Thursday, July 01, 2010

Progress

Adoption is hard.


Kory and I have both had some pretty low lows, but in the midst of it all, we do see progress. It seems when I have my breakdowns, Kory is hanging tough and vice versa. Today has been a tough one for Kory.

Wed. morning was hard. She is so sad. Almost constantly crying out for ma. But, that afternoon and again this morning she would actually have some moments of calm. Progress.

We took her swimming. Some friends from our travel group had some cups and she spent a lot of time playing with those. Dumping water, stacking them. It was a good morning.

She took a good nap, but after her nap was very sad again. Lots of crying. Waking up is always hard. It is like the reminder of her circumstances comes rushing in making it hard for her to forget.

Your prayers and comments mean so much to us. Every one of you. We are so thankful. They offer hope.

And God has blessed us with an AMAZING travel group. We feel so supported.
Please pray for them too. Like I said before, adoption is hard.

Pray for Jim and Emily and Noah. And Scott and Melissa and Amelia.

I have had some progress one on one with Suhn as well. She is letting me hold her more and has let me feed her and hold her bottle for her. She is still very much a Daddy's girl at this point, but I'll take what I can get.

She really is a beautiful little girl and is very smart. You can see it in her eyes. She knows what is going on which is part of what makes this so hard.

Tomorrow we head to Guangzhou. Praise the Lord! We are so ready to get out of this town and this hotel (our cell as we like to call it).

So I don't completely depress you (We do have good moments, and we can feel your prayers like you can feel the wall of humidity when you walk outside our hotel!), here are a couple of random tidbits from China:

People ride the motorcycles, motorized bikes, vespas, etc on the sidewalk. And there are lots of them! It makes every walk an adventure!

We have visited a Chinese Wal-mart (which is an actual Wal-mart!). We have seen piles of meat including chicken feet and other unidentified objects. We have seen little boys pee in a garbage can in the store and pee on the floor. It is quite an experience and makes me very thankful that the American version of potty training is as thorough as it is.

The other day as we were walking to Wal-mart we say a group of Chinese people sitting outside a TV store. They were watching the display in the window. Quite Humourous.

That's all I got. We are hanging in there. Keep the prayers coming.

24 comments:

Leslie Ringger said...

those ARE random (and interesting) tidbits :)

i just want you to know i'm so proud of you guys. praying!

Llama Momma said...

Praying.

Mindy said...

Praying for you!!

I appreciate you being honest about your journey. It helps me realize the reality of the situation that we could be in next year.

God will never give you more than you can handle. He hand picked you and Kory to be Suhn's Mommy and Daddy and he did it because he knows you are the BEST for her!

Love and prayers!!

Kasey said...

Thanks for the updates, Megan. I'm sure it isn't easy to post when things are rough. She is such a doll and we really love all the pictures. We are still praying for you!

Jill Foley said...

Praying for you all, Megan

Amy Arnold said...

Your right, adotion is hard! You are doing it well. I am so crazy proud of you guys! It seems that she is doing all of the normal things. It is so good that she is grieving for her "ma". She had a deep attachment to her and that sets you up to have a deep attachment as well. It is wonderful that she is letting you in, Megan. Haddie did not let me in until Guangzhou, and it was not much. You will like Guangzhou so much better. We too felt like we were in a cell in Zhenzhou. Laughing out loud at some of your tidbits!! :) Make sure that you plan to do the safari in Guangzhou. It was one of our favorite days in China. It is so much better than the zoo. Your guides will take you if you ask. Make sure to pack snacks if you go. The food there is REALLY strange. I mean REALLY STRANGE!!! We will pray for you guys and all of those with you. Press on...you are on your journey home!

1 John 3:
16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

Amber said...

I"ve been stalking for an update : ), so thankful to hear - regardless of what each day is like. So thanks for taking the time to share.

I LOVE the verses from I John Amy wrote down for you, I don't think there is anything more encouraging than those to share with you.

So know that we continue to hold you guys up in prayer. He IS a faithful God worthy of our tears, fear and trust. Praying you continue to see many more little moments of progress.

Kim Wietfeldt said...

Praying for you. Have a safe journey home.

Holli said...

PRAYING!!! So glad for progress!!

Jami said...

you sound more upbeat and that makes me happy!

you are on my mind and heart a lot and i'm very proud of you! you are doing a great job! moment by moment.

that is what i keep telling myself too. i'm kind of an emotional wreck myself. with the move (this sat) and b's sick and needing breathing treatments every 4 hours, and everything else, i've been in tears often over the past day or 2.

in fact today i had to call easter seals and cancel d's appointment. trying to be gracious but instead i started crying. when she was like are you okay? i told her we're moving this weekend and i'm just stressed! i apologized through tears then got off the phone and just sobbed!

so kory your crazy sister in law is making a real good impression to your staffers! they were very kind though!

anyway, i feel for you mego. i love you. keep pressin' on my sweet sister! can't wait to have you home!!!

Sticklings said...

Praying for you! Just keep on loving her. My heart aches for you and her.

