Sunday 1/31/2010 9 PM

Today was another busy day! We spent most of the day at the LiWan market - think of it as the biggest mall you've ever seen, and then make it about 10 times bigger! There are thousands of shops selling everything from fine pearl and jade to discount movies! We got some cool movies on DVD, some shoes, some sweaters and dresses, and even bought some traditional silk and hand sewn items to give to family and friends. There were SO MANY PEOPLE there - you wouldn't believe the crowds - but everyone gets along without any fighting or anything. It's all very cool!

 

We came back to the hotel to rest while Dad confirmed the air plane tickets to get us home and picked up the laundry. We gather everything up and send it to a lady near hear who washes it for us and then folds it into little plastic bags. When it comes back we just throw the bags back into our suitcase and we're ready for the next few days. It's easy to pack that way too!

 

Our whole group then met in the lobby and went to a traditional Vietnamise restaurant. The food was good - but some of it was hard to eat - it's all a part of being in China!

 

Finally we got back to the hotel - grabbed a bath - and headed to bed. These days are busy - and there is always something new to experience and learn. Tomorrow we go back to the medical clinic to find out about Chase's TB test (but we can't remember where he got it and we can't tell by looking either - so it will be OK), and then we'll spend some time on the Island with our friends from Cincinnati - we'll have some fun there!

 

We'll write more later - hugs -

 

Brianna and Braelyn

 

Post 7!

Sunday 1/31/2010 at 16:35

 

And with that - it seems that we are able to post again! Picture post #7 is also up for all to enjoy with their Sunday morning coffee! I've been adding some comments with the posts - you can find the pictures at www.anaturalplace.com/chase

 

Next up today will be a group dinner tonight at 6 - a Thai place that is supposed to be famous around here. On a practical note - I'm late going to pick up our laundry - so more tomorrow!

 

aus

 

Picture post 6!

Sunday 1/31/2010 - 14:00

After much persistance and a little help from my male offspring at home - picture post 6 is up for all to enjoy.

 

I'll start working on #7 now - but the data transfer leave something to be desired!

 

Hugs to all - and thanks for following.

 

aus

 

Braelyn's Thoughts!

Hi everybody - Braelyn here! I wanted to say hi to all my friends back home, thanks for following our trip!

 

We've had a lot of fun - and some times it's been hard too - Chase is still learning how to share and be part of a family and sometimes it's hard to be nice when he is just taking stuff.

 

China is really cool though. We're in a part of China that is really warm and humid, and it has a river that gets deeper or shallower depending on the tide in the ocean coming in or out - sometimes it's so low that there is only mud at the bottom of the river - no water at all - other times its 20 feet deep!

 

I'll try to write more but the Internet here doesn't work very well so it's not easy for messages to get out.

 

My big sister Brianna says HI to all her classmates and friends too - she's going to have to do some homework when we get back tomorrow afternoon!

 

I'll write more later -

 

Braelyn (and Brianna!)

 

the Medical Exam day

 I'm propped up with pillows trying to type while Chase is drinking his bottle, tummy to tummy all snuggled so close and sweet smelling from our bath. He was a bit anxious about the tub initially but getting in with him worked great. He prefers to sit on my leg while the girls romp. Its a huge tub here, a deep soaking tub so occasionally I have to pull one of the little ones off the bottom but no one cries. He doesn't mind getting water in his face or getting cleaned. He tells me if he needs his diaper changed and doesn't run away....yet. Aus dressed him for the first time after tonight's bath and started to play chase the naked baby game so I had to ruin his fun or Chase will want to be chased for every change from now on. I'm "too old" for nonsense. We tickle, play little piggies and blow raspberries...just no running away!

     Its 11pm here and 10am there! I'm gonna hate myself in the morning after staying up a bit when I could crash but I don't want to forget the things we did. We were up at 7 am when the alarm went off. I had to smack Aus with a pillow after he didn't budge for a while as the alarm got louder and louder. Chase was great sleeping a bit longer so I could let the girls climb up and snuggle for a quick minute. We did a quick pick up incase breakfast took longer so we could come back for our things and depart on time. The breakfast here takes quite a bit of time just collecting the foods. One buffet has the line of beverages, one the breads, one the Asian foods, one the cold salads, one the raw fish and sushi, one the hot breakfast foods then one more with pastries and muffins. Chase had to have a banana in each hand then was happy for me to collect plates of fresh fruit, cups of yogurt, glasses of juices (Brianna had tomato then watermelon juice but Braelyn kept to her usual orange juice then apple). The waitresses hover watching your every move. You have to get used to eating while being watched. Just like on the street, people just stare and even turn to keep watching.

     Chase likes scrambled eggs, congee and watermelon. He likes milk and does NOT seem to be lactose intolerant like us girls! He will let me feed him some like we are supposed to in the program "Taming the Tiger while its still a Kitten" by Nancy Thomas if you want to really get your child on track. Its on the internet if you Google it. Doing a lot of what she says and Holding Time by Martha Walsh have helped us heal a lot of trauma with our girls. I do plan to look into Neuro-feedback as well.

