home. I miss my girls more and more every day. Kelly’s daughter came with us to the garden today and she was so beautiful, just like Reagan. It made me really miss her. Just seeing girls that are the same ages as my girls makes me sad that we still have so much time left. I am so ready to be home together as a family of 8!
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-36915385491648051782013-01-12T06:12:00.002-08:002013-01-12T06:12:15.110-08:00Today was an awesome day! We had breakfast, along with 40 million other people in the hotel. We saw lots of adoptive families and people from all over the world. After we ate, we met our group in the lobby and headed to the Clinic where all adopted children have to have an exam. It was super crowded, but I absolutely loved seeing all the families. We saw kids of all ages and loved catching bits and pieces of others’ stories. You can just see God’s handiwork looking at all those kids who are orphans no longer!
Ethan and Reese did pretty well during the 3 stations of their exams. They wouldn’t let me go with Ethan for his blood test and I was a little nervous. I could see him through a window in the door, but when he was screaming, they shut the curtain and I couldn’t see much but shadows then. They poked him in his wrist, which seemed a little odd to me and he had a bandaid that I had to put pressure on for “3-5 minutes”. Several times later in the day, he would take my fingers and make me put pressure on it again, like he was reminding me it was there! They only do bloodwork on the kids 2 and over so we thought Reese was good to go, but then the doctor wasn’t satisfied with her medical report. He thought the orphanage should have been more specific about her treatment. So, Kelly called Grace who was supposed to call the Director and get more information. And they made her have the blood test. They poked her in the normal place to take blood and she also had a bandaid that needed pressure on it. By the time we got done the room had completely cleared out, so apparently they close at noon. We were left with one other family, who I just love. They have 6 adopted kids at home and are here for number 7! The rest of the group was waiting outside. The weather is wonderful here, no need to even wear a jacket. Ethan and Reese dressed in one layer for probably the first time in their lives!
On the way back to the hotel, we made plans to do paperwork at 2:30 in Kelly’s room. The kids were ready to nap, so we got them down and Tim went to get lunch. He got rice and noodles and then some kind of wrap that he got from a street vendor for himself- I was very surprised he ate something that he had no idea what it was or where it came from, but he liked it!
The paperwork was pretty simple, it was mainly getting everything in order for Kelly to take to the U.S. consulate to get Visas for the kids and the paperwork that we will carry back with us to Chicago, where Ethan and Reese will become U.S. citizens! Of course that is contingent upon us surviving our 13 hour flight home!
The kids slept until it was time to go to Wal-Mart. I love Chinese Wal-Marts! They have totally normal Wal-Mart items and then they have lots of other stuff. We forgot to put the memory card back in the camera from the computer, so we had to video. The funniest thing we saw was a little girl peeing right there by the fish tanks (the kind of tanks full of live fish you buy to eat, not keep as a pet). It dawned on me that you see these drains all over China and that is what they are for… to pee in. So kids of all ages (and I suppose maybe adults, too!!!) just squat and pee right there. Another reason to not follow the motto “When in China, do as the Chinese do”! We bought some necessities like diapers and wipes and Reese a new cup, Ethan some shoes for church, snacks, water, and few fun things to take home to the girls. It is cool to be here so close to Chinese New Year and see all the decorations for sale. The kids were really good sitting in the cart and once we got too much stuff in it, Ethan walked and Reese moved to the seat. Ethan helped push, it was cute. He also loved helping put stuff up on the conveyer belt. He is such a little helper! He gets so excited when you ask him to do something for you. He is really smart knowing what you are talking about.
Reese still cries every time we are in the van. She just doesn’t like it. I don’t know if she gets carsick or she it just annoys her! We tried a sucker to distract her, but she didn’t care too much about it. We gave it to Ethan and he loved it! He loves watching vehicles go by and making a “vroom” sound. We gave Reese her constipation tea to drink and that helped distract her, so they second ride of the day was better than the first.
Kelly took Papa Johns pizza orders and had it delivered to the hotel for dinner. We had a carpet picnic in the room since there is nowhere to sit. The kids liked that. Then we had tons of fun just playing. During bath time, Reese was hilarious. She finally liked splashing and playing. The whole glass bathroom is actually really kid friendly because they can splash all they want. Tim sat on the bed and they threw cups of water up on the glass. He acted like it hit him and Ethan was laughing so hard. It was precious! It was so fun to watch their faces light up. The thought did cross my mind that they won’t be able to go crazy like that at home when there is not glass wall!
Ethan and Reese are both opening up so much and I am so amazed at each of them. I can’t wait for them to play with their sisters at home and meet their extended family and friends at church and Bright Beginnings.
There are two older sisters in the group who have become friends. Listening to them talk makes me miss the girls even more. I hate missing Becca’s games and it makes me sad to miss all the little things, too. I know Ryleigh has a hard time and it is so difficult to know she is missing us. Isabella doesn’t say much on skype, so I feel very disconnected from her. No doubt about it, it stinks to not have our family all together. But we are on the last leg of this journey. It sounds like there will be some fun group activities to do to help make the time go faster. Tomorrow we are going to the Chen Family Temple and the Pearl Market. We did both the things on Reagan’s adoption trip, but we thought it would be worth going again. Pearls are easy to pack!
Feeling very blessed tonight as I type this and think about these babies who did so much giggling today. I am so thankful that God called us to adopt them and I am extremely grateful to all the people who prayed for and are continuing to pray for them. Ethan is so healthy and active. God knew the right timing of each event that led up to these moments. He watched over both of them and prepared all of us to become a family. Praise God for His awesomeness, power, and love!
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-72785470735530973372013-01-11T16:34:00.004-08:002013-01-11T16:34:50.580-08:00Ready for HomeI had the thought several times today that I am very thankful to be a saved believer, as I do not want to go to hell. I thought that today because we got a little taste of hell and I don’t like it.
This will probably be a post that someone reads and thinks or even says outloud “yeah, that’s why I could never adopt”. For the sake of documenting this journey for Ethan and Reese and our family I am going to tell it like it is, but please keep in mind that there is not one second that I think I shouldn’t be here adopting these cutie pies!
So our day started with breakfast, yummy, as usual. We got to talk to the girls back home a couple of times. I miss them so much, it is starting to bring tears to my eyes when I think about it. We headed out to the shops from yesterday. It was a successful shopping experience. I really like the people who work in these little shops. I feel good giving them business and I love all the souvenirs and gifts that we got. The kids did well, we didn’t take the stroller, so Ethan walked quite a bit. He is so good at holding hands and standing patiently while we looked at stuff. There was a little girl about his age in one of the shops and she was eating a piece of bread. She shared it with both the kids and then kissed them both. It was so sweet. He acted like a little ladies man and kissed her right back. The way to his heart is definitely with carbs!
When we got back to the hotel we finished packing and ate the leftover food that had been accumulating. The kids laid down for a nap and we got all of our stuff ready to go. We still had a couple of hours until Grace was meeting us in the lobby. The phone rang and it was the front desk asking us when we were checking out. I said 4:00. We had to pay for the extra half day since our flight was leaving so late. Another way for GW to make money. About 15 minutes later, the maid comes to the door and starts cleaning our room. Mind you there are two sleeping children and two adults in there fuming. She threw away our juice, which was going to be Reese’s drink for her snack before we left. I don’t know if it was the same maid or not, but someone had thrown away Ethan’s medicine that was sitting on the counter while we went to breakfast one morning. Anyway, we sat there and watched her and realized that we couldn’t mess anything up now because besides rearranging the furniture, taking the cribs down and vacuuming, the room was ready for the next person.
So, feeling like we were kicked out, we got the kids up and headed down to the lobby, but luckily Grace was early and we were able to leave. These hotels we stay in are so far away from the airports and it is miserable riding in the car. Poor Reese was still tired and didn’t like the car ride one bit. She was trying to poop again and the jostling around was not helping. We finally made it to the airport and Grace helped us get checked in. We had to explain Ethan’s pacemaker situation so they would not make him go through the security thing. So glad Grace was with us.