Hannah's Mom said...

Yes, adoption is hard. And it is a process. A long one. Her grieving is normal. Picture one of your kids, at her age, having to separate from you like this.

Thank you for being so honest and open. I think a lot of adoptions are like this, but people only tell the positive part of it. It's good to be real. Thanks for sharing!

Praying for you!

Jessica said...

I just cant imagine...its like your Sean or my Will being totally flipped upside down. They know so much at this age. Her little world is so different, so unknown right now. She is so precious. I just have this feeling that when she is home with her brothers and sister that things will seem a bit brighter for her too. There will definitly be some more distractions for her :) I keep praying for her "ma" too. My heart just hurts so much for her. I hope she has as good of support as Suhn does right now. You both are so sensitive to how she is feeling and that is just what she needs. I love you and am SOOO proud of you Megan. You and Kory are so transparent through this and it has really blessed me.
Praying and stalking your blog for each update :)

Heidi Klopfenstein said...

There were times when I was reading this post where my heart ached for you and I was close to tears. Then all the sudden you had me laughing. out loud! Todd and I felt the same way about those "training pants" the Wal-mart and the hotel room at the Crown Plaza ;).
I am thankful for the progress you all are making. I am continuing to pray for your family!!

Oh --have you noticed the "luggies" on the ground? if not watch out where you step :). They were everywhere in China...even on the beautiful granite elevator floor of the White Swan.

Jill said...

So good to hear your update. Praising God for the bits of progress. Praying that He will continue to carry you.

Love you guys!

DebM said...

Hi! Not sure how I found your blog... I think from adcoxfamily.blogspot.com and I think I found them from Fred and Kelly's blog. Anyway, we are adopting from China as well and are using CCAI... so I have loved every minute of following your journey as well as some of the other families in your travel group. Just wanted to say that I appreciate your honesty about how this is all going. I am sure it is TREMENDOUSLY difficult... you are on such a emotional roller coaster ride. Again, just wanted to say thank you for sharing, I'm praying for bonding for the three of you and for Suhn's little heart to begin to heal.

Erin said...

Megan-just got back from vacation so missed all of this - I've been catching up quickly the last few minutes.

Yep - adoption IS hard. Gloriously, heart-wrenchingly, physically, emotionally, & spiritually hard.

I appreciate your updates. If I would've had more reliable internet (or access to blogger) mine would've sounded so much the same.

Adding my prayers to the tons that've been going up for you guys this past week...

And here's my two cents for that first week together (incidentally, celebrating our 1st year together on July 3rd - wow, what a year...) bubbles, balls, sunglasses, treats, crayons, some more bubbles, diversion, diversion, diversion....and thanks each day that His mercies (and the chance to start fresh and just a step ahead of yesterday - even though it can feel like two steps forward, two steps back some days) are new every morning.

Love to you both - and shoot me an e-mail anytime. eawuthrich@gmail.com

Erin

Rebekah said...

we continue to pray. and you're right...she is beautiful!! i'm so glad your travel group can all help each other. and most of all, i'm thankful that all though we are so far from you, God just as close as ever.

by the way, we saw you folks and all your other kiddos at fam baseball...everyone looked good. i saw simon and jonah hitting balls and running bases! (no running off to the playgroound this year!)

love ya.

Anonymous said...

Praying too!

Bill and Midge said...

I totally agree - adoption is hard, and most people don't tell you that up front. But it is worth it, and some day this all won't be so hard. I found your blog through the Adcox blog - we have followed theirs for a long time. I have been praying for them and for you. Be encouraged - God has provided people through the wonders of blogs, who you have never even met, to pray for you and to help you fight those spiritual battles!

Marla said...

Kory and Megan,
Suhn is going to be such a blessing to our family. And one day soon, she will feel blessed, too. You guys are doing so great. I am so proud of you and of what you are doing. I pray for you often.

The kids did great. They are at Roanoke now, but the song that I would often hear Jonah sing keeps going through my mind:

God has a pwan for my wi-i-ife, God has a pwan for my wi-i-ife. I just can't wait to see, what's in store for me, OH God has a pwan for my wife.

Praying you all home safe,
Mom

Katie said...

I must say we went through the same thing just a few months ago in the same hotel. Our break through was over a grilled cheese sandwich and fries at Lucy’s in Guangzhou not sure what happened but my son starting giving us kisses and smiled. It was the best thing and will never forget that moment.

Ray and Marcia said...

We just got back from vacation so just got the updates. We have been praying though. The attachment to Daddy and not Mommy sounds like a normal attachment. I was hoping Amy would encourage you (and she did!)because it reminded me of their experience with Haddie. God has placed her in your family so she will adjust but it will take time. She has to be so confused right now. We also are praying for her foster Mom.

On a lighter note....so glad that God has a "pwan" for Jonah's wife!! Wonder who that will be!! That really made me laugh as I am sure it did you guys also. I had better close or your Dad (Kory's Dad) will accuse me of writing a book!! Love you both! Marcia

smw said...

precious pic of suhn against kory's chest.