     Up to the room then back to the lobby right on time to leave for the Medical Appointment a half hour away on the Island where we really wanted to stay. Its all torn up being updated throughout with the street and sidewalks plus the building fronts getting face lifts. But, its a quieter place than mid city where we are staying. Here at the Garden there are tons of people swarming in and around constantly where on the Island you can just stroll to little shops and restaurants. Its hard to say which is the better place in the end.

     Knowing I did not want the girls to see how upset all the babies were getting their check ups and shots, I had Aus take them shopping for a few things for our keepsake box. I had my back pack with things for Chase, him in the front carrier and $1000 in US money converted to Chinese to pay for the shots the US government now demands they get before coming to the US only because they are adopted. Chase is current on his vaccinations in his Chinese medical status but our US regulations want him to have a lot of shots that even in the US are optional like the flu shot and chicken pox. So, with the new Hague Conference, to be compliant, he was required to get SIX shots all one right after another PLUS a TB skin test in one sitting. He was such a trouper through the whole two hour process from his hearing, ear and throat check, heart and lungs, height and weight, physical inspection of his skin, palpation of his internal organs, a close exam of his special needs, his left knee hemangioma then his head circumference. His head is whopping 19 inches! Everyone there kept remarking on what a BIG boy he is, how big his head, how he must never miss a meal etc but really, when you really look at his torso, he's not fat. He just has a larger head and broader shoulders and the sweetest smile showing those Hollywood teeth! He smiled and waved at people getting on the bus to the exam now we have so many in our group, its like a Greyhound bus and Rebecca uses a microphone.

     If anyone is planning on adopting, for this part, do take a plastic folder for your papers, you will get quite a few and two very important ones. She gave me a yellow shots record book showing the six shots from today plus the ones he had prior in China. Then a document in English showing he is compliant on shots to get home with us. We have to show this at customs along with his passport. So many technical things. I let Aus go to the Visa meeting this afternoon to complete that part of the paperwork so the kids could rest and Chase was finally napping. He never got crabby after his shots at all. He'll fall asleep while I'm carrying him so I just unbuckled and laid him on the bed with a pillow alongside him so he'd think I was still there. It worked! I had a chance to snuggle the girls and help them re organize their suitcases and get out the art supplies. Brianna will need more paper soon as she's almost used up the pack of 50 we got her in Korea.

     Once the medical was over I took my little pin cushion out to see Aus waiting with the girls to go shopping for squeaky shoes and updated Chinese dresses. Tomorrow is picture day! I wanted them to have matching dresses and for Chase to have a traditional looking outfit. The store Aus chose as having the best prices was so very pushy. I told them what I was looking for and the size but they kept showing me things in other colors, sizes way too large that I had to put my foot down. I found an outfit I liked but it was a 12. There is NO way he is that big. I asked for a 4 or 6 but it took a long time to finally get a size 9! I'll just have it for him for a long time. Tomorrow we'll just roll up the hem for the photo and use the tape we brought. It is quite the spiffy Chinese dude suit for sure! Can't wait for you all to see it!

     Strolling over to our old favorite place to eat from two years ago when we adopted Braelyn, we ate lunch at Lucy's. At night the lights along the river on the back patio are magnificent. One evening we get to do on a Riverboat dinner cruise! Tomorrow we are to get the group picture then depart for the Plaza with the electronics, toys and clothing. I told Brianna what is in her allowance and she is so excited to shop. She has seen quite a few things so far she wanted but was really good not to beg knowing she will get to use her saved money when we find the better deals. I'm so glad she is learning to save and budget.

     For dinner tonight we walked around, went down to the subway then back up the other side to the Friendship Store but it was not the friendliest place. So much make up and lotions and potions when you first walk in then up to Woman's wear but items were $2950 RMG divided by almost 7 is still EXPENSIVE! Most things are cheaper in China. McDonalds doesn't have a dollar menu here, its a 6RMB where that is almost a dollar. So we got the girls and Chase a 6 6RMB ice cream tonight. He was so funny trying to stick his tongue out and learn to lick it around so it didn't drip.  

     So, before Chase has a fit with me typing here with him on my lap, I'd better hand the laptop over to Aus for his turn.

thanks!

Marie Ausdenmoore
http://ausfamily.blogspot.com
http://chasecomeshome.blogspot.com

spam posts to the blog

I am now aware of a spam post to the blog but we can NOT even see our own blog to know its there so I apologize, I'm asking a friend and my daughter to find a way to remove it. Our direct email anp@f u s e .net with spaces removed is working but not always the internet!