The wait in the airport was bearable, but then things started to go downhill. We had to wait in a long line to board. Which would have been okay except we weren’t boarding the plane, we were boarding a bus to ride to the plane. So all of the people that fit on a huge plane were crammed into this shuttle bus. Can’t even describe the smell and feeling of this situation. Then we walked from the shuttle to the plane, climbed a bunch of stairs and got on the plane. We were in the very back, which was fine, but I happened to sit behind Mr. Clueless who immediately leaned his chair back as far as it would go, which was pretty much in my lap. So I had Ethan beside me, cranky and scared and this dude in my lap. Tim was across the aisle with Reese who was crying. Chinese people are not sympathetic to children crying and not one person the entire flight tried to offer any assistance. When they brought dinner to us they threw this piping hot tray and put it right in front of Ethan. I couldn’t lower my tray because of the dude in my lap and I finally had enough and said “I don’t even have any room!” I guess he understood English and my frustration because he raised his seat up for the rest of the flight. He got paid back because Ethan pretty much screamed and cried the whole rest of the flight. He was tired and the ride was so bumpy he was scared. Both the kids are not comforted by holding them, so they were trying to sit in the seat and cope with the whole ordeal. I was afraid to unbuckle him, but I finally decided that it was my only option to pick him up and try to get him to sleep. But that didn’t happen. Oh, I forgot to mention that the flight attendants never came and picked up all our trash, so we had a huge mess of this nasty dinner and all the trash from water bottles, forks, napkins, etc. I decided not to worry about it. Tim finally took it all and put it on the floor. Forgot to mention that Ethan had a massively disgusting poopy diaper during all of this, too. So I had to put him on a dirty changing table in a bathroom the size of my shower at home. I somehow managed to get poop on me somewhere because I could smell it the whole rest of the time. It was also extremely hot on the plane, Ethan was sweating like crazy. I decided that I don’t care what Chinese people think, I am not bundling him up ANYMORE!!!!!!! If his pant leg is up and his leg shows, SO BE IT!
We landed a horribly rough landing and then the plane drove forever (or maybe 20 minutes) to what we thought was a gate. NOPE. It was that long of a drive to a shuttle bus. Well, we had waited and were the last ones off the plane, so guess who didn’t have room on the shuttle? Yep, the Tuckers, party of four (and 2 backpacks). I felt the glare of a busload of Chinese people and one African American. One of the airport people, got on and apparently told them to make room for the crying Chinese kids and the big fat Americans who are about to cry, too. So, we crammed on to this stupid bus to ride to the gate. I don’t even think I am doing a good job describing how stressed we were.
We made it to the baggage claim and got our bags and the stroller. I finally felt like the end was in sight. Kelly, our guide, was right there with the GWCA flag and a smile, which was nice to see. She explained that a driver was waiting and would take us to the hotel while she waited for the last family. She told us what to do and about what the plan is for tomorrow and got us to the van. Our poor babies were so exhausted they both fell asleep, which is a big deal because they are definitely not used to sleeping outside of a crib or falling asleep being held. The drive took forever, of course. When we pulled in to the hotel there were people everywhere. It was 10:00 at night and there were just so many people standing around like they were waiting to go somewhere. We got checked in and when we walked into our room I really wanted to cry. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice hotel, very fancy. BUT NOT KID FRIENDLY AT ALL. There was only one crib (pack and play) and no room for another one. There are so many things for two toddlers to get into and break or get hurt on. And let me just say that the bathroom was made for a honeymoon or some other adult only situation. It has a glass wall in the shower, so when you are in bed, you can see straight into the bathroom. Yes, that’s what I want to expose my children to, me in the shower. Luckily there is a screen that we discovered that raises and lower by a button by the toilet. Guess who is having fun with that… Tim Tucker. I just have to laugh because it is so absurd that any body in their right mind would think this is a good set-up for an adoptive family. We got them to bring another crib and I stacked a chair on top of another chair to make room. We decided to just keep the luggage on the other bed so it’s not taking up what little floor space there is. I am so disappointed. I miss the White Swan. I want to go home. I am dreading the flight back to Beijing and the loooooooooooong flight home. We need prayers that Ethan and Reese will be able to cope better with the airplane rides coming up than they did their first.
The good news is that Reese pooped, which was very fitting since I felt like the whole evening was a bunch of crap! They were as sweet and happy as they could be when we got settled. They really are awesome and so resilient considering all they have been through. Prayers are very much appreciated!
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-20854484754428830052013-01-10T16:07:00.001-08:002013-01-10T16:07:39.173-08:00Kisses and No Poop For YueWe have seen some pure sweetness today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan has learned to give everyone kisses on
command and it is so cute!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese likes
to blow kisses and does it every time we leave somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is so neat that her nannies
taught her to do that.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu2gIMICdB8/UO9WBOQ6LVI/AAAAAAAAAuk/JGb26HjPOoU/s1600/IMG_7788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu2gIMICdB8/UO9WBOQ6LVI/AAAAAAAAAuk/JGb26HjPOoU/s320/IMG_7788.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1PqyGYtHLfE/UO9Wk9ox5eI/AAAAAAAAAuw/eQRN-G3eTnk/s1600/IMG_7814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1PqyGYtHLfE/UO9Wk9ox5eI/AAAAAAAAAuw/eQRN-G3eTnk/s320/IMG_7814.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Grace didn’t get our message about the zoo, so we didn’t
have a driver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turned out to be
great, though, because we walked down to the Confucious Temple area and that’s
where we found some good shopping!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
reminded us of our trip with Reagan when we stayed at the White Swan Hotel and
had all that great shopping right there along the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We bought lots of gifts and enjoyed
bartering a little bit on prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
kids did well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a fun couple of
hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We started packing, took naps, and hung out in the room
until dinner time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided to take
the kids to Pizza Hut for spaghetti.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They both liked it, but Reese didn’t eat much of the meat it in, so
Ethan finished that off for her!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
lasagna, which was so delicious and Tim got a steak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Pizza Hut is pretty fancy and has a lot of stuff besides
pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the waiters and waitresses
speak really good English, too, so it isn’t hard to order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids, especially Ethan, got really messy
eating and based on some of the looks we were getting, that might be frowned
upon in China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it’s okay to let
your kids pee and poop on the sidewalk, but don’t get messy with
spaghetti!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDwA7QyijKg/UO9XW1J-UfI/AAAAAAAAAu8/fZ0uihwzFho/s1600/IMG_7833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDwA7QyijKg/UO9XW1J-UfI/AAAAAAAAAu8/fZ0uihwzFho/s320/IMG_7833.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B3qbPMT9gqY/UO9XX3pub1I/AAAAAAAAAvI/Dz9DrM-XKWY/s1600/IMG_7835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B3qbPMT9gqY/UO9XX3pub1I/AAAAAAAAAvI/Dz9DrM-XKWY/s320/IMG_7835.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Speaking of poop… Reese is still having trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went that one time and that’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been giving her the tea with every
meal and she guzzles it down, but still can’t seem to push anything out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is not for lack of trying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poor little thing struggles and grunts
and cries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going to have to
figure something out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know she is
miserable.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
They both seem to have slowed down with their eating and are
stopping when they are full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
this is a good sign that they know they are going to eat regular meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know they both did in their orphanages,
but I think it is different when there are all these choices and they are not
sure about us at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We are going to go back to the shops we went to yesterday
and get a few more things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
heard from our friend that shopping is better here than GZ, so we don’t want to
regret not buying more gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are so
excited to give our friends and family all these special treasures!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When we were getting packed up and going through all the
paperwork, we discovered that Ethan also got a memory book from his
orphanage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some adorable
pictures!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are so thankful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is written in Chinese, but we can
get it translated when we get home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We are ready to move on to the next hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is difficult to be stuck in the same
place with all of us and all of our stuff for so long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is something to be said for
space!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am anxious to see how they act
at home when they are free to roam around and play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also curious how they will react to carseats!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have some many new things to expose them
to, it is very exciting that this new chapter in their lives is underway!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim asked me how I thought they would act at
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably naughty!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who knows how they will act at Bright
Beginnings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many adventures are yet
to come!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2EgfHCVc2o/UO9XlEWh0_I/AAAAAAAAAvU/1fsvoJae6OI/s1600/IMG_7839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2EgfHCVc2o/UO9XlEWh0_I/AAAAAAAAAvU/1fsvoJae6OI/s320/IMG_7839.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-38388162809685205422013-01-09T14:21:00.001-08:002013-01-09T14:21:24.773-08:00Tantrums and Poop!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7HB-RzHjTM/UO3sfypiHJI/AAAAAAAAAtk/J7_KMrkX9Is/s1600/IMG_7758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7HB-RzHjTM/UO3sfypiHJI/AAAAAAAAAtk/J7_KMrkX9Is/s320/IMG_7758.JPG" width="320" /></a>Today the plan was to visit a couple of museums, so after
breakfast, we met Grace in the lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were a teeny bit late because our Little Emperor had his first (but
definitely not the last of the day) full blown fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t want me to put his milk in the fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laid down on the floor and kicked the
wall and said a bunch of jibber-jabber, he was so mad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he got over it, got in the stroller and
we headed to the elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese just
watched the whole time with a look like “what in the world are you
doing?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan continued the same “I
want my mommy” phase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace tries to
hold him and help him with stuff and he says no every time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is better with Tim and will play with
him, but when it comes to carrying or pushing the stroller, he only wants mommy
to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is more of a
control thing than that he likes me more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He does great riding in the stroller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And Reese is just quiet and reserved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She doesn’t care who has, holds her or pushes her, but she spends more
