Sorry for the lack of posting... We had a very busy day on Wednesday going to the zoo, then the Maoking gondolas, then to the Handicraft store, and then packing. Our plane left early on Thursday and came home late on Thursday due to the magic of flying home from Asia. The flights went well, but no one except Sebastian slept much, so we crashed upon arrival home. Today we have been unpacking and exploring the house and having fun. Sebastian is an absolute delight and so, so snuggly. Elli is adjusting well, and is relishing the role of Jie-Jie. It's good she is around to remind me if things like Sebastian needing his pacifier to sleep. :-)
Pictures to follow once we get them all uploaded and downloaded in the right places.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Yesterday and today
I'll start with some details from yesterday and then include pictures from today at the bottom.
Yesterday was amazing. We arrived at St. Lucy's at 9:30, and waited for the volunteer translator to show up at 10. We handed off our outfit for Sebastian to the nannies, and then talked through our paperwork to make sure we understood everything.
We had needed to delay our trip from the original dates suggested and while we knew it was a delay that was going to be necessary for our family, any doubts we had about it being the right thing were erased when we got his most updated medical report -- he was ill from the day after we were supposed to pick him up until the day we were supposed to travel home from Taiwan! While it is not comforting to hear that your child has been sick, it was so calming to know that God was watching over this whole process, keeping all of us healthy and safe for the journey. That knowledge set the tone for the rest of our day.
Sebastian arrived in the "family room" at about 11:30. He was quite loved by the nannies, and we think they were emotional saying goodbye, as he arrived in the room very nervous and anxious. He was very nervous and started to cry, so I picked him up and stared walking around outside with him. Ten minutes later, he was asleep. He didn't leave my arms after that until somewhere around 4:30.
We have found out that all predictions of him being laid back are, to date, accurate. He is very sweet and loves to snuggle. When he is tired, he gets his pacifier and pretty much wants to be held until he goes to sleep. So far, we have heard him cry once at St. Lucy's and once in the middle of the night last night when he had a bad dream. Other than that, an anxious, "ah" is about all we have gotten. I keep thinking he might just be lulling us Into a false sense of security, but we will take all the hours of sleep we can get when we can get them.
Suzy, the little ponytail is definitely something they do at St. Lucy's. They told us it made him look more traditional. We took it out tonight, so we will see if he misses it tomorrow.
Today we had our Visa appointment with AIT. They were able to issue our visa in the one day, so we are all set and are hoping to do the zoo tomorrow. Before AIT, we went to Taipei 101 for our traditional picture with the damper baby.
Yesterday was amazing. We arrived at St. Lucy's at 9:30, and waited for the volunteer translator to show up at 10. We handed off our outfit for Sebastian to the nannies, and then talked through our paperwork to make sure we understood everything.
We had needed to delay our trip from the original dates suggested and while we knew it was a delay that was going to be necessary for our family, any doubts we had about it being the right thing were erased when we got his most updated medical report -- he was ill from the day after we were supposed to pick him up until the day we were supposed to travel home from Taiwan! While it is not comforting to hear that your child has been sick, it was so calming to know that God was watching over this whole process, keeping all of us healthy and safe for the journey. That knowledge set the tone for the rest of our day.
Sebastian arrived in the "family room" at about 11:30. He was quite loved by the nannies, and we think they were emotional saying goodbye, as he arrived in the room very nervous and anxious. He was very nervous and started to cry, so I picked him up and stared walking around outside with him. Ten minutes later, he was asleep. He didn't leave my arms after that until somewhere around 4:30.
We have found out that all predictions of him being laid back are, to date, accurate. He is very sweet and loves to snuggle. When he is tired, he gets his pacifier and pretty much wants to be held until he goes to sleep. So far, we have heard him cry once at St. Lucy's and once in the middle of the night last night when he had a bad dream. Other than that, an anxious, "ah" is about all we have gotten. I keep thinking he might just be lulling us Into a false sense of security, but we will take all the hours of sleep we can get when we can get them.
Suzy, the little ponytail is definitely something they do at St. Lucy's. They told us it made him look more traditional. We took it out tonight, so we will see if he misses it tomorrow.
Today we had our Visa appointment with AIT. They were able to issue our visa in the one day, so we are all set and are hoping to do the zoo tomorrow. Before AIT, we went to Taipei 101 for our traditional picture with the damper baby.
