ATTENTION!! New website for Our Journey to Scarlett!

Since we're not able to post but a few pictures to our blogspot site, I've created a temporary site that we'll be using for the rest of our China trip. Please go to www.babyjellybeans.com and in the middle of the page, type in Scarlett Moreton and you will be directed to the new site. We have more pictures posted now, so enjoy!

 

Again: here's the info:

 

www.babyjellybeans.com

First Name: Scarlett

Last Name: Moreton

 

Select our site and bookmark it once it appears on the screen. Thanks for following our journey!

Day 2: Great Wall, Bird's Nest, Jade, Cloisenne and Silk Factories

Whew! We've had a very long, fun day! It started with a beautiful and very elaborate breakfast buffet at our hotel. The most interesting item on the buffet? Fungus Soup. Not sure what it was, but decided to pass. Sam, however, tried several new items: a pork bun and a bean bun. I ventured just enough to drink the orange juice, and so far, we're both feeling fine.
 
On the way to the Great Wall, we stopped and toured a Jade factory. It was amazing and ww chops for the kids and a bangle to pass on to Scarlett someday in the future. We spent the rest of the morning climbing the Juyong Pass of the Great Wall. It is not for the faint of heart! The climb wasn't too bad, but the height gave me the heebie jeebies a few times. It was a spectacular day to be outside: about 25 degrees with a clear blue sky. By the time we reached the top, we both had to peel off our goose down jackets. Later, our wonderful BLAS guide Vivian, dropped us off at a Cloisenne factory where we had lunch and watched the craftsman create the most amazing Cloisenne pieces I've ever seen.
 
Our conversations with Vivian have been enlightening and educational. Everything in China has meaning. The jade bangle we purchased will change the more it comes in contact with skin. If its whiter sections become whiter and the green sections greener, it signifies good health of the wearer. Parents of the older generations often gave their children a jade lock and key to symbolize their hope that the children wouldn't stray too far from home. Perhaps the most entertaining was when she explained to us how foster families and orphanages work together to help children who are being adopted transition. Oftentimes, the workers will prep toddlers by saying that they will soon be adopted by people with big noses! I hadn't thought of westerners as having large noses, but compared to the Chinese, we certainly do.
 
It's a two-hour round trip from Beijing to the Great Wall, so after our lunch and shopping we headed back into the city where we visited the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. The Chinese put a lot of work into the '08 Olympics and it was very impressive to see in person. Our last stop was a silk factory which again, was amazing to tour. I realize now that I've never had anything made of pure silk. It was amazing to feel. We picked out a traditional Chinese outfit for Scarlett which she'll wear for her first year pictures.
 
To cap the day, we had scheduled a Hutoung Tour (by rickshaw through the older part of Beijing) but once back in the van decided we just couldn't handle another outing. So, we've ended the day back at our hotel and are trying our best to make it to 8 PM before we hit the sack.
 
Thanks for all your comments to our blog. Because I can't access blogger here, I'm not able to post them to the site, but rest assured that we're reading and encourged by them! I also can't post too many pictures at once, so you'll only see a sampling.
 
Asher, Ava and Brock: we love you dearly, miss you a whole bunch, but know that you're having a great time with Gigi and Frog and all the other fun activities. Ava: be sure to tell Ms. Taylor thank you for posting to our site. It was reassuring to hear from her! Love you guys!!

Day 1: Ni Hao from Beijing!

After a looooonnnng day of travel, we have safely landed in Beijing. That is one long flight! I've never been so happy to see a hotel room in my life. And, it overlooks the Forbidden City! Beijing is a very large city, beautiful with many western influences. We will post more tomorrow after our first day of sightseeing, but for now, we need sleep!
 

We're in Chicago

We've got a 3-hour layover before boarding for Beijing. Leaving our kiddos this morning was hard; Asher had a meltdown at bedtime last night but seemed okay this morning. Please keep all three of them in your prayers.

The next time we post will be from the People's Republic of China!
Sent from my Blackberry Wireless.

Test results are in....

NORMAL!

Thanks for praying!

Off to pack!

A scary phone call & a trip to the hospital

Just after lunch today I retrieved a voice message from Mercy Health Center left on my cell phone. Apparently, an annual test that has always returned clear is not so this time. My OB/GYN has requested additional scans to examine an "area of density." So, I've been pushed to the front of the line for Tuesday morning at 8:30. A positive to this is that a radiologist will be present and will give us the results of the diagnostic immediately.

Needless to say, I went into slight shock and then had a meltdown. Sam came home early from work, my parents - who were already on the way - offered reassurance, and I finally calmed down to enjoy the evening with our kiddos. Packing for our Wednesday morning departure has been delayed until after the test  tomorrow morning.

What will happen, will happen. God is still in control, worthy of praise, and aware of my (and family's) now anxious heart over a non-adoption issue. Please pray the results are completely conclusive and that they are NORMAL.

A Shower of Blessings

What a wonderful day for sweet Scarlett! Lots of  friends, lots of beautiful things, and lots (I mean, lots!) of yummy treats. Thank you to all of you who attended and completely blessed me, my family, and little Scarlett! A special thanks to Lori Tugwell, Julie Davis, and Stacey Lampton for YET AGAIN being such a big part of the Moreton adoption journey. I love you gals!