time with daddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4gdORq30Vc/UO3qJ2-JMFI/AAAAAAAAAsk/c904ZZT8eU8/s1600/IMG_7707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4gdORq30Vc/UO3qJ2-JMFI/AAAAAAAAAsk/c904ZZT8eU8/s320/IMG_7707.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The museum we went to first was a memorial to a war between
Japan and China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It happened in 1937
and lasted 6 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over 300,000
Chinese were killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently Japan
denies it even happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pictures,
videos, and displays were interesting, but also very disturbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would not have wanted my girls to see some
of the pictures, they were very violent and sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan had some big time fits, when I wouldn’t carry him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We gave Reese a turn in the stroller and I
carried him for awhile, but wanted him to walk some, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets heavy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He threw himself down and Grace said to just leave him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which I would totally agree with if I was in
Lebanon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I kept worrying that some
Chinese person would try to pick him up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone stares at us anyway, let alone when we have a little fit
thrower that we are trying to ignore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What seemed to work the best is when I walked away and then turned
around and put my hand out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would
jump up and come grab my hand and the fit would be over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he is testing boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the hard part about being here, we
can’t really get into a normal routine with expectations and discipline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus I can’t talk to him in Chinese to
explain anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace kept telling
him to look at his little sister, she wasn’t throwing fits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told him that he should be taking care
of her and hold her hand, so he did and we got a few cute pictures of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we left we visited the gift shop and
bought a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ladies working there
started talking to Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must
have been asking about us and why we had 2 Chinese children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave us a thumbs up and then Grace said
that they said I am a great mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think that I have great kids!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We asked
Grace what she thinks people think about us, because we do attract a lot of
stares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said people are just
curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know nothing about
adoption so they can’t figure us out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She thinks only 10% of the population knows about adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eRuLILGuWXs/UO3rDY_fotI/AAAAAAAAAs0/gTS6RGp71qg/s1600/IMG_7738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eRuLILGuWXs/UO3rDY_fotI/AAAAAAAAAs0/gTS6RGp71qg/s320/IMG_7738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When we left that museum we walked across the street to
another one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a brocade place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was neat and I could’ve watched the
workers all day long, it was fascinating to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked thru and saw everything there was to see and looked
briefly in the store there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really
wanted to buy Reese something, but we decided to wait until Guangzhou to do our
serious shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan’s orphanage
gave him some combs that were made in this Province, but we don’t have anything
for Reese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qfUkt-Q0ag8/UO3tPIT7zlI/AAAAAAAAAt0/iwxbS7dhFPg/s1600/IMG_7700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qfUkt-Q0ag8/UO3tPIT7zlI/AAAAAAAAAt0/iwxbS7dhFPg/s320/IMG_7700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We decided to head back to the hotel while Grace went to try
to find some medicine for Reese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
still hadn’t pooped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got back
to the room she was trying to go and she just cried and cried and tried to push
it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so sad and we felt so
helpless not being able to help her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was screaming so hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally Grace called and said she found this tea for her to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We gave it to her and she guzzled it
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took about an hour and a half
but then it worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never been
so happy to change a poopy diaper in all my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like 3 poops all at once, poor little thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She still acted like she didn’t feel good
and didn’t play much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We gave her more
tea at bedtime and can give it to her 3 times a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided to let her drink it at every meal to try to get things
moving regularly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she has been
way more reserved than Ethan because she doesn’t feel well and she is also
grieving harder than he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been
moved around so much to different hospitals and places, so he is used to
getting to know new people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hasn’t
ever experienced anything like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am praying she will perk up today and we will start to see her
personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is so sweet and loves
to leave the hotel room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She eats slow
(like Reagan!) and doesn’t explore as much as Ethan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not stop talking and when he is free to move around he gets
busy playing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is super curious and
gets so excited to figure things out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He colored for the first time and his face just lit up when the crayon
made a mark on the paper!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he got
in trouble because he colored on a book!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He loves to play in the bathtub and figured out that his stacking cups
will float if they don’t have water and sink when they are full of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He splashes and plays and has a great
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese isn’t too sure about the
bath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she gets cold and then
doesn’t want to have her hair washed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But again, I think her tummy troubles are preventing her from really
letting loose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Both kids go right to sleep at naptime and bedtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan likes to have a drink with him, so I
have been giving him water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither one
has made a peep during the night, so we have all been sleeping really
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been exhausted at night
and went to bed at 8:30 with the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then I wake up at 3:30!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We feel so blessed to be able to skype the girls at
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh is being a little
obsessive about calling us as soon as she sees we are online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish she were here with us so she wouldn’t
be missing out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I don’t think
any more people or stuff could fit in this hotel room!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am anxious to pack up to leave on Friday
and move on to our next stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel
like we have really bonded with Grace and have enjoyed getting to know her and
having her help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is an amazing
person with a great big heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We are hoping to go to the zoo rather than the tourist place
on the agenda because I really want to do something the kids can enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so different having toddlers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reagan was so little when we adopted her,
she just went along for the ride, but Ethan and Reese can’t be expected to
enjoy museums and stuff at their ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We are so thankful to God for answering so many prayers and
giving us these two precious babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is so good!</div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-18323700470680887272013-01-08T15:38:00.000-08:002013-01-08T15:53:08.961-08:00It is Officially Official!After all the mounds of paperwork, our adoptions
of Ethan Thomas Tucker and Reese Elizabeth Tucker are complete! Praise the
Lord! I thought this day would never come. We went back to the Civil Affairs
office to finish all the paperwork. The representatives of both orphanages were
there. The nannies wanted to hold Reese. They have so much love for her, it
made me so happy to see how they looked at her and talked to her. They seemed
to be very happy for her to have a family and kept encouraging her to say mama
and baba. Their faces lit up when she said it! So precious. It was also very
helpful for them to hold her because our little man was a Momma's Boy all day
long, so when we were having to sign paperwork, I was holding him and Tim was
handling all the money and shuffling all the papers. We had to put our right
thumb print over all of our signatures, so that was interesting and then the
kids did, too. The notary guy was very nice and funny and spoke perfect
English. He was very efficient and we got done relatively quickly. We got our
redbooks, which are the official adoption certificates that had the pictures
from yesterday in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese looks
scared and confused in hers and Ethan is bawling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim and I are smiling like fools, so the photos are pretty hilarious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HSwOO9KIiA/UOyu0Mt0IwI/AAAAAAAAArQ/7UOJB09vMJE/s1600/IMG_7694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HSwOO9KIiA/UOyu0Mt0IwI/AAAAAAAAArQ/7UOJB09vMJE/s320/IMG_7694.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
We took some pictures with the orphanage staff,
gave our gifts, paid our money (so glad to be rid of that, very stressful
having that much money) and said good-bye to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese’s nannies took lots of pictures of her and wrote down our
email addresses and phone numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
gave us a list of other American families who have children adopted from
Changshu, so we can contact them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought that was a super sweet thing to do. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtHDwr2O14Y/UOyvBKgbraI/AAAAAAAAArc/sKVH3ZW2MWM/s1600/IMG_7692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtHDwr2O14Y/UOyvBKgbraI/AAAAAAAAArc/sKVH3ZW2MWM/s320/IMG_7692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
When we left the CA office, we went shopping at a
Carrefour store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We bought a suitcase,
a stroller, some little stuffed animal snakes (Ethan really wanted one!) for
Chinese New Year, some water, and diapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ethan was not wanting anyone else to even lay a hand on the cart but me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was really funny about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Tim tried to push him, he would move his
hand and reach for mine to put on the handle of the cart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that he wants me, but I know it hurts
Tim’s feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace kept saying how
strong-willed and funny he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
were riding to the CA office, he was sitting on my lap and she asked him in
Chinese if she could hold him and he put his hand up and shook it, like saying
“no way, get away”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has some funny
little looks he gives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
definitely see how he survived all he has been through!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to try to channel his
strong-will into something positive!</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
Little Miss Reese has a tummy ache because she is
constipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tried juice, raisins,
