Sweet Home Alabama

Hi, family and friends! We made it, we made it! The last two days were grueling--a 2 hour train ride to Hong Kong turned into a 6 hour mini-bus ride--LONG story. Then, after the long 14.5 hour flight from HK to Detroit, we had a 7 hour layover that became a 9 hour layover after a late flight. Then, on that flight from Detroit to Bham, we had to put all our things throughout the plane and couldn't get to forumula, clothing, or diapers when both kids had major stink fests in their pants and Brenna got hungry...it was NOT pretty. But, we made it! My sweet mother in law was holding welcome signs and balloons for us and we cried and cried upon arriving. Micah slept from 1-6 am and Brenna 'til 9:30am. They're both napping now--which is nice!

We took Brenna to her pediatrician today...she's already gained 2.5 pounds since July 6th!!!! She really had a come apart at the doctor's office--she has so much fear from her hospital stay I'm sure and I think maybe she just needed to cry some after all the change and stress she's been through. It was so good to be able to hold her and love on her as she came apart. She's a very brave, special little girl. The doctors will be testing her for all sorts of things, but we feel that most likely she'd been getting less than half of what she needs calorically and has a parasite. I cannot even begin to explain how it feels to know your daughter has been starving. So surreal. She's beginning to blossom more and more--the last few days she's starting to try and hold her bottle and touch food. We are quite sure that she was never allowed to get her hands anywhere near food--perhaps even hit or yelled at when she tried--but now she's learning so much. She's learned to wave the last two days and understands several words--her favorites are congee, eat, more, Mommy, and Daddy.

Thank you all so much for the amazingly clean house and the awesome food and sweet cards, pictures, and decorations!!! Brenna LOVES the picture of us as a family--she touches it and squeals--so neat! Brenna loves the congee her Chinese aunties provided--thank you!!!

Love, love to all!!!

Coming Home

Well, God did it! The paperwork was pushed through and we had the oath ceremony today at the US Consulate. God gave us favor with so many people and moved hearts to work overtime to get us on our flight Friday! Usually families have to return after the ceremony the next day for their child's visa, but they had ours ready after the ceremony!! Awesome! So, we leave for Hong Kong tomorrow and out of there Friday morning. We can't wait!!! We are a bit nervous about the cyclone heading this way and most of all about Brenna's health on the flight, but God has brought us this far, He can do anything. I'm too tired to think and need to go pack, but thank you for everything--for all of your encouraging notes and emails! We'll try and post some pics later...

Getting to Know Brenna

Well, each day we get to know our sweet girl more and more. It's a privilege to see each part of her she dares to share. Yet as she gets better physically, we see more of her broken heart and fear come out at the same time. Everything is scary for her, and everything exhausts her right now. Please continue to pray for her to learn to trust us, to learn to relax and let us be in control for her.

Here is what we know about our daughter so far: she LOVES congee! This is sort of a thick chicken and rice soup. She'll eat other things and does like forumula, but she lights up when we give her congee! Brenna also likes to play peek-a-boo, to be tickled, and to watch Micah do just about anything. She loves for mommy to hold her and sing to her. She LOVES to be called her Chinese nick-name: dai ye mei, big eyed girl. She already prefers for mommy or daddy to hold her. In fact, when others do, she protests mightily! She loves to kick her legs and hold her feet! She does not, on the other hand, love a bath...we gave her her first last night and we just got through it. We'd waited this long which was hard considering how sick she's been and not so clean. She has 4 teeth and enjoys throwing any toy you give her to watch your reaction and then demands it back.

This time in China has been quite a testing ground--for our faith and our family. We know that we know that God is good and mighty to save. He has lavished us with love, His presence, His wisdom, and His favor.

What's funny about this time in China is that we are really in little US like there are little China's in the US. We're in this lavish, gorgeous hotel with Papa john's delivery and hamburgers...the most hilarious thing is that Mattel has a deal with this hotel and they provide Barbies for adoptive moms--the Barbie is holding a Chinese baby. So funny!!! The best thing about this hotel is the breakfast that's included--imagine anything you'd want to eat for breakfast--western or Chinese--and they have it. We all pig out!

One funny thing about my mom--she reads the China Daily every day. We keep telling her she's going to be pro-com when we go home--so funny!!

It's so fun seeing so many other families from all over the world who are adopting, too. Their families are so unique and beautiful!

Well, I'm gonna go take advantage of this opportunity--both kids are sleeping with Daddy!

PLEASE pray for our paperwork as they are making us change from non special needs to special needs. We have been waiting to hear from the Consulate b/c it's the weekend--we've had to wait it out. We'll hear more tomorrow.

Love, love to all!

Snow Family Pictures

Please Pray

Made it to China safely and went to meet Brenna this morning early. She is very sick. Don't know all the details yet, but very difficult situation. Will update later. Please pray. Desperately upset.

Packing to Leave!

Well, we leave the country in 5 days! We will get to hold our daughter for the first time on July 5! We are overwhelmed with emotions--joy, expectation, fear, sadness, up and down daily or by the hour! We have been showered with love, gifts, and prayer over these last few weeks. We finished Brenna's room and have been packing for about a week! It's amazing how much we need to pack for two toddlers. We have been telling Micah a special story every day of our trip to China and the story of what will happen the day we get to meet Brenna. He can say that we're going to China on an airplane to get baby sister, but how much of that he understands.....I don't know! My mom and dear friend, Brenda, are traveling with us, so we'll have the kids out-numbered 4-2. We'll be home on the 16th, but in the meantime we'll be posting from China with updates. Sorry for the quick post, but I'm tired. I'll try to post something meaningful before we leave and I'll add some pics of her room and the two showers we have had. Love to all!

We Have TA!!!

Well, today we got more good news--we don't know what to do with ourselves!! We got travel clearance and are in the process of requesting our consulate appointment. Once we get that, we'll buy our plane tickets!!!!!!! Looks like we'll be going to China to get our girl in two-three weeks!! I can't tell you how long I've wanted to be able to say that! Yahoo! The cool thing is that we've been praying that we wouldn't be held up by our immigration clearance that we got yesterday--I feel like God was sort of winking at me by giving us our TA right after. He is able to do more than all we ask or imagine!