 

    Marie Ausdenmoore
http://ausfamily.blogspot.com
http://chasecomeshome.blogspot.com

     It has been so exciting each day as we get to do different things! I am having so much fun getting to know my new brother. The first day he as sad and scared. The people who cared for him are called foster parents. They loved him and treated him like their own son. They have one older son who is very tall. Chase had a small blue backpack with him when he came and inside was a photo album with their pictures. His foster father was holding him then the next photo he as riding on the shoulders of his foster brother, then the last was where he was sitting on the lap of his foster mother. He really likes to be held by my Mom. When he is scared or tired he puts his head on her shoulder or hides his face in her neck. She wears a baby carrier all day with him in it unless we are in our room but that is not much. He gets upset if she tries to put him down and hold her hand but we like having him up there so we can see him and he is safe. Mom put two coats on him with his hat and his clothes with another set of clothes under it and her coat buttons around him too. The old women in China will look close and scold her if he is not dressed warm enough. It is cold here but we are used to it. We are right by the Yellow Sea! You should look on the map. The sea comes right up to the sidewalk we were on today. Out in the water we can see two warships, a light house and got to walk out on the pier to the end. As we walked out there were lots of people down on the beach looking for sea creatures. I saw lots of barnacles, tiny sea crabs then I saw a REAL starfish! I did not bring boots to China but Mom let Daddy take me down the steps below to walk under the pier for a while. I love sea animals!

     Braelyn and I walked holding our guide Ally's hand for a while so Daddy could take pictures and Mom was holding Chase. Lots of people had a small blanket laying out with treasures to buy. Necklaces out of stones, bracelets made out of shells, white shells carved into crosses and Chinese characters, then some really old looking Chinese people were selling bags of bread to feed the Seagulls. On the way out we got to buy a small back for one Yuan. 6.67 Yuan is $1. So when we see a price we divide it by 7 or to be exact Mom said to divide by 6.67 for the price. Most things do not cost much here. The next city we go to tomorrow has things even cheaper. I saw some really cute red boots that Mom said I might get to buy with my allowance money I saved but I have to wait until we get to Guangzhou.

     Yesterday we were getting ready to call a friend Mommy met from an adoption group on the internet when she knocked on the door. Her name is Bernice and she was so very kind to us. She brought us gifts from this area, Qingdao where Chase was born. She told us about its history and how a lot of Korea people like to live here. It is right across the sea from Korea. When we go out people stare at us. They know I look Korea but my sister looks Chinese like my brother. Some people follow us to watch us and just stare a lot. Some even stop in front of us to take our picture but none of them ask. One man shook his hand by his hair then pointed to Mom. Daddy smiled and Mommy frowned. They do not know why we have so many children.

     Our guide Ally will tell us what people are saying if we ask. At the Mansion we visited today people were asking her why we wanted children to adopt? They asked her in Chinese thinking we would not find out. They wanted to know why my parents adopted us if they had children of their own. Mommy got a bit mad when anyone says "children of their own" and tells them that ALL of us are hers! And their own children. They mean to say birth children but are not paying attention to what they should mean. Mommy asks me if it bothers me but I'm used to it. People always look at me because I am different except in Korea, I looked just like everyone else until they saw my parents. My parents laughed when one man asked if Mommy had a nanny to help her take care of us now that she will have Chase. He did not even know that Chase is the 6^th child in our family. A lot of people tell Ally to tell us how grateful they are for us to adopt so many children who do not have a family. I am so glad we could adopt Chase! He is so cute and fun to play with. He reminds us of our friend at home we love a lot named Keaton. They both have such cute smiles and sweet cheeks to kiss.

     When we drive to places a van picks us up in front of our hotel. There are so very many cars and even more taxi's. They are pushy. They do not stop if you are there and keep going. People drive scarey. A car was coming down the lane the wrong way. Daddy said just do not look. They honk and honk and honk at each other. Mommy was walking around a car in the grocery lot and a taxi honked at her and she had no place to go and the other two cars did not either. In the store it is full of people too. People want to help you a lot. Each part of the store has two people working there. Then you have to take it to the next place to pay for it and more people to work with you. Then we see some old people sitting on the sidewalk on an old rug with a cup of money in front of them. They look sad and I want to help them.

     The front door to the hotel is a circle you push and it has a shelf of flowers in two parts of it you walk behind. We stay on the 19^th floor in two rooms that attach. Our room is so very cool with a bunk bed with steps, a playrug area with blocks, table and chairs, an easle to draw on, two huge beanbag chairs and the bathroom is decorated too. This two rooms is called a suite and used just for families who are adopting. They bring us a bowl of fresh fruit each day. We even have a doorbell they ring! It has a coffee pot to boil water so Mommy makes us hot tea. When we brush our teeth we can not let any water touch our mouth expect the boiled water or water from the store.

     Tomorrw we will ride the airplane to Guangzhou and it will have Florida type weather! We had to bring two types of clothes but our suitcase can only weigh 44# or we pay extra money. It took a long time for us to put everything in our suitcases and weigh them. Then Chase tried tos tand on the scales too. We laughed at him and he danced! I hope he is not scared to ride the airplane. We like flying places…but now Mommy says I need to fly into bed.