and sitting her on the potty, but nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She just tries so hard and she cries so much, it breaks our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to try to get some medicine for
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we haven’t seen all of her
personality yet because she is miserable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both the kids eat really well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grace took us to a Dumpling restaurant and got soup for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has a bunch of stuff in it and they ate
it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese wasn’t that hungry, but
Ethan packed it away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pretty much
have to cut him off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave him one drink
of Coke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was more interested in
playing with the bottle than drinking it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
When we got back to the hotel, we played for
awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan jabbers all the time,
nonstop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace said he is not saying
anything that she can understand, but boy he has a lot to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is super cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After they napped, we went across the street to the mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t easy to maneuver our way around
with a stroller, but we managed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
found some prune juice for Reese and Subway for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
After all the mounds of paperwork, our adoptions
of Ethan Thomas Tucker and Reese Elizabeth Tucker are complete! Praise the
Lord! I thought this day would never come. We went back to the Civil Affairs
office to finish all the paperwork. The representatives of both orphanages were
there. The nannies wanted to hold Reese. They have so much love for her, it
made me so happy to see how they looked at her and talked to her. They seemed
to be very happy for her to have a family and kept encouraging her to say mama
and baba. Their faces lit up when she said it! So precious. It was also very
helpful for them to hold her because our little man was a Momma's Boy all day
long, so when we were having to sign paperwork, I was holding him and Tim was
handling all the money and shuffling all the papers. We had to put our right
thumb print over all of our signatures, so that was interesting and then the
kids did, too. The notary guy was very nice and funny and spoke perfect
English. He was very efficient and we got done relatively quickly. We got our
redbooks, which are the official adoption certificates that had the pictures
from yesterday in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese looks
scared and confused in hers and Ethan is bawling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim and I are smiling like fools, so the photos are pretty hilarious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
We took some pictures with the orphanage staff,
gave our gifts, paid our money (so glad to be rid of that, very stressful
having that much money) and said good-bye to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese’s nannies took lots of pictures of her and wrote down our
email addresses and phone numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
gave us a list of other American families who have children adopted from
Changshu, so we can contact them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought that was a super sweet thing to do. <br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
When we left the CA office, we went shopping at a
Carrefour store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We bought a suitcase,
a stroller, some little stuffed animal snakes (Ethan really wanted one!) for
Chinese New Year, some water, and diapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ethan was not wanting anyone else to even lay a hand on the cart but me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was really funny about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Tim tried to push him, he would move his
hand and reach for mine to put on the handle of the cart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that he wants me, but I know it hurts
Tim’s feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace kept saying how
strong-willed and funny he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
were riding to the CA office, he was sitting on my lap and she asked him in
Chinese if she could hold him and he put his hand up and shook it, like saying
“no way, get away”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has some funny
little looks he gives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
definitely see how he survived all he has been through!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to try to channel his
strong-will into something positive!</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
Little Miss Reese has a tummy ache because she is
constipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tried juice, raisins,
and sitting her on the potty, but nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She just tries so hard and she cries so much, it breaks our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to try to get some medicine for
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we haven’t seen all of her
personality yet because she is miserable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both the kids eat really well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grace took us to a Dumpling restaurant and got soup for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has a bunch of stuff in it and they ate
it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese wasn’t that hungry, but
Ethan packed it away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pretty much
have to cut him off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave him one drink
of Coke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was more interested in
playing with the bottle than drinking it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
When we got back to the hotel, we played for
awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethan jabbers all the time,
nonstop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace said he is not saying
anything that she can understand, but boy he has a lot to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is super cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After they napped, we went across the street to the mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t easy to maneuver our way around
with a stroller, but we managed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
found some prune juice for Reese and Subway for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 4.8pt 9.6pt 0pt;">
Please pray that Reese can poop and that we all
continue to bond and make special memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I miss our girls at home so much and it is hard to make the most of the
time here, but we are going to try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am very thankful for Skype and facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-51723030410386923632013-01-07T01:13:00.000-08:002013-01-07T01:13:07.928-08:00Gotcha Day Times 2!I am sitting here looking at both my babies sleeping soundly and I couldn't have more love in my heart than I do right at this moment! We have talked about and dreamed about this day for so long and we have guessed many times how it would go and now we know! I'll share with you everything I can remember...
It was a long morning because we got up very early. Due to excitement and also falling asleep around 8:00 last night! So we were up and ready and the hours before we left seemed to drag on forever. But finally, Grace got here and we headed to the Civil Affairs office. The traffic was crazy and busy, so it took longer than we thought to get there. When we pulled into the parking lot and got out, I looked at the building to see if we should take any pictures outside and that's when I saw my little guy looking out the window at us. I waved and he smiled and then we quickly went in. His nanny was so nice, I was extremely impressed with her. She pointed to us and said Mama and seemed genuinely excited about the moment she got to introduce us. I sat down on the couch beside him and patted him. It took a lot of self-control to not scoop him up and kiss his sweet face. He was holding a roll in a package and was really more interested in that and looking out the window for awhile. I got some toys out and showed him and he loved the bug that jiggles when you pull the string. He also liked the "That's Not My Snowman" book (a little plug for Usborne Books, Ayra!). He was happy and content but not really wanting us to mess with him for awhile. After a bit, his nanny quietly slipped away to the other side of the room where he couldn't see her. We both tried to interact with him and for the most part he was happy. He let me hold him and play with him while Tim did some of the paperwork. Then Tim wanted me to do the writing on the forms where we put their official American names, so we traded places.
Not too long after that, I was standing there looking out the window and I saw two ladies walking up with a little girl in a green coat with a Mickey Mouse backpack on. I saw they were headed to the Civil Affairs building, so I knew it was Reese! We got to video them walking in. She looked like such a tiny peanut! I was equally impressed with her nannies, they also said Mama and she repeated them- it was one of the sweetest sounds EVER! And then she said BaBa (Chinese for daddy) and Reese repeated her. It was so adorable. She had been asleep on the more than 3 hour drive, so she was a little more shy and looked confused. She let me hold her and I couldn't believe the feeling of relief to have both of them there with us! Words cannot describe it! When we had to move to another room to take a picture both of them started crying and it was not a good picture for their red books (official adoption book). The staff at the Civil Affairs and Grace were trying their best to help us get them to stop crying but they were both just wailing. It was sad. When we walked outside to leave, it was like turning a faucet off! They both stopped immediately! Ethan said something in Chinese and pointed and was perfectly content! I guess they were just done with that place!
Ethan sat on my lap on the ride to the hotel and Reese sat on Tim's. Grace talked to both of them. She said to Ethan in Chinese "can I hold you" and he threw his hands toward her and said no. It was funny! He is not afraid to say what he wants or doesn't want. Reese was very subdued and just looked around.
When we got to the hotel, Grace came up to do paperwork (will it ever end????). We called home and introduced the little kids to all the big kids and Grandma. Ethan said Grandma plain as day, several times! It was so cute! He absolutely loves books. He spent a long time stacking up all the books we have and moving his stacks from place to place. Reese finally perked up after she had part of a banana and some milk. In the last few hours they have played and explored. It is so amazing to watch them together and think about how much fun they will have growing up together. Today is the beginning of a new chapter in their lives and I am so thankful to God for giving us these two precious gifts.
Before Grace left she translated all Ethan's medication instructions. Two of them are pills that he takes 1/4 and 1/2 of and they are the tiniest little pills. I have no idea how I am going to give him those and get them cut up. Grace said to just crush it and put it in a drink. The problem is I don't know what he will drink good enough to get all the medicine. The 3rd kind is a powder in a packet that he needs 1/4 of. Are you kidding???? So I have to find a way to dump it out, divide it and save the rest. Good grief!
We got the kids stripped down to one layer so we could see their true size! Plus Ethan was sweating, literally, sweat dripping down his face! I'll never understand the whole bundling concept. The poor things can't even move!
We received some nice gifts from Ethan's orphanage and all of his stuff back that we mailed in care packages. I don't think they ever let him wear the clothes or use the blanket or bear, but the photo album was very worn, so I know he played with it. He will point to our pictures and say mama and baba and he is trying hard to repeat all his sisters' names! Again, it is very adorable! They also sent back all the pictures the girls' drew and the letter we wrote. Reese came to us with a little backpack that had the disposable camera in it, a bottle, and some diapers. They also gave us the most awesome book of pictures of her with dates and captions. It is priceless and I am beyond thankful that they took the time and effort to make it for her. There is a picture of her on the day she arrived. She looks so cute and she's wearing a Spiderman shirt!! Too funny! She reminds me so much of Lindsey Bauer (our friend from China)in her looks and how tiny she is. She likes to be sung to and must not be too concerned about if it sounds good or not because I am no singer and she liked me singing to her. She finally relaxed and fell asleep in my arms. Tim tried to get Ethan to lay down in the bed with him and he threw a tiny little fit, so I traded Reese for Ethan and he fell asleep, too. So, they are napping at the same time and so is daddy!
I was really afraid that I would fall in love with one of them more than the other and that I would have to feel guilty and weird about it, but, honestly I can say that they are equally precious and wonderful and I love them both to the moon and back!
