Pictures from Roy's Orphanage Visit

Mike & Emily bonding on the way to the orphanage. 
His shirt was the perfect choice for today!!

Roy and his foster mother!  💓😍💗

Some of the orphanage staff.  

They loved Maddie!  😊

Outside Roy's orphanage.
There are currently 189 kids there waiting to be adopted.

Roy’s Orphanage Visit

Today was the day to visit Roy’s orphanage!  I’m happy to report Mike woke up feeling 100% again!  Poor Roy didn’t want to wake up at all!! We were scheduled to leave at 7:45am. We could barely wake him up!  He slept the whole way there (it’s a 2 hour drive, one way). 🙈

Unfortunately, I woke w/my stomach feeling awful.  It was a tough decision, but I thought I should stay behind & rest.  I literally stayed in bed all day & caught up on some much needed sleep.

Mike was very brave (& amazing) and took all 3 kids to the orphanage.  We figured it would force some bonding between him & Emily.  It did! She wanted to be held by him the entire time! I was thrilled to hear it!  Our guide kept sending me updates, assuring me all was well.   

Roy was able to see his foster mother today! She was delighted to see him!! Mike said Roy got so many hugs today from her & many of the orphanage workers!  It was great to see photos as I recognized several of the staff from last time.

They were able to get a tour of the orphanage & meet many of the kids.  Such a special day for them!

They were home a little before 5 and had pizza in the room.  Tonight is our last night sleeping in the hotel!  We start the long journey home tomorrow night!! Finally! We arrive 11pm on Thursday night at JFK.  Oh it will be so good to be HOME! These two weeks have gone by slowly this trip.  We are ALL excited to get home & start some new routines as a family of 5!

I’m not sure exactly when I’ll post again...so please keep praying & specifically for the flight home.   Once I have pictures from Jana, I plan to do post some here. I’ve barely taken photos this time as my arms have been full w/Emily.  A great problem to have really! 😍

Thank you for your love & support!! 

Pictures of Consulate Appointment and Safari Park - Oct. 16

Emily's foster mother told us that she loves cell phones!
She sure does!  🙈

Our hotel gave us some yummy pastries as a thank you for changing rooms.  

Emily's just checking out the view from our 22nd floor view.  💗

She loves playing peek-a-boo with the curtains.  🙈

It's so nice to see her so HAPPY!

Roy was showing her how strong he is!  🙊😂

I think Emily must've seen yoga before! 
She just started doing this on her own!

At the Consulate appointment. 
Jana stayed with Roy back at the hotel.

Roy feeding the giraffe today! 
Jana took a ton more photos.  Hopefully I'll post more when I get them.  

We loved seeing the pandas up close!!

Oh how I love this photo! 
We were thrilled Emily let Mike hold her!!
Progress is being made!!!
PTL!!

Taking a mini gondola ride over the park!

Miss Brave!!

Consulate Apointment & Safari Park

Hey all!

We were supposed to go to the wonderful Safari Park yesterday, but it was down pouring all day.  We were disappointed, but really needed a calm day at the hotel.  Ironically enough, there was a big water leak in our bathroom & we had to switch rooms. 🙈 it ended up taking way longer than we thought, but now we have a jump start on packing for home.

Unfortunately, Mike & Roy have some sort of stomach bug.  They've been troopers, but nobody wants to be sick away from home.  We are praying it is over soon.

This morning we had our consulate appointment.  It went  great.  Lord willing, Emily's visa will be ready on Thursday morning & then we fly home Thursday night.  We are ALL ready to be H.O.M.E!

We decided to go to the safari park after the consulate appointment.  I'm not sure it was the best decision or not, but it's definitely a memorable trip!  We knew Roy would love it, despite not feeling so hot.

Tomorrow, we head to Roys orphanage.  We are excited to go & even see his foster mother again!  It is four years this month that we met our Roy-boy!  Oh how we love him & are so thankful he is our son.

Please 🙏🏻 for a few things:

1. Mike & Roy to be well soon!
2. That nobody else gets this bug!
3. For Emily to warm her heart to Mike.  She is very very timid of him.  She did actually let him hold her for 10 min today without crying!! This is a BIG deal!!
4.  For our long journey home!  Maddie & Roy did great on the way over here, but now we are adding a 2 year old - no doubt that it will be a little more lively.

Thank you soo much!!

Sunday Oct. 14 Pictures!

Roy getting a potato on a stick today!  He loved it!

Emily's first stroller ride! 

So many people & so pretty all at once!

Can anyone spot Mike in this photo?  I'll give you a hint - he is wearing pink. 
He joined in on a mob shirt sale frenzy!  🙈😂

Sisters playing together at lunch!  

Roy loves his little sister!  😍

Look who finally got himself a Silk! 
He's been wanting one for years!  I always thought he was joking! 
🙊😂

The traditional statue picture! 
We have one of Roy by the statue in 2014...crying!  🙈

The famous Red Couch at the White Swan!!