    

 

Marie Ausdenmoore
http://ausfamily.blogspot.com
http://chasecomeshome.blogspot.com

Post 5

Picture post 5 is up and available for review!

 

www.anaturalplace.com/chase

 

aus

 

We visited his orphanage

We got to see the nice place that took care of Chase for the first six months of his life then the last few days before we came. His foster family was really really sad to have to bring him here and leave knowing they will never see him again. Mommy and Daddy say they will always be part of our family too for all they have done taking such wonderful care of him.

http://www.anaturalplace.com/chase/post4/

Monday 1/25/10 at 11:45 PM

It's Mr. Aus tonight! Today Brianna and Braelyn (and their kid brother Chase) took a train ride from Jinan to Quingdao China. The train is electric and runs a very high speeds - this one was going 200 kph (Kilometers per hour). I figured that out to be 142 MPH (Really that's 141.82something). It was a ride that was as smooth as any I've ever had.

 

I put up some pictures of the trip too - you can look at them at www.anaturalplace.com/chase/ and see some of the places we've been. Talk to you later -

 

Mr. Aus

 

God's little Angel

There's a little Angel sleeping on my lap. If I try to move he just snuggles even closer. All night long he burrowed under my chin but would cry if I tried to change positions. He held on for dear life afraid I would leave him too. A couple times he sat up crying and pointing towards the door where he last saw the nanny who brought him. He's been slowly coming out of his shell but at times he has  a low cry as he calls for the family he once had. Looking in his miniature blue backpack I can see why he's mourning! He was dearly loved. His foster parents had an older son. One photo is of him being held by a tall gentleman, his foster father. Standing as proudly as if it were his own born son. Then one of him on the strong shoulders of his adored foster brother with a big grin on their faces. Then, the woman who raised him to love me. He so loves to be snuggled and held and have his face stroked. He looks deep into my eyes and clearly says "Mama" in his strong young voice. Looking over at Aus his first words were Ba-ba! And he says it with such joyful expressions! We've been loving on him all day and calling him Chase Yurui and he's now repeating it! He is so clever! He loves to put lids on things and screw the lid. To work the VCR buttons, He saw Brianna take a picture once and he knew which button to push to make the light flash then push the flash down. He's silly and feeds us his Cheerios or points when he wants more water in his sippy cup. He will take your hand to pull you over to what he wants. When I went to wash my hands he quickly missed me and came to tug my leg to get me back with him. He loves bananas and finished peeling HIS share without letting me help him.

 

And the way he snuggles so tight, calls us by name, points to us in the pictures I sent and says our names, looks up at us with such bright eyes and joyful expressions we just know God put another little Angel in our lives....just like the little ones you tucked in tonight as well!

 

Marie Ausdenmoore
http://ausfamily.blogspot.com
http://chasecomeshome.blogspot.com

Bathrooms of the World

     Some topics we keep private yet there comes a time when one must cope with a culture shock in the ladies room. In America we are fairly certain we will have the standard toilet with the only occational challenge is midnight and someone left the seat up. In our home we try to faithfully put the lid down universally. The airplane toilets was a bit hard for the girls being so very small and it wouldn't stay still. Flushing makes such a loud sound its best to warm a little one or they'll have wet pants for sure. We avoid them at all costs.

     In Korea we give them the award for the most unusual and creative. At TGIFriday's there was a kids seat anyone could use to keep the child from falling through which we did have happen occationally early in my youngest daughter's initial education. Mother's shouldn't laugh for it only upsets the child even more. Some seats had computerized pads on the side but we had no one to translate. Not knowing what each was for I warned the girls against experimentation at that critical time. We did find that one button warms the seat. At the fancy restararunt there was a large red button. It rotated the plastic cover making it way more sanitary. Our most surprising experience was when the youngest daughter pushed a button and to her horror this white pipe moved forward and before she could alert her mother to save her and ended up almost on the ceiling when the water hit from below. She refuses to go back there!

     Once at the airports we encountered some of both Chinese and American. The girls have done quite well coping with the ones in the floor. In preparing for a trip like this I feel its essential to educate the children of what they may encounter. In China there is NO paper in the stall and rarely soap of ways to dry your hands so keeping your own pack of tissues and hand sanitzer is critical. Now we are here for a while they realize that coping with a squatty will be a regular event but back at the hotel its American Standard as usual. Waiting at the Notary office the facility looked to be a glorfied out shed connected to the dingy government building. I carried Chase all day except for diaper changes so when it came time to assist the girls, Aus has no idea the obstacles we overcame by fitting all of us there so Mom could help each not fall in the pit in the floor, face the proper way and be in the proper position to complete the process without error. I know he was even more amazed when we returned with our jobs completed and Chase never left the baby carrier. Just don't tell him when he's older!

 

Marie

Monday morning 1-25-10 8:15

Aus update -

 

He woke up a little fussy - it was a kinda long night for him - but by the end of breakfast we were getting that shy smile - and can see some of the spark in his eye. Marie is still a 'kid whisperer' and I can see we're going to make it just fine - and he calls us Mama and Baba - it's been too long since I heard that...