This journey has been so long and so difficult, but the blessing of today has wiped away any heartache and pain. God has had this special day in His plan and I am in awe of His greatness. I do wish that my big girls could have been here to be with us, but the homecoming on the 18th will be very special and amazing and then our new normal can begin. I am looking forward to watching these two kiddos bond with us and eachother. God has answered so many prayers and we are so grateful for the number of prayers that were lifted up on our behalf... what a testimony we have!
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27ccKnEPyK4/UOqPy9kMW6I/AAAAAAAAAn4/t0hCm740Veg/s1600/IMG_7629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27ccKnEPyK4/UOqPy9kMW6I/AAAAAAAAAn4/t0hCm740Veg/s320/IMG_7629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MU1nzo6vbRs/UOqPzhyCAUI/AAAAAAAAAoE/e_H40SR76Vw/s1600/IMG_7632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MU1nzo6vbRs/UOqPzhyCAUI/AAAAAAAAAoE/e_H40SR76Vw/s320/IMG_7632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7lZ75nGcn4/UOqP0q8MGNI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/NAE8cOWpBS4/s1600/IMG_7636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7lZ75nGcn4/UOqP0q8MGNI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/NAE8cOWpBS4/s320/IMG_7636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsyYCRz9v1U/UOqP1cNLz2I/AAAAAAAAAoc/D_7JL1lsVWo/s1600/IMG_7638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsyYCRz9v1U/UOqP1cNLz2I/AAAAAAAAAoc/D_7JL1lsVWo/s320/IMG_7638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKf2Dp33bDM/UOqP2KaJNII/AAAAAAAAAoo/nHzcUJ4DcIo/s1600/IMG_7640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" separator="separator" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKf2Dp33bDM/UOqP2KaJNII/AAAAAAAAAoo/nHzcUJ4DcIo/s320/IMG_7640.JPG" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" width="3" />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTjgI4Xb63s/UOqQ7yPJ_zI/AAAAAAAAAo4/enNTz5PVmKE/s1600/IMG_7640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTjgI4Xb63s/UOqQ7yPJ_zI/AAAAAAAAAo4/enNTz5PVmKE/s320/IMG_7640.JPG" width="320" /></a></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ac4fSNuNjo/UOqQ8VbwWvI/AAAAAAAAApE/x9jTK19jWR0/s1600/IMG_7645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ac4fSNuNjo/UOqQ8VbwWvI/AAAAAAAAApE/x9jTK19jWR0/s320/IMG_7645.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N48-muE5pBc/UOqQ9lJRyrI/AAAAAAAAApQ/aoiw_EsLch8/s1600/IMG_7646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N48-muE5pBc/UOqQ9lJRyrI/AAAAAAAAApQ/aoiw_EsLch8/s320/IMG_7646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G7FQVWSzB2M/UOqQ-m5TUDI/AAAAAAAAApc/_gFV0FhWRas/s1600/IMG_7648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G7FQVWSzB2M/UOqQ-m5TUDI/AAAAAAAAApc/_gFV0FhWRas/s320/IMG_7648.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVc1LGpC8qc/UOqQ_dYYYLI/AAAAAAAAApo/Uf21tZdjCoA/s1600/IMG_7653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVc1LGpC8qc/UOqQ_dYYYLI/AAAAAAAAApo/Uf21tZdjCoA/s320/IMG_7653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
20" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-68199054959286413582013-01-06T07:18:00.004-08:002013-01-06T07:18:33.636-08:00One More Day... AAAAAHHHHH!!!We made it safe and sound to Nanjing! We met the other families in the lobby. It was exciting to see the others and briefly talk about our adoptions. We are looking forward to meeting back up with everyone in Guangzhou when we all have our children! We were the latest flight, so we were not as panicked as the others when things seemed to take a long time. The drive between terminals was crazy long, I guess getting her so late at night all 3 times we have flown in didn’t give us a chance to see how huge the Beijing Airport really is. I was very impressed with the plane, it made the short flight very easy. There were some turbulent spots, but nothing too scary. Grace was with us, so we didn’t have to worry about finding where to go or figuring out what to do. That was nice! She has really opened up since we have her to ourselves and we had some great conversations. She is friends with Veronica, our guide with Reagan’s adoption, and they traveled to America together last summer. She told us that Veronica is having a baby! We are so happy for her, there will always be a special place in our hearts for her. Grace talked a lot about working for Great Wall and also her feelings about what happened to us in August. While it validated a lot of what we felt, it was also sad to hear her talk about some things. I am not going to share what she said because I don’t want to cause problems like I feel like we did for Jane (our guide in August). Grace knows Jane and said that she would call her and let her know we are back for Ethan. I wanted to tell her that we appreciated everything she did for us during that horrible time.
Once we got to the hotel and checked in, we had lunch at Pizza Hut. It was great! The only complaint was that Tim got water to drink and they brought hot water. I was nice and shared my coke. We took a really long walk and enjoyed seeing all the little shops and all the people. This is so different from Beijing. It’s like the Branson Landing China style. There are a lot of young couples walking around like they are on a date. Our hearts skip a beat when we see people with little kids, knowing that tomorrow we will be toting two of them! I’m sure that is going to get some looks!
We met Grace at 3:00 in the lobby. She is not staying in our hotel (not by her choice) so she had to go find a place to stay. We walked to a bank to exchange all of our money that we will need on Tuesday. What an experience that was! So, now have 6 times the amount of bills that we came with. That is a huge stack, let me tell you! There was a lady that helped us. Since she has an account at the bank, she got the money and then we gave her our money. She got a better exchange rate or something. Grace worked it all out and it ended up saving us around $50 and we didn’t have to do an hour of paperwork. So glad Grace took care of all of that! And for $50 we can eat at McDonalds 9 times!
I attempted to arrange the room and unpack to prepare for the little ones, but we are very limited on space. There is no dresser, so our clothes are staying in suitcases and there’s not many places to put them. The cribs take up a massive amount of space. I think I got it figured out enough for now. We also went to the grocery store and got a few things. It seemed like things were expensive and it’s just hard to know what to get for the kids. We wanted to have some snacks for them in case its too hard to go out right away. We got bananas since we know how cute Ethan is eating one from the video we got!
The plan for tomorrow is to meet Grace at 10:00 and go to the Civil Affairs Office to meet the kids at 10:30. It doesn’t seem real and I am surprisingly calm. Grace said she would help with the picture taking, so hopefully we will be able to capture both Gotcha moments!
Well, this blog is pretty boring, but tomorrow will be one worth reading, or at least seeing the pictures. Thank you for continuing to pray for our family. I am so humbled by the amount of support we have received and we are so thankful so many people have had a part in bringing us to this day, it truly does take village to adopt a child! Please pray that Ethan and Reese can feel how much we love them right away and that they are not scared. They will only have a few minutes to get used to the idea of us, when we have had years to prepare for Reese and over a year to prepare for Ethan. Also, please pray that we get all of Ethan’s medications that will last until we get him home. He has his appointment with Dr. Tong on the 21st, so we need enough medication to last until then. Half the Sky was supposed to work this out with the orphanage, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will not be an issue. Check back tomorrow!