The White Swan Lobby

All five of us, admiring the beautiful lobby. 
I'm not sure why - but I LOVE this photo!  

Mike always wanted a baby bump!  Ha! 
As it turns out, Emily wants to be held all the time, but HATES our Ergo.
We saw a woman on the train wearing one of these & we thought it was such a good idea!
So we purchased one & Emily really enjoys it, while giving our back & aching arms a break!
The child basically sits on the little seat. 
Of course you hold them there, but it's much easier than carrying her all the time.  

Emily is helping pick out her pearl necklace!  😊

Apparently Emily is already into selfies!  😂

Medical Exam & Shamian Island

Yesterday was the medical exam & Emily did AMAZING!  It is such a scary time for the kids.  They’ve only been with their new parents a few days & suddenly they have to get seen by several doctors all at once.  Most kids scream & cry (understandable as they’ve just been through such trauma)!  Well, our little Emily was so brave & only cried at the TB test!  We couldn’t believe it!! We were so proud of her!

This morning when Emily awoke, she didn’t immediately cry like she had been doing.  We are excited for the progress.  Everyone went downstairs for breakfast and just she & I stayed in the room.  We started playing with bubbles & she actually giggled & started WALKING AROUND THE ROOM!  For the most part, she has wanted to be held non stop.  I couldn’t believe this change in her.  She ended up giggling!! Oh what a glorious sound this was to hear.

Mid-morning, we went to the pearl market & Shamian Island.  We bought Emily a pearl necklace to give her someday. ❤️ We could tell as the day was going on, she was getting more & more comfortable with us.  Smiling more & even letting us give her first ride in the stroller!!

We went to Lucy’s for lunch (popular restaurant that many adoptive families enjoy on the island) & watched Emily come alive before our eyes!  She was giggling and really playing with the kids. Our hearts are so full seeing her finally let her guard down & start to like us!!  What a blessing!

We then did some shopping where I might’ve gotten carried away. 😉 Hey-it’s not everyday I get to shop in my kids birth country!  I bought gifts to give them on special occasions over the years. ☺️

After that, we headed over to check out the famous “White Swan” Hotel.  It was under construction when we were here adopting Roy.  It’s absolutely beautiful!!!

We are all just soo thrilled with the progress Emily has made! Soo much in one day!!

Of course we had to push it & try for her first bath tonight.  🙈 She was having NO PART of that! Not even w/big sister in the tub with her.  We will try again soon.

Tomorrow we are off to the Safari Park.  I can’t wait for the kids to experience this!  We enjoyed it so much last time.

Please keep 🙏🏻 for us, especially Emily.  They are felt & oh so needed!

Love,
Dawn for the Rettews ☺️

Pictures!! :)

Here was one of the only times we've heard Emily talk.  We are pretty sure she was telling Roy not to touch her water! 😂 Look at her little finger!!!

I've heard "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery"....  Well, she's got that down!  We are pretty sure she copied Maddie snuggling her "rara".  She has completely latched onto a washcloth & uses it as a comfort item.  She genuinely gets stressed when she can't find it.  🙈

And...when she is scared of you or doesn't want to deal with you, she uses it as a shield.  No joke!  🙈

Here are some of the views on the way to Emily's orphanage.  It was so beautiful!  The photos don't do it justice!   

Here we are with Emily's foster Mother.  💗😍💗😍

The happiest big brother & big sis around!!  They love her so, even with all her crying!  Roy has only complained once about it!!  

Playing in the hotel playroom while we wait for our room to be ready. 

Quick Update...

Quick update...

Things have been going ok.  Poor Emily is truly broken hearted & sooo scared.  We get SO EXCITED to see her smile!  We hope & pray that she becomes more & more comfortable with us soon.

Yesterday, we went and visited her orphanage and was able to meet her foster Mother there.  I had put in a special request that we meet the foster mother separate from Emily.  She is grieving SO HARD right now, that it seemed extra cruel to reunite them, only to be taken away again.

As soon as we met the foster mother, I burst into tears! We are SO THANKFUL for her & how much love she gave Emily.  You can tell because she is crying for her soo much.  The foster mother had also packed a backpack full of snacks, clothing & diapers, along with a small gift of money for US.  We were sooooo touched!  I've never heard of a foster mother doing this before!

We also learned that she is single...which means Emily hasn't had a lot of exposure to men, which makes sense why she is terrified of Mike.  Poor guy.  Time will help...

We knew we weren't going to be allowed to get a full tour of Emily's orphanage & we'd heard all the rumors why.  However, Mike & I both felt the staff that we met genuinely had a love for the kids & we could hear kids around! So, that made my heart extra happy.

It was a long hard day, but I'm so glad we were able to go.