 

Once we settle some place for long enough I promise I'll fix the pictures - you can download them but I haven't made them small enough for it to be practical yet - still getting used to the size of image that the new camera takes....great for professional work - but way too good for web based stuff!

 

Thanks for all the support and prayers - the commets are coming in wonderfully - hugs the the three left at home - you guys are really making it happen to!

 

aus

Pictures

Monday 1/25/10 06:40 China time

 

What's a little sleep between freinds right? And techie skills notwithstanding - I got to have some internet to work with...but whining aside - pictures can be found at www.anaturalplace.com/chase/ I'm still uploading most of Post 1, but Post 2 - which has the couple of pictures of him that I have so far is complete. Just click on the links. Best I can do for the moment - I'd have more done but we'll be changing locations again today so who knows what internet access we'll have.

 

How is Chase? Cool - but he's our son - you'd expect less? Really - he had an OK night - he was up a couple times, but as long as he had Marie to go right back to he was OK! He spent most of the night snuggled in on her shoulder - also a good thing! He did call me Baba a couple times - so it's pretty clear that they were showing him the family pictures and telling him who the people were etc. I've had worse nights - and ya'll have heard way worse stories! I'll take it - OK.

 

More will follow - promise!

 

aus

 

Guess who's sleeping on Mommy's lap!

The plane from Jinan was delayed twice, our luck, so it didn't leave until maybe almost 5pm. It was only an hour then an hour ride to hotel Silver Plaza Quancheng Hotel, a 4 star but so smokey, only one bed when we needed two, then we find our son is WAITING IN THE LOBBY! Over in a chair he was so quiet looking around behind a pillar with the director of the orphanage and his nanny. All the way out Aus was getting more and more tense hearing the new schedule. We could have arrived yesterday to rest up instead of spending all today traveling only to get in without eating and tired and our son waiting. They asked us to come back down in 20 minutes so we ran thru the place gathering a couple little things, a toy, a blanket....oh, and Braelyn fell asleep on the plane and kicked and cried as I carried her off. She does NOT like to have her sleep disturbed. She crashed in the van coming to the hotel so I put her on the bed so I could take a quick stop only for there to be a knock on the door before I was ready. OUR SON! in the arms of his nanny with the most bewildered, tired little pout on his face. He frowned as he looked around, saw Aus then cried out loudly BA-BA! But then he hid his face in his nanny's shoulder sobbing gently. He quieted as we gave him some space. We each had to sign a form all written in Chinese accepting our son. Tomorrow we leave for the Officials office at 9am. He will officially be ours tomorrow!  Then, the train takes us out to the orphanage at 12 where we will also get his passport.

      So, I know you are all dying to SEE the little guy. BUT he's NOT a little guy! My goodness he weighs more than Braelyn. He makes her look like a baby doll. I put her on our bed and she slept thru the whole process. Once he was sound asleep in my arms for a long while I put him on the other side. His head is large with course jet black hair with the sides a bit shorter than the top like the cute boy Chinese cuts you see. His face is ruddy with chubby cheeks, a bit flat with the cutest button nose and sweetest shaped lips he knows just how to use when he pouts. He is wearing size 18 shoes but they are a tad large. He was wearing the animal PJ's I sent him with a sweat suit over that with a jogging suit over that with a winter coat over that! Typical.

     We only got a brief look at his hemangioma but there is one pea sized elevated blueish bruise with a faint blueish cast around the knee but you really have to look. It so looks like what any normal kid that runs around might have. We'll have to see if there are long term issues as it can affect the inner joint space and that knee does look a bit larger. We have not seen him walk yet.

     They did have a small bottle with water in it that he took a few sips from. In a small mini blue backpack there were small bags of snacks with Chinese writing so we will have to try to get what he likes by looking at those. They said he eats regular food and wears XL diapers.

    

 

Marie Ausdenmoore
http://ausfamily.blogspot.com
http://chasecomeshome.blogspot.com

We now leave Korea for China!

I told Mommy how much fun the last days have been. Each day has been the best ever! The people are so nice. They like to smile at me. They give me gifts when I shop. Even when I pick something out and Mommy buys it they give me another gift! They tell me how beautiful I am and some take my picture. We are here in the Korean International airport heading over to China. We typed a lot but it erased it. Its almost time to go so I will take again.

time to leave Korea!

A night of being up a few times changing which hard surface was the softest and which child to snuggle with then get comfortable only for it to be time to get up. The floor pad seemed a better option when Brianna got booted by Braelyn only it was too short. Do NOT stretch if you've been walking 5 to 10 miles a day and NOT drinking milk (no lactose free) or even your toes get Charley Horses. The girls are in great spirits, modeling their new headwear from the market, jeweled crowns and the neck scarf from her foster mother! We ate the leftover food from TGIFriday's for a big breakfast and on our way downstairs to catch the ride to the airport. All the cases are down too 44# after my planned donations for Korea even with the added treasures!