Eating for the first time as a family.... Always an adventure!
Giggle face
Sebastian loves mirrors!
Playing with Elli
Sideways picture... Sorry!
Monday, June 9, 2014
Family of four!
Thanks to all for the prayers and well wishes that have followed us through this process! It has been an exciting, exhausting, joyful, anxious, laughter-filled, and tear-stained 12 hours. However, at the end of it all, we are a family of four, and Sebastian Yi-De is with us.
With great apologies, we are going to force you, the loyal community of support, I just thanked above (and seriously, you guys rock for the emailed stories and well wishes sent regularly our way and the pull that some or all of you have with the stomach gods... Heather's run-in with the mystery meat/tof-iken last night did NOT result in an allergy attack) to wait for the blow-by-blow description of the day until our tomorrow. At the moment, I can again cite the "exhausting" part of the 12 hours (add emotionally draining in there too).
However, I can report that Jie-Jie, Di-Di, and Ma-Ma are all fast asleep. Sebastian has been well fed and seems pretty OK with his current entourage after some early moments that were a bit touch-and-go. The grandparents have decided to keep him (not that any different decision was ever being seriously considered ;-) ). Elli is wicked excited (channeling my years in Philly/NJ area for that phrase) about having her little brother and did great for the first few hours of playtime/GTKY time. And he is most definitely my son for now and forevermore. I love you, little guy.
So, more details tomorrow. However, I may be tired, but I am not cruel. Here are some pictures to tide you over!
With great apologies, we are going to force you, the loyal community of support, I just thanked above (and seriously, you guys rock for the emailed stories and well wishes sent regularly our way and the pull that some or all of you have with the stomach gods... Heather's run-in with the mystery meat/tof-iken last night did NOT result in an allergy attack) to wait for the blow-by-blow description of the day until our tomorrow. At the moment, I can again cite the "exhausting" part of the 12 hours (add emotionally draining in there too).
However, I can report that Jie-Jie, Di-Di, and Ma-Ma are all fast asleep. Sebastian has been well fed and seems pretty OK with his current entourage after some early moments that were a bit touch-and-go. The grandparents have decided to keep him (not that any different decision was ever being seriously considered ;-) ). Elli is wicked excited (channeling my years in Philly/NJ area for that phrase) about having her little brother and did great for the first few hours of playtime/GTKY time. And he is most definitely my son for now and forevermore. I love you, little guy.
So, more details tomorrow. However, I may be tired, but I am not cruel. Here are some pictures to tide you over!
Sunday, June 8, 2014
This is really happening!
We meet Sebastian in 4 hours!
Jeremy is still sleeping. I have been up for an hour. Can't believe today is the day we become a family of 4!
Jeremy is still sleeping. I have been up for an hour. Can't believe today is the day we become a family of 4!
In Tainan (well, half of us at least!)
Today we all slept in until at least 5:30 am, so we might actually get the hang of this Taiwan time zone thing right before we have to leave!
After a nice breakfast, we packed Jeremy and Heather's bags for Tainan and caught a cab to the Taipei Main Station. We then headed to Chang Kai Shek Memorial and had our first real glimpse of the sun.
After a visit to the Memorial that included seeing the changing of the guards, we ran through the raindrops that had started to gather while we were inside and eating lunch. We headed back to the Main Station, retrieved our luggage, and said goodbye to Elli, Mimi, and Buhbah before heading on the high speed rail to Tainan. The rail was super quick and we were in the HSR station in less than 2 hours. We then took a local train from the HSR station to the Tainan train station and walked across the block to our hotel. Dinner was in the adjacent mall... But they gave Heather a "vegetarian" dish that we think had chicken in it (or some odd texture tofu or fish) so now we are waiting to see if I get a full out allergy attack or not. We just hope if I do that it will come now or overnight and not in the middle of getting Sebastian tomorrow!
After a nice breakfast, we packed Jeremy and Heather's bags for Tainan and caught a cab to the Taipei Main Station. We then headed to Chang Kai Shek Memorial and had our first real glimpse of the sun.
The Memorial seen from the steps of the Concert Hall.
Elli was dancing her way down the cobblestones.
More dancing.
The grandparents taking pictures... They probably have some nicer pictures than ours.
The ceiling of the Memorial.
The inside.
The changing of the guards.
Elli watching the changing of the guards.
Last minute snuggles as an only child!