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-32979030438827341202013-01-05T00:45:00.000-08:002013-01-05T00:45:24.063-08:00Hanging out in Beijing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We made it to China!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After a short trip to Chicago, a looooong lay-over, and a very smooth
13.5 hour flight to Beijing, we got settled in our hotel at about 1:30 am local
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After showering, getting the
computer set up, and unpacking a few things, we got to bed around 3:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided that we would skip the tourist
stuff today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This decision was based on
several reasons:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we have done the exact
same tour twice, it’s freezing cold outside, we are exhausted, we are enjoying
some time just the two of us, and honestly I just don’t feel like being a
tourist today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we were here in
August, it was on the bus to the Great Wall that we first heard the news that
Ethan was in the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, there
are some bad memories associated with that trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our guide is the same person and when we got here last night she
acted a little bit surprised that it was us again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That didn’t give us much confidence that she is very prepared to
help us with Ethan’s medical issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have been told that Half the Sky has worked hard to get all the medicine he
needs for the duration of the trip, but they gave it to the orphanage and who
knows if they will cooperate and give us everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This guide will be flying with us to Nanjing, so we will not get
to see Jane, who was our guide in August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was so amazing, so kind, and we really wanted to see her again to
thank her for all she did for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
had the most difficult job of all having to be the one to tell us we weren’t
getting Ethan and that he was so sick and we couldn’t see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think back to how hard that must have been
for her and how sad it was for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She tried so hard to help us and our suspicion is that she told us
things and helped us more than she was supposed to and possibly got in
trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, don’t want to rehash
all of that…</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So, we have had the day to ourselves, which has been
completely awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate a great
breakfast (China has such good breakfast buffets!) then talked to the girls on
Skype for about 45 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh is
being dramatic and there seemed to be some tension between my parents and her,
so I am praying that she will straighten up and make the most of this two
weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s so hard to be away
under the best circumstances, so when things don’t seem to be going well at
home, it makes it even harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
everyone will feel better when we have the babies with us and we can all focus
on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been such a long
journey and to be so close to Gotcha Day, I think the stress and excitement is
coming to a head and everybody is about to explode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, it sounds like we missed an awesome game for Becca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t believe we are going to miss 5
games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were so many changes in
the freshman schedule, she hasn’t had very many games yet this year and now we
are missing all these ones that are in the next few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big bummer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But maybe she will play better when her dad isn’t yelling at the refs
(always with good reason, of course)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We took a walk down the street after we talked to the
girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found a few familiar places:</div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMdci185MiQ/UOfnzuFyu6I/AAAAAAAAAm0/8-n81ePwBRE/s1600/IMG_7585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMdci185MiQ/UOfnzuFyu6I/AAAAAAAAAm0/8-n81ePwBRE/s320/IMG_7585.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bpEKJ5jJiQ/UOfn0QYqb4I/AAAAAAAAAnA/fdc9kkHjp6s/s1600/IMG_7586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bpEKJ5jJiQ/UOfn0QYqb4I/AAAAAAAAAnA/fdc9kkHjp6s/s320/IMG_7586.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2g9Vtg0so44/UOfn02LlEQI/AAAAAAAAAnM/ACPR7cetZCY/s1600/IMG_7587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2g9Vtg0so44/UOfn02LlEQI/AAAAAAAAAnM/ACPR7cetZCY/s320/IMG_7587.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ImX7J7KDxY8/UOfn1c-vKII/AAAAAAAAAnY/nUqDmLhO_Ck/s1600/IMG_7591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ImX7J7KDxY8/UOfn1c-vKII/AAAAAAAAAnY/nUqDmLhO_Ck/s320/IMG_7591.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We also went to a grocery store and a store that had a bunch
of booths selling a wide variety of things:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>clothes, shoes, jewelry, toys, make-up, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was interesting and I am sure we could have found stuff to
buy, but we have to wait until Nanjing and Guangzhou when we will purchase
another suitcase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were out, I
started breaking out in hives, which has been happening the last week or
so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really stinks because I don’t
know what is causing it and it has never happened before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I brought some medicine for it, so we came
back to the room so I could take it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then it was naptime, not what you are supposed to do to get over jetlag,
but when you are exhausted, it is just too hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am enjoying a day with nothing much to do because it has been a
long time since I have had that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think Tim is a little bored and wishes we would have gone on the tour with the
group, but I am happy to sit here and piddle the day away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows when we will have a relaxing day
again, right?!?!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Our hotel room is so hot, we have the windows open and it
also has a weird smell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a gross
smell, just strange, kind of like burning motor oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beds look so soft and cushy and then you sit down and realize
they are typical Chinese beds that are anything but soft and cushy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We piled on the extra blankets in an attempt
to make it more comfortable and we certainly didn’t need any covers with the
heat so we slept on top of all the layers of blankets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will leave early in the morning to fly to
Nanjing and then Monday at 10:30 we will have our babies in our arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be such an exciting moment to be
able to have them and to share with our family and friends those first pictures
of us meeting them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope Grace, our
guide, will be helpful with that since we won’t have Ryleigh with us to take
pictures and video, which was the plan in August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that was with just one Gotcha moment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now there will be two!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still can’t believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think part of wanting to just lay low
today has to do with not wanting to share all of our story with the people in
our group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want them to be
nervous or to be the family everyone is whispering about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are pretty sure that all the GW families
were informed of our situation and reassured that everything was fine and that
things like what happened to us only happen on extremely rare occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just want to have Ethan and Reese and then
I might feel more like connecting with everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God willing that will happen SOON!</div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-81072256230783266192013-01-02T21:54:00.000-08:002013-01-02T21:54:07.201-08:00To China or Bust!The bags are packed, the arrangements for the girls are set, the good-byes have been said to our friends and co-workers. There's not much left to do to prepare for the gigantic changes that are getting ready to take place at the Tucker house! I feel like I have been going non-stop for so long, I wanted to take a minute to blog a little bit.<br />
<br />
I think Tim and I are both holding back our excitement, not because we think something terrible will happen again, but because we are just being more reserved this time. I don't want anyone to think that we are not beyond thrilled to be leaving tomorrow, because we definitely are! Things have gone so quickly with Reese's paperwork and everything has worked out perfectly for us to get both kids at the same time. Although August 20th seems like a long time ago in some ways, in other ways, it seems like we were just packing and preparing to bring Ethan home. Now, we have done all the preparations again for him and also for Reese. Her room is so adorable and I am so excited to have all the little girl clothes, bows, shoes, etc. back out and ready to be worn! I am so sentimental when it comes to stuff like that, remembering Ryleigh and Reagan wearing those things and the memories certain things bring back. I am so anxious for Isabella and Becca to be a part of Ethan and Reese's lives. They missed out on so much in their early childhood, I hope this will be a great way to show them how to love and nurture a child. I am so ready for all the change, even though I am usually not a person who likes change! <br />
<br />
I am amazed at how God has blessed our family. I really hope our story is a testimony to how big our God is and how He can do anything. His love is so much bigger than I can imagine and I feel so not worthy of everything He has given me. My dream growing up was to have 4 kids and He has blessed me with 2 more because He knows what is best! There was a time when Ryleigh was an only child and I was so desperate to have another child. I hit rock bottom and realized that God was there and that He was going to give me the desires of my heart, if I would let Him do His work. Adopting Reagan had such a huge impact on our lives and the blessings just keep flowing! <br />
<br />
I am still sad that Ryleigh and Reagan won't be with us this trip. Neither one of them could go to sleep tonight. They were crying so much and were just so sad, it broke my heart. I couldn't hold back the tears when we were praying and putting them to bed. I wish that everything wasn't so expensive and our whole family could just go. Two weeks is a long time and it makes me physically hurt to think about being away from the girls for that long. I told them that we were all going through this so Ethan and Reese could be a part of a family and even though 2 weeks seems like it will be unbearable it is what we have to do to give them a mommy, daddy, and sisters. Everything I said to them, I was saying to myself, too. It is not fair that our trip in August was wasted and that the girls missed the chance to be a part of Gotcha day and the whole China experience. But, as the saying goes, life is not fair. <br />