 

Little Chase I so hope you are coping okay being taken from your dear foster family's arms to a group of caring strangers at the orphanage, not knowing what is happening in your little world which is soon to turn upside down for the next few weeks! Can't WAIT to hold you!

Marie Ausdenmoore
http://ausfamily.blogspot.com
http://chasecomeshome.blogspot.com

My visit with my Foster Mother!

My visit with my Foster Mother!
     When I first saw her I thought she is beautiful. I went up to her she seemed kind and special. I hugged her and she seemed like someone I remember from a long time ago. I am glad we got to see her. She seemed to like me and several times she said I was beautiful, that my family is taking good care of me which makes her feel really good about having to let me go. She said it was especially hard to give me up, that I was an easy and loving child. Seeing me now makes her over joyed! She patted my cheek and held my hand.
     This morning we ate breakfast in the kitchen that had eggs in the refrigerator for us to use. The stove had gas pipes that Daddy would have to turn on but we could not find a pan so we used the microwave. But we could not read the dial so we had to guess. There was big bread slices in a bag and orange juice. Then we walked down the street for a couple hours. It was really cold. There were lots of cars and people. We were the only ones in red coats. Most walked on the left side of the street but in America we walk on the right. The sidewalks had lots of bumps and steps that were uneven. Braelyn would have tripped a lot if Mom was not holding her hand.
    Then it was lunchtime and Mom wanted us to go to a REAL Korean restraunt. It was hard to ask for a map at the guesthouse desk, they do not understand much English. It did have places listed on it so Mom picked the Bono Bono and it cost 50,000 to eat! We did not know what to expect but the lady at the desk spoke some English. Braelyn needed the bathroom but when we asked the lady said up and to the right. She should have said around to the left. Mom and Dad are being really brave doing all of this not knowing what to expect each time we do anything. Standing in the airport last night made us stop and realize how much we take as normal at home. Here we were, standing at the gate of the Korean International airport a whole world away, do not speak any of the language, do not know a soul in Seoul, have no idea who is going to pick us up or exactly where he will be…but we were all okay with that! Just because they want me to tour my birth country. Some people might have freaked. Some might not have wanted to do this, but Mom just told me its just like when you adopt a child or have a baby. Your whole life changes. Babies do not speak the same language and not all kids are the same.
     I’m getting sleepy but I’m hungry so we have to walk back to another restaurant to eat. I hope I can stay away to see what I’m eating. My vacation so far is really fun but makes me tired.

The 12 hour part of the trip

     So here its been 9.5 hours on this flight and we have 2.5 hours to go. It is going to be 7pm in Korea when we land so its about 4:15 there but where you are it is 3:15am and you are sleeping. They turn the lights down after we eat so people can rest of watch movies. We can watch a map on a TV screen on the back of the chair in front of us. It shows the earth with labels for each country with an airplane marking where we are and a line for where we have traveled. The ocean is blue, the land is green and mountain ranges are bumps of tan. The deeper the water, the darker the blue. As we left California we headed west and a bit north so we flew up along Siberia then arched over towards the Asian countries. The captain told us to keep our seatbelts on and to expect a bumpy ride with lots of wind when we left. It was raining in San Francisco. There was snow on the ground in Chicago. As we left Chicago we heard someone chipping ice. Mom said they were clearing off the wings so we could fly. I really think it was someone trying to get ice for drinks.

     When we landed in San Francisco we did not have time to look at anything but the numbers on the gates. We had about an hour to get to our next flight but it was a long walk and the board did not tell us which way to the International gates. We got to jog along and get some energy out. There were long escalators that did not go up, but like a sidewalk. It was fun walking fast on them because it made us go even faster! At the end we jumped and it felt funny landing on the floor that was not moving.
     As we boarded the flight crew greeted us and smiled real big when they saw we were littler. I think they like it when children ride. They gave Braelyn and I flight wings and a card showing this was her first trip back to China and mine to Korea! Later the Stewardess would bring us special treats that no one else got like a little plate of fresh fruit on a tray with a white cloth. I felt like a Princess! Braelyn had fun feeding me with her fork after Mom cut it up. After we slept a long time she brought us a hot towel to wipe our faces saying the air is dry. I can still hear lots of people snoring behind us. We are trying not to laugh too loud when Mommy teases us. I watched the movie “Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs” on the screen on the chair with headphones. It made me laugh outloud and Braelyn too.
     If I get tired I curl up on Mom’s arm or over on Daddy’s lap. The armrest between the chairs lifts up so as long as I keep my seatbelt on I feel safe. I am so excited to be going back to where I was born. I don’t know just what to say to my Foster mother, just that she is so special and I will always remember her for taking care of me until I got to be with my forever family. I hope I can bring back some things for my class. I miss you all already and wish you could be with us on this exciting trip!
     Sitting in a chair for so long is not as hard as I thought but it’s a long time to try to find fun things to do. The noise is loud, like a big, very big fan. Sometimes there are bumps or weird noises when they put the wings at a different angle or let the wheels down to land. Our last landing was a bit bumpy. We bounced when we hit the ground and the Captain said he was sorry. We seemed to be in a hurry and had to wait a long time to even leave that airport. Mom and Dad kept checking the flight schedule and counting how much time between flight hoping we would not miss the next flight. They said it can happen that we might need to really run like on Home Alone. At least we didn’t leave anyone home alone. My brother’s friend is going to stay in our house with our dogs so they don’t get lonely. Mom showed her which plants need water and how to fill her bird feeders. Mom has some friends who are going to check on things and said for Carl to call if he needs anything. No one can call us. We have to turn off our cell phone so it doesn’t mess up the airplane electronics. After we left California Daddy said it will cost a lot of money to use our phone but we can use our computer. We have Skype, a computer program you can talk to someone on Mom’s laptop and its only 2 cents a minute but her phone is $2 a minute!
     They just made a ding noise and the Captain came on telling everyone to fasten seatbelts. I better turn this off for now, its getting bumpy!

