Sunday, January 9, 2011

Got Bo!

So, we have her and she is awesome. I think my first date went pretty well, we held hands!

Our day started early this morning with a trip to the Beijing Airport for a flight to Nanchang, Jiangxi.  It was about a two hour flight aboard Air China.  A very nice airplane and we were served breakfast...our choice of a Chinese breakfast or an English breakfast...which was porridge (Chinese) or a mystery meat and peas...I chose neither, instead relying on my good old friends, granola bars.

When we landed here in Nanchang I immediately noticed a huge difference from Beijing.  Nanchang is a city of 4 million people, which is actually a small city by Chinese standards.  But it is evident that this area does not enjoy the same type of prosperity and modern convenience as Beijing.  For instance, in the Nanchang airport the bathroom stalls are basically porcelain holes in the floor, no toilet, just a hole to squat over.  Needless to say, any business I had to do was not going to be carried out at the Nanchang airport...Also, the drive into the city showed us what life is like for peasant farmers.  There is little suburb in this city, either you are a rural, farming peasant or you work and live in the city.  In Nanchang, many who live in the city are poor as well.  If you choose to be a farmer the government will grant you a piece of land to work for free. But the land is small and the work is hard.  Their homes looked like a war torn area in some places.  In the city the government has sold much of the land to private developers who are building giant apartment buildings.  I have seen very few houses, by American standards, but mainly rural huts and large apartment buildings.  Some are brand new and look nice, others appear to be very old and run down.  It was difficult for Nicole, and for me, to walk into such a nice hotel for our stay and yet be surrounded by poverty.  But, the people are extremely nice and want desperately to please.

OK, so we get to the hotel at about noon and Nicole and I were pretty anxious.  Nicole and I were both very tired...when she gets tired she generally cries and when I get tired there is nothing that is good...cranky to say the least.  So you can imagine what that can look like.  But Nicole really gathered herself well.  She was very shaken by the poverty.  And she really turned the corner before I did...I was cranky until I saw Bo. 

We got the call at about 3:45 Nanchang time that our baby had arrived at the hotel.  All the children, four other girls (two were twins) were taken to a quiet part of the hotel, but a lobby area.  Nicole and I were the first to arrive.  They asked us the name of our baby and when they told us which was Bo Jia Zhao, Nicole took her from the arms of the nanny who traveled with her.  She wasn't very happy; it was obvious that she had been crying for a long time because she was hoarse and sweaty.  Nicole got her to calm down a little bit, but she didn't like the cameras and, at first, she wanted nothing to do with me.  It was a neat experience to share such joy with all of the other families.  But we needed to get Bo up to our room to calm her down and get some of her clothes off.  Because the orphanages are so cold, they bundle the babies in many layers.  I think she had 7 layers on the top and 3 layers on the bottom.

When we got her clothes off she continued to fuss, but I think that's because she went from hot to cold.  She was looking for a Goldylocks moment, she wanted to be just right.  So we put some of her pants back on and when her legs warmed up she started to calm down.  By the time we got downstairs to finish up our paperwork she was a different baby.  She wasn't crying and she spent quite a bit of time with me.  She was playing with my hands, reaching out for my fingers, and touching the rough surface of the couch.  She "talked" a little bit too and then started reaching her hands up to my face.  That was quite an experience.

Once we completed the paperwork we took her back upstairs for some feeding and a bath.  The feeding went well, she drank her bottle relatively quickly.  The bath was like a 2 on 1 wrestling match.  She wanted nothing to do with bath time and quickly let us know as such.  Crying was the least of our worries as she kicked her feet, arched her back, and made it nearly impossible for us to clean her without her slithering out of our grip.  We noticed a really bad diaper rash and some soars on her toes.  Maybe the bath made it hurt worse...I am sure that people would have quite a laugh if it were videotaped.  She continued to fight us as we tried to put lotion,diaper cream, and an outfit on.  Nicole tried to tell me a specific outfit to get but I just grabbed clothes and put them on her body.  One thing I have noticed, she is stubborn and when she gets angry she stays angry for awhile...yep, my daughter!  So, I tried to put her in the stroller and she fought us on that...until I got the dumb thing moving.  I about ran Nicole over getting out the door and once we were moving, she was fine.  She started talking and when I would stop to talk to her she fussed, so I kept walking.  Nicole switched roles with me so that I could get some things for us all to go to dinner.  By the time I got out, Bo had fallen asleep.

Dinner was incredible.  The food wasn't all that great, but the company was...and, although I love my wife, I am talking about Bo.  She took about a 15 minute nap and woke up very calm.  She was quiet and sat until Nicole picked her up.  We were eating with another couple who had just gotten their child as well.  Nicole put some things to Bo's mouth and she ate....and ate.....and ate.  She ate rice, pizza, spaghetti, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, and anything else we put to her mouth.  Our daughter loves to eat....again. that's my daughter.  I can envision late nights raiding the freezer for ice cream coming down the road.