After a visit to the Memorial that included seeing the changing of the guards, we ran through the raindrops that had started to gather while we were inside and eating lunch. We headed back to the Main Station, retrieved our luggage, and said goodbye to Elli, Mimi, and Buhbah before heading on the high speed rail to Tainan. The rail was super quick and we were in the HSR station in less than 2 hours. We then took a local train from the HSR station to the Tainan train station and walked across the block to our hotel. Dinner was in the adjacent mall... But they gave Heather a "vegetarian" dish that we think had chicken in it (or some odd texture tofu or fish) so now we are waiting to see if I get a full out allergy attack or not. We just hope if I do that it will come now or overnight and not in the middle of getting Sebastian tomorrow!
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Now and then, post #1
The first of a series of comparative photos...
Elli in Daddy's arms in Oct 2008:
Elli in Daddy's arms in June 2014:
Elli in Daddy's arms in Oct 2008:
Elli in Daddy's arms in June 2014:
Also, for fun: notice the Taggie lovey in these pictures... A gift "for Sebastian" that Elli is "filling with Jie-Jie love for Sebastian" before we get him. (We shall see what happens when he arrives....). And, yes, she wears it like a bracelet on her wrist.
Da'an Shopping and the Importance of Shui
Today, we continued our touring of Taipei, but first took a slower approach to breakfast. Elli was up extra early (again). Despite our best efforts to get her back to sleep, I ended up watching her "ice skating" and doing cartwheels in the hotel lobby at 530 am. While not good news for me, I do think the night shift staff gets a kick out of it. This also was a bit of a bonus for Heather as she got to sleep in until 730 am (gasp). Amazing what counts for sleeping in nowadays... And that is before the second one arrives. So I got to have two breakfasts today, the latter one with a well rested wife.
So the well fed crew journeyed down to a place not to be missed when in Taipei - the Jade and Flower market. This is a two block long Asian market that is held every weekend in the bottom of a parking garage next to the Da'an park. Ok, perhaps not the most scintillating description, but here are some pictures to show you how impressive the display and volume is. First, the flowers, then a picture of a typical stall, followed by a wider shot. If you put ~500 of the flower stalls and 500 more of the jewelry stalls together, that should give you an idea of the market.
As to the other topic, the fun for the Focht family was cut a bit short today as Elli finally felt the effects of two very early mornings. I felt the effects of carrying Elli and a backpack for most of the morning through the humid and hot environs of the markets. I managed to grab lunch for my girls but was so disoriented from dehydration that I forgot how to order xiao long bao at the dumpling place. If you know how well acquainted our family is with this dish, you will understand the gravity of the problem!
I made it back to the hotel and was able to guzzle some water and take a good nap with Elli. As you might guess, we kept things low key this evening, but did enjoy some bubble tea (good for hydration, right?) and some local pastries.
So the well fed crew journeyed down to a place not to be missed when in Taipei - the Jade and Flower market. This is a two block long Asian market that is held every weekend in the bottom of a parking garage next to the Da'an park. Ok, perhaps not the most scintillating description, but here are some pictures to show you how impressive the display and volume is. First, the flowers, then a picture of a typical stall, followed by a wider shot. If you put ~500 of the flower stalls and 500 more of the jewelry stalls together, that should give you an idea of the market.
The lady in the red shirt actually remembered us from 3 years ago, when she had made a bracelet for Elli out of Cat's Eye stone. We are guessing she doesn't see many interracial adoptive families!
Elli with corn on the cob at the flower market. She was a little tired, but this perked her right back up!
Elli spent a little bit of time in the Ergo carrier until we spotted some miniature decorations for her Fairy garden.
These puppies in the bike were making us all giggle...especially when the one in the basket escaped and the owner had to go chasing after it!
As to the other topic, the fun for the Focht family was cut a bit short today as Elli finally felt the effects of two very early mornings. I felt the effects of carrying Elli and a backpack for most of the morning through the humid and hot environs of the markets. I managed to grab lunch for my girls but was so disoriented from dehydration that I forgot how to order xiao long bao at the dumpling place. If you know how well acquainted our family is with this dish, you will understand the gravity of the problem!
I made it back to the hotel and was able to guzzle some water and take a good nap with Elli. As you might guess, we kept things low key this evening, but did enjoy some bubble tea (good for hydration, right?) and some local pastries.
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