<br />
We got the carseats put in the big van tonight! It's funny how something so small can be so exciting! We also got the highchair and booster seat cleaned up and put around the table. It's going to be crowded, but so much fun to make memories around the table with all 8 of us! <br />
<br />
I am humbled by all the people who have supported us so much in this journey and it's awesome to think about how happy so many people will be to see pictures of our babies with us! So many people have had a part in bringing these precious children into our family and we are so thankful! Check back, next post will be from China!Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-89519629781832525592012-12-21T20:40:00.001-08:002012-12-21T20:40:10.484-08:00WE ARE GOING TO CHINA!!!!!!!!!It has been even busier than usual at our house, but we wanted to let everyone know that we are headed to China on January 3rd to meet and bring home both our babies! We are amazed by how quickly Reese's paperwork has been processed on both the Chinese and American sides. God has proven over and over again His power and love. We are excited to tell our story and will do so when we have more time! Thanks for the continued prayers! <br />
<br />
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-40397871569083667702012-12-03T18:07:00.002-08:002012-12-03T18:08:04.771-08:00Happy Birthday, Daddy!Today is Tim's birthday! We celebrated with homemade chicken alfredo pizza, grandma's salad, and cheesecake for dessert and a few presents for our China trip. The girls love to make a big deal out of birthdays, so we had fun making a "fancy" dinner with candles and special glasses.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CRJ2bYHO_BI/UL1V6KoKGxI/AAAAAAAAAlk/9Csr-gyhdmE/s1600/IMG_7177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CRJ2bYHO_BI/UL1V6KoKGxI/AAAAAAAAAlk/9Csr-gyhdmE/s320/IMG_7177.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
I was really hoping to be able to post our travel dates, but we got word today that there is no way we will be leaving on December 27th. I am so bummed. I felt like we were getting so close with less than a month. I sat in church yesterday and counted the Sundays left of peace and quiet during the service. I started feeling giddy just thinking about bringing our babies to church. Now the soonest will be January 3rd that we will leave. Even though it is just a week, it seems like an eternity. It's one more week that Ethan and Reese are orphans and that is too much. Not to mention the tax credit will not be a possibility for another year and that is only if the bill gets passed. So frustrated and tired of waiting. <br />
<br />
We have been working on Reese's room. It was kind of a last minute decision to redecorate, but I absolutely love it and am so glad we changed it. Her room was Ryleigh's original room when we built this house when she was 2. It was cute and would've worked, but we felt like our baby deserved something new. I'll post pictures when it is all done. We did zebra stripes, pink, and black. It is super adorable! <br />
<br />
Ryleigh and Reagan had their Christmas program at church last night. I was blown away by how awesome it was! We had been practicing for so long, but it was not coming together at all until this weekend and it turned out to be an amazing show! There were over 600 people in the audience. I know many were blessed by the kids' performance! It's sad to think it's Ryleigh's last play since she will move up to youth group next year. Not sure Reagan will ever want a big part like Ryleigh always has. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DxX5aU-Befs/UL1W3aaaQ1I/AAAAAAAAAlw/YOs09V0HSJg/s1600/IMG_7061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DxX5aU-Befs/UL1W3aaaQ1I/AAAAAAAAAlw/YOs09V0HSJg/s320/IMG_7061.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were very proud of Becca's basketball team for starting the year off winning the Waynesville tournament! Becca played great defense and scored some points, too! They are a great group of girls!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OND85Y8eR58/UL1YnW17o-I/AAAAAAAAAl4/9HcqGH9ud1k/s1600/IMG_7054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OND85Y8eR58/UL1YnW17o-I/AAAAAAAAAl4/9HcqGH9ud1k/s320/IMG_7054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We celebrated our Family Day (Reagan's "Gotcha Day")with our tradition of the girls getting new pajamas. This year it was quite complicated to find matching ones, so I ended up (after spending waaaaay too much time at Wal-Mart) getting the three older girls matching and Reagan her own. It will really be complicated to add 2 more! (But I can't wait!) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xr8g9_sH-Ds/UL1ZDMvGk9I/AAAAAAAAAmA/4HdPM4MxdwE/s1600/IMG_7022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xr8g9_sH-Ds/UL1ZDMvGk9I/AAAAAAAAAmA/4HdPM4MxdwE/s320/IMG_7022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We found a beautiful tree at the tree farm. It is the perfect fit in our living room! We also let the girls get a short chubby one for the basement! I love real Christmas trees! And I love walking around the tree farm trying to pick the perfect one! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Kjq1JrO2JI/UL1Zv29Xo_I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/itLFH1bDTs0/s1600/IMG_6957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Kjq1JrO2JI/UL1Zv29Xo_I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/itLFH1bDTs0/s320/IMG_6957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
That's pretty much what has been going on! Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-49274205637518931542012-11-21T10:23:00.000-08:002012-11-21T10:23:37.009-08:00Thanksgiving Blessing!Got a pleasant surprise this morning... our update on Reese (that was supposed to take weeks to get) was emailed to us today! We got our questions answered (very general, of course) and got 4 pictures. It's so nice to see her cute smile! The bummer part is that the 4 pictures are all obviously taken one right after the other. If you scroll through them quickly it's like a little movie! She is the most animated I have ever seen a child in an orphanage be, which makes me feel like she is a happy and possibly ornery little thing! She weighs about 20 pounds, which is less than what I was figuring! It looks like they have shaved her head at some point and that just stinks because her hair in our first photos of her looked so nice and thick. I guess we have a lifetime ahead of us for her to have beautiful hair like her sister, Reagan. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VzSkVZWlG-w/UK0Z0vuIOOI/AAAAAAAAAlM/UzcWqh1Xg0c/s1600/Reese4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VzSkVZWlG-w/UK0Z0vuIOOI/AAAAAAAAAlM/UzcWqh1Xg0c/s320/Reese4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We are getting ready to go to drop the girls off at my parents so Tim and I can celebrate my birthday on a date! That's something that has not happened for quite some time! I was super sick with the stomach flu on Saturday and Sunday, so I feel like I am so behind with everything, it's overwhelming. This is not a good time of year to feel that way! <br />
<br />
We have a lot going on and it is all being overshadowed by the fact that I just want to leave it all and go to China to get my babies. Praying we can leave on December 27th. Pretty much we have been told that won't happen but I know my God can move any mountain. I believe in His timing and His plan now more than ever. And I know He knows my heart better than anyone and what my desires are. He has brought us through so much and blessed us with our precious baby girl and given Ethan the medical treatment he needed to get him healthy and strong for us to bring home. There's nothing I can be more thankful for this year than that! No Christmas gift will top the moment I have both Ethan and Reese in my arms! And then the moment I have all 6 of my kids home together will be such a blessing! <br />
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-8951512982873585412012-11-15T09:47:00.002-08:002012-11-15T09:47:54.675-08:00Introducing Reese Elizabeth Tucker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s_PE01SL6NA/UKUoksBE76I/AAAAAAAAAk0/Yd4LwzbSZFE/s1600/Reese1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s_PE01SL6NA/UKUoksBE76I/AAAAAAAAAk0/Yd4LwzbSZFE/s320/Reese1.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
We received our LSC today! So it is officially official! We are so happy to share this news with the world, especially with our friends and family who have been following this story and praying for our family! We are so blessed, I don't even have the words right now (shocking, I know!). This precious little girl has been growing in our hearts for so long, I can't believe in a matter of weeks we will be holding her in our arms and kissing those chubby cheeks! God's plan is so much better than mine... He knew all along that we had 2 babies waiting for us! I give Him all the praise and glory!<br />
<br />Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-61751013443209448352012-11-12T20:16:00.001-08:002012-11-12T20:16:49.327-08:00God's Perfect PlanWhen I was sitting in Nanjing, China on August 20th, I felt like my whole world was caving in. I prayed that I could make it through whatever events were going to unfold and that I could hold on tightly to my faith and let God work it all out. Nothing made sense and I was completely devastated that we were going to be sent back home without our son. I was scared that they were going to let him die and there was nothing I could do, except pray and ask my brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same thing. And that is what countless number of people did. Thanks to those prayers, our little boy is not only alive, but thriving in the China Care Home in Beijing, where his pacemaker is definitely doing its job! Praise the Lord! <br />
<br />
Not so far away, Ethan has a little sister who will be coming home AT THE SAME TIME as he does. We got word last Thursday that China is going to expedite our paperwork for Reese and we will be traveling no later than January to bring our babies home! Praise the Lord! This is something we gave completely over to God and I honestly got to a point that I was at peace with whatever the outcome of our request was. I knew that God's plan would prevail and I decided to just not worry about it! We are so excited to head to China to complete our family! Yes, 6 is our magic number and we can't wait to have all our kids home together! <br />
<br />
We had the pleasure of being a part of an amazing fundraiser Friday night. The "Band Together for the Fatherless" event was one of the most awesome things I have been a part of! Almost $8,000 was raised last week for the Ledbetter family and a lot of that came from this concert of 5 worship bands in our community. They each played 3 songs and there were adoption videos played in between. The Spirit was definitely present! I think Danielle said it best when she took the stage and said that it was a little glimpse of what heaven is going to be like when we are all just living together and worshipping our Lord. What an enormous blessing to be a part of something so incredible! Everyone that was there agreed we need to do it again and get even more churches involved.<br />
<br />
I am so thankful to God for comforting us over the past few months and for giving us hope. This is the only way we have gotten through moving on after the events of August 20th. I hope that our story will be an inspiration to someone who may need to see a real life example of leaning on God during a difficult time. We have been through so much on our parenthood journey, but through it all, God has been there working it all out, putting each piece of the puzzle together, and opening all the necessary doors. He is so good, all of the time and I am humbled by His love for me and our family. <br />
