There's no place like home!

Well, we are back home. After a VERY long day of traveling, we arrived back home to be greeted by all of our children and Tia's boyfriend, Brian. Lily traveled sooooo well! She played with her toys, watched a Dora video that we bought in Chinese, and slept for a nap. She was probably the most perfect child I have ever traveled with! Especially when you figure in the length of time spent in airports and planes, and the small length of time she had been with us to this point.

As we walked in the door, Tia and Amber greeted us, holding Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Lily looked at each other for about 2 minutes without much expression, then both girls smiled so big and Elizabeth clapped! They were both willing to kiss the other and give "high fives", and when we put them down, they both played well together with the toys. It was absolutely amazing!

It has remained pretty much the same way since then. The only issue we seem to be dealing with is the time change. Taiwan is exactly 12 hours ahead of us. So, 4am here is 4pm there! And believe me, Lily knows this! She seems to be constantly tired (except at 4am of course.)haha. Poor thing. We've been putting her down for a nap with Elizabeth, and then waking her by 3:30 or 4:00 (although she DOESN'T want to get up then... it's the middle of the night by her body's clock!) She is a baby that, when she wants to sleep... SHE SLEEPS! Even though we get her up, she will lay on our shoulders.... fold over and lay on her feet on the floor... if sat on the sofa, fall over sideways and sleep that way. Yesterday we took her grocery shopping and she actually put her head down on the metal side of the shopping cart! When I tried to pick it up, she just continued to sleep with her head cupped in the palm of my hand. If I wasn't trying to change her schedule around, it would be almost comical. But I feel sooo bad for her because she is always so tired. I plan on talking to our pediatrician to see if there is something I can do to help her... perhaps give her something to help her sleep THRU the night, so she can be less tired the next day until her nap... get on a little bit of a typical schedule. I'm not sure, but we have to do something for the poor baby!

Even with all of this, she seems to be adjusting well and generally happy. She is adapting to western food (although rice noodles are still her very favorite and we offer them pretty regularly). She is playing well with Elizabeth, and even learned the signs for "itsy-bitsy spider" yesterday. We now catch her doing it and singing quietly (in baby chinese babble of course). It's so darn cute!

So, just thought I'd let everyone know how well it's went.

Oh, forgot to mention. Our trip was wonderful! We had one day to sight-see with our guide/driver. Other than that, we just wandered around Taipei on our own. It was great. Everyone we encountered was very polite and thoughtful.

On Thursday we went to the orphanage again and met with the Birthparents. They were so sweet. Thru translation from the social worker, they told us "thank you", repeatedly, for adopting Lily. BF told us how he thought she was the most beautiful baby at birth! After they found out about the Down syndrome, they placed her at Cathwel (the orphanage) in hopes that she would be adopted by a family that lived somewhere where she would be more accepted and loved than in Asia. And, just as important to him, somewhere that she could get an education. Apparently in Asia she could not attend school.

They reported that another family had tried to adopt Lily at the same time. However, after looking at our dosier and family photo album, they didn't even consider them. The clincher you ask? The BF said that when he saw the pictures of our older children with Elizabeth (I included ones with the twins playing with her, and one where Kelli was holding and soothing her when she was scared of a parade) that he knew we were the family for Yin-Chiao! He said he could tell that the twins would always accept and love her, as he saw how much they accepted and loved Elizabeth, who also had DS. He also said (and this was important to him as sons are important in Asia!) that he could tell that Kelli would always love and protect her, as he saw how Kelli loved and protected Elizabeth in the photo's. Many that we have dealt with in this process have thought )(and told us!) that having a child with DS so close in age to Lily would be a detriment to the family choosing us. However, it proved to be just the opposite.

They were so kind and thoughtful, and obviously loved their daughter. They did ask us if we would look them up if we ever made it back to Taiwan, and we told them absolutely! And we certainly would! And they asked us if we would make sure Lily received and education, and of course we promised them we would.

They then totally surprised, and absolutely touched my heart! There is a Chinese belief that everyone in the universe is connected by a red thread. Lily's birthparents presented us with a necklace and bracelet that they had made for Lily to wear when she was old enough. It was made from red knotted thread, with milky jade beads and a milky jade ring at the bottom. Jade is a valuable stone in Asia, and the milkier the appearance, the more valued by the Asian culture. It was beautiful. Alright, you may think... that's touching... but mmmm. Well, now for the part that will tell you what kind of people they were. With all they were going thru, knowing they will probably never again see their daughter, whom they obviously love enough to give up, they were thoughtful enough to present an IDENTICAL set they had made for Elizabeth: "Yin-Chiao's sister"! I had held it together pretty well until then, but then my tears joined the birth parents. If that didn't touch you... reread it and see if you would have thought to do that.

Alright, that's all for now... I have babies sleeping (finally!!!!) and so must sleep myself. Have to be ready for that 4am alarm! haha

May your lives be as blessed as ours have been; may your children bring you as much joy as ours have brought us.

Sheryl and Joby Hyman