Ana's first reaction to Us!

Ana Day1 024
Originally uploaded by kmseiden.

Here's our sweet girl. Screaming and sweating! But look at those pig tails! Click on the photo and it will take you to all of our photos. On the right hand side, in Ana Day1 (set), Click on the "view slide show" to the right and all photos of the day will appear.

August 21, 2006: GOTCHA DAY!

What an incredible day this has been! Ana Mei (Bing Bing) has finally joined us and doing fabulous! She cried more than any other child at first, we think for 2 reasons. She has been so well cared for so she didn't want to leave her caretakers, and she's a bit sick with bronchitis. She fell asleep on the bus and slept for over 3 hours I think. Since then, she has been incredible! She's had a bath already and right now her and "ba ba" (da da) are having a ball. She is a happy baby and taking up with both of us already. We are about to crash with jet lag still so we'll post more pics and video later. Love you all and thanks so much for the prayers that you've covered us in.

Our Detail Travel Plans are Confirmed!!!

Thanks to all you prayer warriors out there! God is working everything out as He planned!

August 17: 4:30 PM, Ed, Kris, and Josiah fly to LA, arrive 8:36 pm (PST)

August 18: Ed's Parent's 50th Wedding Celebration!

August 19: Ed and Kris say goodbye to Josiah in CA and fly out of LAX 1:25 pm

Josiah will stay with Grandpa and Grandma until Monday and Grandpa will fly home with him and stay for a few days. Nana and Papa then begin holding down the fort in TN while we're gone.

August 20: Fly through Tokyo (will ourselves to stay awake!) and arrive in Guangzhou, China, 10:35 pm - CRASH!!

August 21: Receive Ana Mei in the afternoon!!!!!!

August 22, 2006 Adoption registration and notarization.

August 23, 2006 Free day.

August 24, 2006 Receive adoption registration certificates. Apply for passports.

August 25, 2006 Visa pictures and medical exam.

August 26, 2006 Pearl River evening cruise.

August 27, 2006 Free day. Visit orphanage on one of these free days.

August 28, 2006 Visit the White Cloud Mountains.

August 29, 2006 Free day.

August 30, 2006 Receive childrenÂ’s passports.

August 31, 2006 Visa appointment.

September 1, 2006 3:00 p.m. Go to the consulate to take the oath and pick up visa.

September 2, 2006 Begin journey home, 8:20 a.m. Arrive in Nashville 5:36 pm!!

We are now praying through all that is going on with the state of our country and the alerts at the airports. Our flights are somewhat tight, so our biggest concern is that we make every flight in order to arrive in Guangzhou by noon, Aug. 21 - the required time. On a lighter note, I (Kris) can live without gel in the carry-on, but we're both dreading the yuck mouth w/out toothpaste!

HAND UPDATE
I got my pins out August 8. They do not give you anything for pain or to numb it. The Dr. took pliers and yanked them out one at a time. I had 3. I about came unglued! I made it through it though and felt okay once it was over. I am still typing all of this w/ my left hand. (Do I hear a "Bless your heart!"??)
No more cast or splint. I have to wear one of those tight gloves for swelling. Today has been a much better day. I can spread my fingers pretty good, petted the dogs and gave Josiah a hug that felt good to the touch! Of course, I've been doing all of this w/ my left hand. 3 more physical therapy sessions before we travel.

Thanks again for keeping up with us. We love you all!

PRAISE GOD, HE IS ANSWERING ALL OF OUR PRAYERS!

We have tentative travel dates!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN PRAYING FOR US!

We have to be in Guanghou, China noon, August 21!!!!!!!!!!

(We prayed to make it specifically Aug. 20 or later)

We will tentatively leave Nashville on August 17 to travel to California to be with Ed's parents and family on Augest 18 for the big 50th wedding anniversary celebration. Josiah will travel with us to CA.

Ed and I will probably fly out of LAX on August 19 to get to Guanghou, China on August 20 so we can rest one day from jet lag before we receive our Ana Mei on August 21 (or 22nd).

JT will stay in California with his grandparents a couple more days. Our travel agency is still working out flights for us. We have to get ours before we can make Josiah's and his grandpa's who will fly with him to Nashville.

Prayer warrior friends: please continue to pray:

1. Our flights will not be outrageous in price
2. Josiah will be able to get on our flight with us and he and Grandpa's ticket will be reasonable
3. My hand will continue to heal so I can squeeze my Ana Bug!
4. Kris's mom and dad will be blessed for taking care of Josiah, the dogs,. and our home while we are gone.

We love you all. Thanks for sharing with us in our journey!

A Little More News on Travel

We are asking for everyone's prayers. We received a call today from our agency about travel. We have been waiting so long for our little Ana Mei. We could leave as early as August 14, but we will not receive confirmation until sometime next week. We desperately want to also be in CA on August 18 for Ed's parent's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. We've been praying God's favor on us and His perfect timing would be that the CA. trip and CHINA would all fall into place nicely. Now we're not so sure if this is all going to work out. Not to mention the situation with Kris's right hand. (see earlier post)And the cost of International flights w/ less than a week's notice!

And on top of all of this, Josiah will be staying home with Kris's parents and we have just been told that we now have to stay in China 3 weeks instead of 2. We cannot imagine being away from our sweet Josiah for that long.

SO, please pray for us that all will fall into place. THANK YOU SO MUCH. We will keep you posted as soon as we learn more.

Josiah turns FIVE!

Dad even gets in on the action!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSIAH! He had an Army party with his friends and we did a repeat on the Cleveland's big waterslide. So much fun!!

Josiah Starts Kindergarten

Josiah's new teacher, Mrs. Genoble

I cannot believe my baby boy is in school. He started Poplar Grove on July 27th. What a big boy. It's right behind the house so we can walk him to school.

Our Bicycle Accidents

(Kris's hand)

Ed had a bike accident on June 16 and spent some time in the emergency room. He is okay and has healed up fine. His face hit the pavement and glasses jammed into his face just under his eye. They had to use some glue to put him back together. He is now as handsome as ever!

On July 3rd, all three of us were riding our bikes downtown Franklin for a nice breakfast, however, we didn't make it there. Kris took a tumble going from the street to a sidewalk and broke 3 fingers. The ambulance and fire truck came. I (Kris) blacked out and woke up to Josiah screaming, "Mommy's dead, Daddy, I knew it, Mommy is dead." I brought myself to tell him I was not dead but to just pray for Mommy. Well, since then I have had 3 different casts, had surgery on July 13, and have 3 pins sticking out of my right hand. No use of this hand right now. I'm in therapy 3 times a week and the pins come out August 8. (yes, I am typing all of this with my left hand only and that's why I haven't posted in a while. What a pain!)

Ed is the greatest husband in the world. He is doing everything around here. Cooking, cleaning, laundry. . . he's the only one in the house who can cut meat with a knife and tie shoes!

(Josiah is still learning)