We are IN the air!

     We are IN the air! Its now almost 1pm there at school on Wednesday and Brianna and Braelyn are having a snackish lunch. We left the house at 5am. Our friend who used to teach at Taylor HS picked us up and drove us to the airport. We pulled our 4 suitcases along with our 4 backpacks, one on each of us. The check in gate was not far and we were the first in line. They locked our suitcases then put them on the belt to travel back to where they will be loaded on the airplane. Each one got a sticker that shows who we are and where we will be going. We hope our suitcases take the same trip we do but sometimes that does not happen. We put some clothes mixed in each case just in case.

     Then, we went around the corner to security to put our coats each in a bin, our backpacks each in a bin, taking out any electronics or liquids to let them be examined as well as taking off our shoes in order to go through the metal detector. Once they decided we had nothing dangerous we had to put it all back on and in its place.
     Walking to our gate we noticed where to find a bathroom and place to get water. You are not allowed to bring your own along so we bought one for the girls to share and some cashews. Sitting for a couple hours, it was soon time to depart!

Time to leave!

Just so know, the posts may turn up in the wrong order but do not worry about that. We will try to fix it if we can but the internet here is really slow if we can get on at all...this was supposed to be put before the last post or two....

We are IN the air! Its now almost 1pm there at school on Wednesday and Brianna and Braelyn are having a snackish lunch. We left the house at 5am. Our friend who used to teach at Taylor HS picked us up and drove us to the airport. We pulled our 4 suitcases along with our 4 backpacks, one on each of us. The check in gate was not far and we were the first in line. They locked our suitcases then put them on the belt to travel back to where they will be loaded on the airplane. Each one got a sticker that shows who we are and where we will be going. We hope our suitcases take the same trip we do but sometimes that does not happen. We put some clothes mixed in each case just in case.


Then, we went around the corner to security to put our coats each in a bin, our backpacks each in a bin, taking out any electronics or liquids to let them be examined as well as taking off our shoes in order to go through the metal detector. Once they decided we had nothing dangerous we had to put it all back on and in its place.

Walking to our gate we noticed where to find a bathroom and place to get water. You are not allowed to bring your own along so we bought one for the girls to share and some cashews. Sitting for a couple hours, it was soon time to depart!

Hello to our friends who are waiting for their sister too!

     We want to say HI! to our friends who will be watching our blog and are waiting for their little sister to come home. Brianna and Braelyn will be happy to know you are there reading their blog and following their trip. It has been a lot of work to get everything packed and hope we do not forget anything. We are so excited to be sharing this trip with you this way! Brianna is sending you big hugs!

Hello to MH students today at the library!