<br />
We hope to receive the LSC letter tomorrow and are praying that we can travel by the end of the year. Can't wait to post Reese's sweet pictures! We requested an update today, but GW says it takes several weeks to get it back, so we may not know any new measurements or have updated pictures before we travel, but we thought it was worth a try! Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-1057744923794133232012-11-05T15:51:00.000-08:002012-11-05T15:51:17.401-08:00Ethan update, including pictures!Today has been a great day for both adoptions! We received our PA (pre-approval) for Reese. Which just means that China has agreed to review our paperwork to be officially matched with her. The next piece in that puzzle is getting our LSC (letter seeking confirmation). This is the document that took 122 days for Ethan's adoption. However, we are not expecting it will take long for Reese because we have been logged in for so long for her and it is supposed to be quicker in those cases. We are praying that China is agreeing to expedite her adoption and that we will get the LSC very soon. Then we can file all the American paperwork. And we can post her picture, too, after we get the LSC!<br />
<br />
We also received an update on Ethan from Half the Sky and three pictures! He was moved to the China Care Home in Beijing on November 1st and is doing great! He needs one more check-up with the doctor in Beijing and then he will be cleared to travel. They will take him back to the orphanage where he will wait for us. He has been through so much and we just want to give him all the love and care he deserves. What an amazing and strong little boy he is! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-knwbZvJm8cI/UJhQXpQwrsI/AAAAAAAAAkM/3sBG6praqGI/s1600/EthanNovember.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-knwbZvJm8cI/UJhQXpQwrsI/AAAAAAAAAkM/3sBG6praqGI/s320/EthanNovember.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oiTChOypkwM/UJhQg2X8RBI/AAAAAAAAAkU/3YPrdJKdPoc/s1600/EthanNovember2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oiTChOypkwM/UJhQg2X8RBI/AAAAAAAAAkU/3YPrdJKdPoc/s320/EthanNovember2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FT7bE5A_iTE/UJhQq0_Fd_I/AAAAAAAAAkc/dyhVrqZsSGg/s1600/EthanNovember3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FT7bE5A_iTE/UJhQq0_Fd_I/AAAAAAAAAkc/dyhVrqZsSGg/s320/EthanNovember3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-53844245974153042562012-11-04T20:22:00.000-08:002012-11-04T20:22:00.801-08:00Happy Birthday, Becca!Becca turned the big 1-5 today! We started the day with her opening presents then went to church, where we got to celebrate Orphan Sunday by giving a little bit of our testimony. Our new sermon series is called "Justice" so Tim talked about the Safe Families program we are hoping to get started and then I joined him on stage to talk about adoption. It was a blessing to share how much we appreciate all of the love and support after everything we have been through. It was especially exciting to share news about Reese! We can never repay or thank enough all the people who have helped us in the process of adopting Ethan. We are so humbled and amazed by how awesome our church is! When God speaks, they listen and I am so grateful for that! There are several families who have known us through our other adoptions as well, so it's fun to share those memories, too. Becca wanted Chinese food for lunch, so we ate and then went to buy her new basketball shoes. She made the High School team! We are proud of her and excited for another season! <br />
<br />
Our other big event of the weekend was trading in our mini-van for a 12 passenger van! Oh my, it is a big one! It even makes the suburban look small! We got a good deal for our trade and our payment is actually lower, so that helps our monthly budget, too! It's going to be hard to get used to, but it is nice to know we have the space we need for our expanding family! The girls like it, even though they weren't sure at first. We have had a lot of laughs over it, especially when we pulled it into the garage and it barely fit! Tim will drive it and I will take over driving the suburban. I will miss having something smaller, but glad to have room for all the kids! Carseats take up so much room and when we need 2 of them in both cars, we knew we needed to figure something out. <br />
<br />
We have not heard any news yet about either Ethan or Reese. We are trying so hard to not be anxious about adopting them in one trip. We want Ethan home so badly after all that has happened and it just seems to good to be true that we could bring Reese home, too. But we know that our God is an awesome God and He could make it happen. We will trust Him.<br />
<br />
It's going to be a busy week and hopefully we will get some news early in the week!Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-41029565243242258172012-10-30T20:29:00.001-07:002012-10-31T14:26:06.340-07:005 Years, 7 months, and 21 DaysThat's how long we "officially" waited for a referral for our 6th and final child! Yes, you got it, we know who Reese is! We received the call last night at 9:24 that GW had locked-in a file for a precious (and I do mean PRECIOUS) little girl. We cannot share a picture yet or give all of her information, but she does share a part of her name with Reagan's Chinese name, she is in the same province as Ethan, and her birthday is in the Spring (she was born in 2011). She was not healthy when she was abandoned, but is cured from the bacterial infection that she had and seems to be healthy and developmentally on track! She is so adorable! She reminds me of our friend Lindsey Bauer but she has our friend Klaire Wilson's cheeks! We are in love with her! It's crazy to say that our family will be complete when we get home with her! This is our last time waiting for a referral, what a FABULOUS feeling! I think I can make it thru one more round of paperwork, knowing it is the last time to update a homestudy, the last time to pay for stupid fingerprints, the last time to spend a fortune on medical visits for all of us, the last moment of the unknown! She and Ethan are very close in age so it will be kinda like twins! I am so excited when I think about all the fun we are going to have with them! <br />
<br />
Our prayer is that we will be able to adopt them both in one trip. Obviously, this is a financial help, but it will also be logistically difficult if we have to make two trips. We do not want Ethan to wait any longer than he has already, so when he is cleared for adoption, we will go ASAP. We are going to attempt to get Reese's paperwork done in record time and try to bring her home, too. However, if we can't, it will mean Tim will probably have to travel alone to bring Reese home because we won't want to leave Ethan with anybody else when he will just be getting settled into life as a Tucker. These are all things that we will be praying long and hard about in the next few weeks and we would appreciate your prayer support as well.<br />
<br />
A little bit about last night........... We knew it was a possibility to get a referral because GW had told us they would be looking for Reese during File Release Night. We tried hard not to get our hopes up and I actually did a pretty good job putting out of my mind for most of the day. Then after dinner I started really getting anxious! Tim and I tried to guess what time the call would come, if it did. He thought 8:00, I thought 10:00, so I kinda split the difference and thought maybe 9:00. We got the girls to bed (or so we thought) and settled down to watch tv. I was thinking we should do something to distract ourselves and just when I was about to suggest something, the phone rang. It was 9:24. We argued for a second who was going to answer it, I was so nervous I didn't want to, but he handed me the phone so I answered it. Kim was on the other line and she immediately informed us that a file had been locked-in for us! She told us all about her and we asked some questions and she said she would email her file, which included pictures! During our conversation, Nosey Ryleigh appeared at our bedroom door. We gave her the "get out of here right now wave and point". When we got off the phone, she came back to the doorway and said all the girls want to know who called. In typical Ryleigh fashion, she asked a string of 20 questions including "was it Great Wall, was it about Ethan, are you going to China".... We were smiling from ear to ear and told her to go away while we looked at the pictures and read all the information. The next thing we know she is bounding back up the stairs saying "I figured it out, it's File Release Night, and we got Reese's referral". That little stinker doesn't miss a thing. We hadn't even talked about it being File Release Night. So we broke down and told her to get the other girls (who were waiting in the kitchen trying to hear what was going on!). We pulled up the cutest picture and gathered them together and turned the computer around so they could see. There was a lot of oohing and aahing and happiness all around! We are so blessed! It was a priceless family moment.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="214" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6DNhOeZ0UdM?rel=0" width="380"></iframe>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_883835309"></span><span id="goog_883835310"></span> </div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403450863616971638.post-41216702913768437762012-10-26T12:29:00.001-07:002012-10-26T13:13:52.454-07:00On the Road to RecoveryThanks to all the prayers on Ethan's behalf, he is recovering in stable condition in Beijing. We still hope to travel within a month to bring him home. Here's the latest picture that Half the Sky took for us. So thankful that they care so much and know how much pictures and updates mean to us! I think he looks great!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_n0JWyAcKBU/UIrkJicoyDI/AAAAAAAAAiw/bpSn1PH7XJ0/s1600/hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_n0JWyAcKBU/UIrkJicoyDI/AAAAAAAAAiw/bpSn1PH7XJ0/s320/hospital.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We are enjoying a very rare day off for all of us today! The girls had so much fun playing in the leaves earlier. Their squeals of joy made my heart so happy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpkHLAMQL28/UIrt4smRd7I/AAAAAAAAAjI/gq4iwbA-T6c/s1600/IMG_6753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpkHLAMQL28/UIrt4smRd7I/AAAAAAAAAjI/gq4iwbA-T6c/s320/IMG_6753.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWQFZoDXY0A/UIruNZeLqUI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/IkVcKefuFs8/s1600/IMG_6758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWQFZoDXY0A/UIruNZeLqUI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/IkVcKefuFs8/s320/IMG_6758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1QooYLW9GkU/UIruenxqQ6I/AAAAAAAAAjc/qC4YJafEAdA/s1600/IMG_6759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1QooYLW9GkU/UIruenxqQ6I/AAAAAAAAAjc/qC4YJafEAdA/s320/IMG_6759.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_I-sX1XUM5k/UIruoBokPOI/AAAAAAAAAjk/vbAWhGDci14/s1600/IMG_6773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_I-sX1XUM5k/UIruoBokPOI/AAAAAAAAAjk/vbAWhGDci14/s320/IMG_6773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nfee_fOOvmE/UIruyPVGrZI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Fs5shOWF0r8/s1600/IMG_6779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nfee_fOOvmE/UIruyPVGrZI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Fs5shOWF0r8/s320/IMG_6779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Tucker Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407096351358442523noreply@blogger.com0