Friday, March 9, 2007

Update at Home

My apologies to everyone !! We have been so busy with life , that I have'nt had time to blog, and every time I find I can do it, I either forget the digital camera cord or the battery on the laptop is dead. So so sorry, it has taken me forever to update you guys.
I like to think of you all as my blog obsessives, he he he.... Know that I love you guys and love the comments, its great.

Well we are home and getting acclimated to a routine and our home. Eli is doing really well, he loves for me to hold him just all the time, and I understand that this is good and it promotes the healing with regards to bonding and attachment. My arm, however, is about to drop off, but I have noticed that I am a lot stronger on the left side because of this.
Today we hung up a baby swing on the porch for him and he just loves it. I think it might be the first time he has ever swung on a swing.

For all of you in the process , take it from me , that one of the best things that I got in China for myself, ended up being an absolute delight for Eli. Our driver and guide in Beijing bought Hamid and I a Chinese music CD that we heard on their cell phone ringer and on the car radio. I fell in love with it and played it on our lap top in the hotel often. When we got back home to the US, I put the CD in the car to hear it and I got such a surprise out of Eli! He stopped sucking that one finger of his and he perked up and dazed a glance at me then started laughing and clapping his hands. After a while he would look out of the window and start clapping and laughing, while the music played. Hamid and I have two differing views on this. Hamid thinks that he recognizes the words in the song, I however think that he recognises the music from the hotel and it gives him a sense of familiarity. For whatever the reason, I highly advise you all to buy at least one Chinese music CD for your baby to enjoy. Eli perks up and laughs and just has a ball every time we take off for a ride in the car with his tunes that he loves. I need to get a video of him, he is so funny.

We are having a ball with little Eli ! I will keep updating sooner than later.
Bye for now,
Nour

My First Bath At Home


All Dressed Up And Ready For First Doctor's Apointment


Hamid's Future Blackmail Photo of Eli

Oh What A Pretty Girl !

Our Red Couch Photo in China

Last Picture Taken at Starbucks in China


Thursday, February 15, 2007

We Made It !

Ok, everyone, we are HOME! what a nightmare the trip was for me. I don't like flying anyway and to take a 25 hour trip after getting only 4 hours sleep the night prior was murder on me! I wish I could sleep on at least one of the planes we flew on. The baby slept pretty well on all three plane rides, and Hamid did a little. He was feeling bad and came down with a cold and headache on our way, poor guy.

We got to the airport 30min. late , but what a special welcome we had! No one knows but I got teary eyed on the long walk to that Welcome Home sign you all made for us. Thanks to everyone for the welcome home at the airport, it felt so good, only a long foreign trip like this one , can make you really appreciate home. Inside I felt miserable though, because of sleep deprivation and headache, so please know that I am a lot more fun when rested and I also am so thankful for friends like you guys to be apart of our family and life.

We all came home with all our loot and went straight to bed, all of us. I fed the baby, and Diane and my mom had prepared us dinner. Thank You ! Well I woke up this morning at 1:30 and could not get back to sleep, everyone else is awake too now. Hopefully we will get into the U.S. time frame soon.

Eli just loves his room, he sits in the baby bed and stares at the pictures on the wall for a long, long time. He also likes talking and laughing to the stuffed animals in his bed. He is so cute.

Bye, Nour

Sunday, February 11, 2007

One Day Left in Guonghzo !!!

Hello everybody,

I have not gotten in touch because I have been so busy with the baby. We are having alot of fun here in Guonghzo, it is so pretty , it reminds me of a mix of New Orleans and South Carolina at the same time. There are alot of British style buildings. Today we went to zoo. Tonight we will go on a river boat Cruise with dinner included. I have to remember my dramamine!

We have one more day left then we will be on our way home. If any of you would like to meet us at airport, I would love that and of course I want to show my new son off. We will arive at 4:30 pm on the 14 th of Feb. ( Valentines Day ) What a great day for delivery!! !!

I will try to post some more pics soon . I did not pay for internet service at our hotel in Guonghzo because I found this fabulous little coffee shop called Blenz Coffee, and they have free internet for those with lap tops and also two systems for those too lazy to drag their lap tops with them to the coffee shop. Eli is being so good right now he is sitting in his stroller with a bottle watching me type. What a good boy he is! Ok well most of the time. OOh, he just fell asleep, life is good.

I have been told by our guide that we have our last official documents to sign for the baby's visa to the U. S. We already got his passport and everything seems to be a done deal. Now for the flight home, Oh No, that is going to be very interesting and I am not looking forward to it at all. Eli does not like close quarters. Please pray for us and thank you for praying.

Bye, Nour

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Eli's passport

Hey everyone its me Big brother Hamid. My mom told me I could put up a post before we leave to Guonghzo. Well my little brother Eli was not so big when we got him but now I think he has gained some weight, I think he likes the rice cereal a lot. Well the best tour guide I think we could ask for miss Nancy just came in the hotel room as I type this and gave us Eli's Chinese passport. As we wait on our Hawaiian pizza in the hotel room Eli is taking a nap.


See ya

Big brother, Hamid

My Little Emperor


Goofin Off at Hotel


On Left is One Head of CCAA , On Right is Head of Orphanage


Head Honcho Helps Me With My Thumb Print


Head Honcha at Civil Affairs Office


Signing Legal Papers


Waiting to Sign at Civil Affairs Office


Tiny Little Eli


A Short Note Before We Fly to Guongzho

Ok, again we fly out tomorrow to go to Guongzo for a week. We are so tired of flying ! This will be our last flight inside the country before we fly home on the 14th. I can tell you that I do not want to get on another plane for a very long time.
The baby is doing well, we found out that he weighs exactly 17 lbs. which is not alot for a two year old. His legs and arms are very floppy and have very little muscle tone. He is used to lying on his back only for sleep and will not move from that position all night. Other than these minor things, he is very healthy, smart, and looks just like me. Ha Ha.
Well, both of my boys are asleep and I am so sleepy too. Once we are in our next destination for a week, I will write and send more pics.

See you and thanks for the prayer, I need it.

Nour

Monday, February 5, 2007

He is legally mine as of today 10:00 AM

OK,.... Well this has been interesting to say just the least! I am now a mother of two sons legally and it feel great.
We signed the last of the legal documents at the Civil Affairs Office today and the Civil Affairs agent looked at me and congratulated me while shaking my hand. It was a very emotional and sombering feeling that I don't think I have ever felt before. I gave her my gift and of course thanked her and took a deep breath.
Right now the baby is asleep and I have a min. to write to you all. Last night was our first night togethr and it was a night mare. The baby woke up about 4 times and would not take a bottle any at all. He screamed and poor Hamid couldn't get any sleep. Part of me actually enjoyed this because it reminded me of being a new mom home from the hospital with a new baby.
Eli's cleft lip and also his pallet looks really good. His pallet looks like it has closed about 50% since I saw the pic of him at age 13 months. His lip looks so good you almost cannot tell. I am reminded when food comes out his nose though, but the good thing is that it only comes out of the left side.
He is so cute and a huge snorter. Hamid and Eli have fun snorting back and forth at each other.

Well, I am on cloud 9 and I thank God!

Nour