     Greetings to all the students I talked to at MH! This is Mrs. Ausdenmoore writing to you and welcoming you to read this blog and send your comments or questions! I will do my best to get back with you when we can. Our time zone in China is the opposite of yours. We are asleep when you are awake, and we are awake while you are asleep. Our flight leaves at 7:50am Wed, or tomorrow morning so we will get up at 4am and and leave aroun 5am for the airport. You have to be there two hours ahead of time to get our tickets checked, for them to look inside all of our suitcases to be sure we do not have anything dangerous then get to the departing gate. Our first flight will take us to Chicago in 1 hr 20 minutes. Then we go to San Francisco, CA from Chicago taking over 4 hours. I hope the girls can nap.We have an hour to change planes in California and it will take over 12 hours to get to Seoul, Korea! We get to sleep some of this time I hope. It will be 7 pm when we arrive there so once the girls eat dinner, it will be bedtime AGAIN! If they do not feel like sleeping we have lots of homework they can do to keep up with your class! Just because she is not at school, she will still be doing all of her work to keep up. I will try to post a link to our flight schedule so you can look at each part of the trip. It shows the time of the plane leaving and how long the flight and even how many miles we have traveled!
     It will take an hour after leaving Seoul to get to Dilian China to change planes then to Jinan China to meet our little guy. A couple days later we will take a train ride out to his orphanage in Qingdao, near the Yellow Sea. I hope you can look at it closely on a map! If it was summer we could have gone to the beach!
     The man at our adoption agency sent us an email today saying we may get to meet our new son at our hotel right when we are checking in rather than going to meet him at the Civil Affairs office. We are so very excited to get him.
     Coming home we will leave from Guangzhou China over to change planes in Hong Kong. Then it will be 11 hours to get to California, then 4 hours to get to Chicago, then over 1 hour to get to Cincinnati's airport. Last time we traveled to China we went straight there and the plane flew over the North Pole straight from Chicago to Bejing China and it was over 19 hours of straight flying!
     Brianna is very excited to be leaving soon! She is practicing how to use the video camera and how to go through security at the airport. He Dad is pretending he is the security guard and how they will have their bags checked. We are having a simple dinner so we can finish re checking on what we have packed so it is ready for in the morning. I hope we did not forget anything...I wish we could bring YOU with us, we will really miss you but we are so happy you will be there watching our blog. Mrs Ausdenmoore will not be in the library for at least 3 weeks now so I am asking for you to be really good for Mrs. P for me. I want to know you were really good for your teacher Ms. L. then Ms. C
     I hope you can send me your questions! Thank you for your interest.
    

travel plans for AUSDENMOORE

 You can click here to view their travel information

Marie
http://ausfamily.blogspot.com

We went to Church to pray for our trip

     Today is Sunday and it is fun being home to read books or play games on my computer. But first we went to Church. My sister and I wore our matching outfits. It was raining so Daddy dropped us at the door with Mom then parked the van. We waited for him at the back of Church. It was crowded and we could not find our friends and their 4 boys. A man standing next to Mom kept looking at us. Then he asked Mom if we were sisters. She smiled and said yes. It confuses people when she tells them the truth, that we are from different countries and both adopted so now we are sisters. Some day I want to just tell them, NO, we are brothers just to see their reaction.
      A real nice man who is always standing at the back of Church let us sit in his pew. He likes to talk to my Dad. There were two little girls next to us with their mother and Mom let Braelyn share her coloring books with them. After Mass the lady thanked Mom and told her she teaches at the school I will go to next year. In front of us there was a family with three children from China. We got to meet them and it was fun. One girl is close to my age and one is a year older than Braelyn and their brother is 5. They have two older American brothers too. Mom invited them to come visit us when we get home from our trip.
     When we got home Daddy cooked us Onion Eggs and Toast. He was nice to give me toast without butter just like I prefer. Braelyn and I got to play on the computer together while Mom finished cleaning. Now we have to go clean up our playroom in the basement. If we do a good job without fussing we get quarters to put in the Jelly Belly machine! I better go clean!
    

We leave for Korea on Wednesday!

Today is Friday, we will be getting ready for our trip to another country! Please pull up a map of Seoul Korea and you will see how far away it is. When Brianna was born in Korea, a nice lady called a foster mother took very good care of her when she went home from the hospital. The FM lived in a tall apartment building and we have pictures of her simple but clean space. She was cooking in an electric skillet on the floor and they sometimes eat sitting at low tables sitting on floor pillows. When she was 6 months old the adoption papers were ready so two ladies from the agency brought her over on an airplane. The trip was 23 hours and we met her at the airport in Chicago. When I picked her up she smiled and me then went to sleep in my arms. She knew I was her mother.
     Braelyn was born in Yangchun, China. There are too many people in China so sometimes a family can not keep their baby. Babies are taken to a place called an orphanage where lots of ladies called nannies take care of them. The baby cribs in China are usually metal with a board instead of a mattress. To keep them warm they are kept wrapped in thick quilts but they are not able to move around much. We went to China to adopt her and bring her home. She was 17 months and 17 pounds. With not enough money they only feed the babies milk with cereal in it. They have to prop the bottle and cut a big hole in the nipple so the babies do not need to be held and will eat quickly. We had to teach her how to be held, how to sit up then how to walk.
     Chase was born in Qingdao China. He lived in an orphanage for 6 months then a nice foster family took him to their home to wait for his family to come adopt him. He will be two the day we meet him. We have to go to several appointments to do his adoption then travel to another city to finish. It will take over two weeks until we can come home with their new brother.
     Korea will be our first stop to meet Brianna's foster mother who we wish to thank for taking such good care of our daughter.
     I now need to go call the travel agent to finish booking our tickets then pack our suitcases. I hope you can visit our blog each day to see what the girls did that day. Ask your parents permission to do this and to help you to look up anything you have questions about. We hope you will post comments so we know you are reading our story. Thank you! We are happy to share this exciting journey with you!
     Mrs Ausdenmoore, who helps you in the library on Tuesday in Ms Cecardo's class and Brianna's mother, and Braelyn in Ms. Hoffman's classroom.