FengHong is 59 inches tall! David's post

We got out the measuring tape last night and held it up to everyone to get a sense of what his height is. I am really looking forward to seeing Feng and Bing for the first time! Only about two weeks away now. We are also now considering John as a name for FengHong, instead of Jack. Cheng thought that John would sound more like Jiang, the last name that FengHong currently uses. Who knows, both boys may have other names they like, or they may want to keep their Chinese names...we'll see when they get here. (posted by David)

Updates on FengHong

We received an email last night with health updates for FengHong. Basically, it's just his recent height and weight. As usual, we had to sign the update and mail it back to WACAP ASAP. We found out that FengHong weighs 10 pounds more than Connor, and is 5 inches taller than Connor. So, he'll be in between the two boys in size, which is what we expected. I bought size 12 clothes, and I was right on target with my estimate. He'll wear a size 12S in jeans, just like Austin did last year. Things are moving forward. Yesterday, I booked the Ascott hotel online. It's expensive, over $200 a night, but from all that I've read it's best not to skimp on the accommodations. Several people wrote on their blogs that at their hotel the sheets were stained and dirty. Gross. At least a dozen writers addressed the filthy conditions in China. One person suggested bringing dozens of socks so that after walking in the room in stockinged feet, you could simply throw out the socks. I am really not willing to stay in a hotel that is that dirty. The hotel that I booked, The Ascott, is a five star hotel, it has a playroom for the kids, a (clean, I hope) pool, a Starbucks and Subway restaurants (as well as 3 other restaurants), and it's walking distance to Wal-Mart. Being able to purchase items easily ata Wal-Mart might prove invaluable! Today Connor and I are going to the bookstore to purchase a bunch of paperback books to bring on the trip. Usually, we get stacks of books at the library, but we want to be able to leave the books behind once we have read them. David compiled a list, Connor compiled a list, and I will just browse the shelves until I find a few interesting looking books for the trip. I already told Connor that he can begin reading to the boys on the very first day. Of course, they won't understand what is being read to them, but we want to establish the routine that we read every night before bed right from the start. One thing I learned by having exchange students and foster children, is to start off on the right foot by establishing routines from the first day. Never do something the first few days (such as let the children stay up late to watch TV), that you would not normally do or allow. It only makes for difficulties later.

Bon Voyage dinner--counting down!

Last night we had the family all over for a Bon Voyage dinner. Cheng cooked 4 or 5 different Chinese dishes (it took him hours!!), and I made a few American foods. My brother, Steven, said a wonderful prayer, blessing us as we go forward to China to bring home our sons. We showed the family the video of FengHong, and the most recent photos of BingHui, and everyone is anxiously awaiting their arrival in a few weeks. Even Marie (my step-mother) who was the least supportive about the idea of the adoptions, was upbeat and positive yesterday. Steven kept asking if, while we were in China, would we please bring home a son for him too! Mindy, his wife, is retiring from Xerox next month, at the age of 47, and I know Steven is praying and hoping that Mindy will decide to finally adopt a child. Steven has always wanted 6 children, and for some reason it just wasn't in God's plan for them. They have Lindsay, who is now 22, and I know Steven still hopes for a boy. Maybe our adoptions will have a positive impact on them.
On another note, our WACAP caseworker emailed me that our Travel Notice for FengHong should be issued soon. This is not really news, but at least she is keeping in touch with us regularly. Our inter-China reservations are going to be booked by a Chinese travel agency, except for the hotel in Beijing. I requested a hotel that the agency does not have a discount with, and the agency suggested I book the hotel myself. That is fine with me! I'd prefer to book my own arrangements, quite honestly; after spending so many years booking travel for Kodak, I feel rather skittish about other people booking our travel. I'm too picky (and too much of a control freak) to put our trip in a stranger's hands willingly. So this morning I booked our Beijing hotel, online.

Testing...Testing...from Dad

Connor made such a good exhibit of his mastery of sarcasm I had to blog today too. As you can tell from the blogs everyone is getting more and more execited now that we have booked flights and we leave in less than three weeks! I put pictures of Ben and John rotating on my desktop today.

My list

I made yet another "to do before we go to China" list this morning. None of the stuff is complicated, but everything ends up taking longer than I anticipate. Without further ado, here's my recent list:
1. Take cell phones to Verizon to back up our contacts and make them usable in China. There is a special sequence of codes that needs to be entered in order for our phones to work there. We don't intend to use the phones, but, hey, you never know. 2. Call our credit card companies to alert them that we will be making charges from China. If they notice "suspicious" activity, they will put holds on our cards and we will be in big trouble. 3. Fill out temporary emergency slips for the school nurses so that they have phone numbers to call for Cheng and Austin. 4. Obtain copies of our shot records, just in case we wind up in a Dr. office or something. 5. Scan all the adoption paperwork and save on a flash drive. Yes, copies of virtually everything. This will take several hours. 6. Notify our bank of the power of attorney given to Linda and Victor. 7. Stop the mail at the post office for when we are away. 8. Write out a detailed schedule of activities for Linda and Victor, including phone numbers of Doctors, dentists, etc. 9. Set up the new netbook computer with our email contacts. 10. Coordinate someplace for Cheng to stay and clear it with AFS and his parents in China. 11. Get all the paperwork from WACAP, including our Travel Notice, and make copies. 12. Cancel all Connor's lessons and various tutors for when we are away. 13. Notify the tenants at the lake that we will be away, and give them contact info for emergencies. 14. Consult with Dr. Breen about medications to bring to China for our new sons. This appointment is scheduled for March 3rd. 15. Shop for clothes to wear on the plane (no zippers or metal). Ugh.
I'm certain there will be a few more items that will occur to me, but that is my recent to-do list.

Testing...Testing...This is Connor Speaking

I am really getting excited about the adoption! Oh, by the way, this is Connor, if you haven't figured that out by the title. Mom keeps on asking me if I am excited about the adoption. She doubts that I care at all that I will have two new brothers that can't even speak English. Well, just because I don't show it, doesn't mean I am not excited. Finally, I will have someone that can talk to me, without having the urge to punch me (Austin). I hope that Mom and Dad decide to name FengHong, the thirteen year old Jonathan. I do NOT like the name Jack. I don't really have a reason why. It is just that there are TONS of better names than boring ole' Jack. Well, enough griping for one post. How about being optimistic? Yea! Two new brothers! Yea! Is that enough? It had better be, because I am finished "expressing" my thoughts. Good-bye.

Every day preparing

Every day now I try to do at least one thing to get ready for our trip. Today, I printed up a bunch of photos to bring to China to give the boys' caretakers, and I bought cigarettes. Yes, cigarettes. I read on a blog that Chinese people really enjoy smoking American Marlboro cigarettes, and as much as I detest smoking, it's best to give a gift that the receiver will appreciate. I had no idea that a carton of cigarettes was so expensive! I don't know how anyone can justify $70.00 a week to smoke! I also bought a digital ear thermometer, in case a child gets ill and I need to obtain a temperature. It's difficult enough to get Connor to hold the thermometer under his tongue; I can safely assume it would be quite a task to take an oral temperature while in China. I am also spending at least 30 min. a day on my Chinese lessons. After over a year of consistent study, I can now ask how much something costs, and where is the bathroom. Fortunately, Connor (and Austin) have learned more, and they understand quite a bit of the language. BingHui and FengHong probably won't know any English, and although they will pick it up quickly I'm sure, it will make them both feel more at ease if we know at least a few basic sentences when we meet them.