Anyway, we got Bo back up to the room for the night.  I came downstairs to get some video to my boys and to update the blog.  I know this is long, but I had to share the story.  Nicole was going to play with Bo and get her to sleep.  It is now 10 pm and time to head to bed.  I bet that Bo and Nicole are both still awake when I get upstairs, but could be wrong.  I'm heading up.  We have an important day tomorrow finishing paperwork and paying fees.  In fact, tomorrow might be the most important day we have left before we come home.  We have to fill the paperwork out just right. 

Before I finish, I have to praise God for His infinite wisdom in this process.  There have been many requests, and there will be many more (flight home) but as I sit here and think briefly through the last five years...after today with Bo I just have to say, thank you God for making us wait five years...she is well worth the wait. Boys, you are going to love her!

Enjoy the pics, more will be coming soon.  Hopefully, more pics and less words.  I just went back through what I typed and I think that I just completed a Masters thesis.

God bless you all and thanks for the continued prayers.  We feel them!

13 comments:

  1. Checking in before I go to church. Don't have time to read the whole blog, but ooking at your pictures, all I can say is God is so good! You guys look so wonderful. She is more beautiful than in her pictures. Congratulations! I will write more when I get back from church.

    Love you!

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  2. She is perfect!!! A beautiful baby girl. So funny to read all about your adventures with her :) can't wait to meet her!!! She looks happy...a very blessed little girl!

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  3. Coach! She is beautiful! I'm so happy for y'all! God is so good!

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  4. Paul and I are praying for you and your family! She is beautiful. Have a wonderful time getting to know Bo and safe travels home.

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  5. Oh My Oh My she is beautiful. Can't wait to see you all. Don't you dare stop writing. It is wonderful. Makes us all feel apart of the experience. You are an excellent story teller. Donelson Church was wonderful today. When kerri and I got in the care we both said it made us think of you and Nicole. Paraphrasing, it was about God is EVERYWHERE. He is with you guys in China for sure. Much love Kathye

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  6. The Lord is good and has a wonderful sense of humor. Brett has a stubborn daughter.Imagine that.
    John

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  7. I can't tell you what it means to me to be a part of this journey with you via this blog. You had me sobbing yesterday, and today so excited to see our beautiful Bo. Will looked at pictures today too, and decided his baby brother or sister was going to be best friends with her. We love you both and are praying for continued safety and blessings on your journey. Love you all, Elaine and Paul (and Will)

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  8. Praise Him! Sounds like things are going beautifully. I just read the blog to Alayna and Henry. Alayna is pretending she is Bo. She is saying "I wanna go home, I wanna go home." I am sure you guys are ready too since you got the precious cargo you went there for. She is just beautiful and I know the next few days will be full of fun learning about her and her bonding with you guys. Love your blog Bret, it has been captivating reading. Covering you in prayer.
    Lori Eddie Henry and Alayna

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  9. The journey you are taking us on has been amazing so far! I have loved reading and being a part of your journey so far.When I woke this morning the first thing I did was check the blog. I was so excited to see pictures and hear about meeting her for the first time. Samantha Bo is beautiful!! You both are a blessing and you have blessed my heart through this experience. You have been and will continue to be in my prayers as you connect and bond more and more as a family. I cant wait to see her in person!
    love you to both...sara,trey,hut and harper kate

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  10. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire arrives it is the tree of life. Prov.13:12 Steve and I have claimed this verse many times. Your blog is so entertaining and made me think of this verse. Samantha Bo is beautiful! I am glad your 1st date went well. Jackson and Gunnar sure look like proud brothers. Luke and I can't wait to meet Samantha Bo.I am so excited for both of you and will certainly continue to pray for you. Thanks for sharing your experience in such detail. Love, Coach B

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  11. Congrats Coach! Bo is a beautiful little girl! What a blessing not only for you and your family but for her as well to be a part of a beautiful family. You all are wonderful and i am so thankful to be able to follow along and feel apart of your journey to get your precious baby daughter. Safe travels. Keeping you in my prayers. Lots of love. Always.

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  12. As if I have not cried enough in India already, I check your blog and cry so more. So excited for you guys. What an answer to prayer for many years. Congrats to all 5 of you.

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  13. Hey when u dont have anything to say just remember what i always said in your class. COME ON MAANNN HAHA I am glad you guys finally met Bo and hopefully there arent any problems with the rest of the paper work. Bo is very cute and just hurry up and get back lol.

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