Today we left Nanning & took the bullet train to Guangzhou.  It feels good to be on familiar territory (we stayed here the whole time for Roys Adoption).
We really enjoyed the beautiful scenery.  China truly is a beautiful country.  I was wishing I could've taken more photos, but I had a sleeping baby in my arms! 😁

Tomorrow is her medical appointment - which is never fun. The kids hate it.  She will also have to get a tb test (which I think they draw blood). 🙈 poor dear.

Please keep 🙏🏻, we ALL need it.  Maddie had more stomach issues this morning before we took the train.  Never a dull moment w/our family!!

I've been having issues w/uploading pics, so hopefully I can get another post up later.

Love, The Rettews

Glimpses of Emily...

So...we are seeing glimpses of the true Emily.  After breakfast today, we saw SMILES & even a few squeals!!  I think when she forgets about her grief for a bit, we see the real sweet girl ready to bloom.   It breaks my heart just how hard this has been for her.

Tomorrow we visit the orphanage & I had to ask for a special request that she NOT see her foster Mom.  I know the foster mom will be disappointed, but we have to do what is best for Emily.   Mike & I will get to meet her and give her a gift & ask her LOTS of questions about Em.  I can’t wait.  Jana will watch the kids for us in a separate area.

It’s been a tough few days...but seeing the glimpses of her true self come out is very encouraging!!  One day at a time!

Today we went to Qingxiu Mountain, it was so pretty! We really enjoyed walking through the orchid garden.  It was breathtaking!! I thought of my Norman Grandparents-they would have loved it!! They had such a love for all flowers.  I wish they could have met my kids.  October 16th is their wedding anniversary.  That is the same day that Mike and I will take an oath at the US consulate, swearing to always love & protect Emily. ❤️❤️ I think that is pretty special.

Please please keep 🙏🏻 for Emily’s peace & all of us really.  This is so hard on her.  So hard to watch.

Love from the Rettews!

A few details about gotcha day...

Here are a few more details about yesterday.  When we arrived at The Civil Affairs office, Emily & her orphanage workers had already arrived.  We saw her immediately!  She was smiling & happy as could be!  They ushered us all into a smaller room where we could do paperwork. 

While Mike & I were signing paperwork, Maddie & Roy began to play with Emily.  There were squeals of delight!!! Emily immediately gravitated towards Roy. It was adorable.  When he tried to stop playing with her, she immediately grabbed his hand & made him play again. ADORABLE!! 

Things were going fine until her orphanage workers disappeared.  Oh the tears & screams started coming.  She has been beside herself.  It’s the most heart breaking thing to watch.  She has every right to be terrified of us.  She has no clue as to what is going on. 

She has been struggling hard core since then.  The only times of quiet are when we have pulled up Chinese lullabies on YouTube or finding random cartoon shows in the hotel.  Her heart is just soo sad.   This is normal & in time she will learn to trust us.

This morning (10/9), we took her down to the breakfast buffet.  We thought for sure she would be delighted to have some delish warm Chinese food.  Nope! She wanted nothing to do with it.  Back in the room we went.  

Shortly thereafter, we went back to the civil affairs office to complete the adoption.  In China, they give you a 24 hour period to decide if you are happy with the child.  Of course we are!!!  Anyways, she was soo excited to see the orphanage workers for a short bit.  We asked them if they could get her to eat something.  Up until that point, she refused all food from us.  I think she is afraid we’ve poisoned it! 🙈 They were able to get her to eat one small pastry. 

After signing all the paperwork & stamping our thumbprint & her footprint, we began a small ceremony in a separate room.  They asked if we will always Love her & never abuse her.  We of course said YES! 

After that, the orphanage workers gave us a precious album, full of photos of Emily.

Shortly after that, the orphanage workers left, more tears from Emily came.  Poor poor dear. It makes us sooo sad to see her so upset.

We then went to the notary, bank to exchange money & then back to the hotel.  Jana went to the mall & brought back Burger King for lunch.  Well, are thrilled to say that Emily ate from us!! She has French fries!! Baby steps! Baby steps! At least (for now) we don’t have to worry about her being soo hungry.  

I’m trying to get her to doze for a nap right now. She is in my bed, watching some Chinese cartoon.  Hopefully she dozed off soon. 

Please pray for her heart!! My goodness! 

Thank you!! 

We have her!

We have her!  She is absolutely precious!!!She was so brave & doing soo well until her orphanage workers left.  She's been grieving intensely for hours now.  Please pray for her dear little heart.  She ADORES Roy!!!  I'm happy for him.  She's terrified of us right now.  Very understandable.  We look forward to the days where she learns to trust us.  

Please keep praying for Maddie - she is extremely sick.  She had an incident in the car on the way to meet Emily.  She's been dreaming of meeting Emily for months.  I can assure you that it never involved being this terribly sick.  ;-(

Thank you all!!!