We had a good day today but it was kind of an emotional one for me too. We went down and had our usual breakfast of egg rolls and eggs, came back to our room, and then waited on our guide Emily to come and get us so we could head to the orphanage for our visit.
The orphanage is actually not to far from our hotel. We pulled up and unloaded and started walking through the gates when 2 people started walking up to us. One of them was a teenage girl who has lived there all of her life and the other was a woman who worked there who was going to take us on our tour. The girl was so excited to see Brennan and kept saying Tao Xu. Everyone there was so happy to see him. Right away a lady came up and took him right out of my arms and started loving on him. She explained to our guide who translated that she was the person who took care of him when he was first found. She was very sweet but I was like lady pass me back my baby bc I could tell he was kind of scared and wanted me. He seemed overwhelmed by all of the people that were crowding around him. The first thing we saw was a room where the older people that never got adopted and still live in the social welfare institution go to do activities. They make things in this room like different items out of beads and they had some baby quilts that had been made by the people at the orphanage. We asked if they were for sale and they were so we bought one for B to have. It was sad to me that these people never found a home and will live in an institution forever. They all had fairly severe disabilities.
The next part is when it got really emotional for me. The next room was where they keep the babies. B was found when he was 3 months old. (Or that is what they estimate. His birth parents did not leave a note with him so we really don't know his exact birth date) When he was found he weighed 7.6lbs (Sam weighed 9lbs the day he was born) and had a large scar from where he had had a big abdominal surgery. He was very sick. They keep the babies in this room from ages of birth to 6 months. I didn't take any pics in this room bc I don't need a picture to look at I will never get the image out of my mind. It was 2 rooms connected with cribs just lined up full of babies. There were many women in the rooms caring for all of these babies. All that was going through my mind was that this was my little boy at one time. The little boy that we don't let out of our sight for one second, who we love so much our hearts are overflowing, who will never not have a mom and dad again. When I saw how the beginning of his life was I was just so overwhelmed I was fighting back tears the whole time. Keith could tell. He was like are you alright? I told him he better not to talk to me bc if I even tried to talk the tears were going to start and not stop. Once we left that room we went to the room he spent his most recent days in. Its just a room full of toddler size children. They all looked to be around B's size. There were so many children. I guess it was lunch time there was probably 5 women sitting on the floor with big bowls of food feeding all the children. I was thinking so this is what B was doing last week. He was just one baby in a room full of babies waiting on his turn to get some food. It made me so sad but I am so thankful to all those women who were in that room. Even thought B's first year and a half of life have been hard for him he is such a happy baby and its bc of the excellent care he has been given at the orphanage.
The next place we went was to see his foster mother. She actually works at the orphanage and her home is on the orphanage grounds, She would take B to the orphanage in the morning when she would go to work, come and get him and bring him home with her for lunch most days, and get him when she got done working and take him home with her. What a sacrifice this woman made for my son and so many others children. Can you imagine working in the orphanage all day and then taking children back to your home in the evening. You really would never get any time off. When she saw Brennan she was so excited and ran over and wanted to hold him. He cried for me but she didn't let go. She was so happy to see him. She took us up to her house and showed us his room and where he had lived. She has up to 6 foster children in her home, We spent some time talking to her and asking her questions. I told our guide to tell her that we could never thank her enough for caring and loving our son for us before we could get here to him. She said it was my pleasure. We promised her we would always love and care for him. Once again by that point I couldn't talk again. It was just so emotional for me, We said our goodbyes and promised to send her pics of B as he grows up.
After we left there we decided to go to where B was found when he was abandoned as an infant. He was actually found just outside of the orphanage gates. I know I have said this a million times in this post already but this was pretty emotional for me too;) I had all kinds of thoughts going through my head. I was wondering how hard it must have been for his biological mother to leave him there. I wonder what happened that made her have to make this decision and how am I some day going to explain this to him. I was also just praising God that someone found him and took him to the orphanage before any harm came to him. We took a few pics there to show B and were on our way.
Our next stop was lunch with our guide, driver, and one of the women from the orphanage. It was real Chinese cuisine. I am getting more used to it but I don't think I would last long here in China if there wasn't a McDonalds within walking distance;) We enjoyed getting the extra time talking to our guide and just asking her a multitude of questions China related.
After that we just headed back to the hotel. Keith needed a haircut before we left and we ran out of time. I have been cutting his hair for years now. We saw when we were exploring the hotel they had a barber shop so he decided he would get a haircut. We had our guide write on a piece of paper something like same haircut just shorter. The barber came and cut his hair no problem. It looks pretty good but I don't know how to explain it but it looks kind of like a Chinese haircut. I keep telling him he looks like he should be in a dragon gang or something;) It will probably be grown out by the time we get back to the states next week. Its much better anyways and it made for a good story if nothing else. Who else do you know who has had there hair cut by a Chinese barber who could speak zero English?
We spent the rest of the afternoon napping and just playing with B, He took a bath for a really long time tonight. He is really enjoying that. He has been making lots of baby noises and trying to repeat some things we are saying. He is so smart. If you show him something he will right away try and do it himself. We are just content to spend every minute we have on our trip before we get home and back to our real lives just playing with him and letting him know that he isn't an orphan anymore. He won't ever be just one baby in a room full of so many babies. He is our son. He will always be loved and cared for and he will never not have a family again.
Here are a some pics from our day today.
This is where B was found. If you go through that gate the orphanage is just right behind it. He was found in the corner to the right in front of that metal gate.
Mags, Connor, and Sam we are half way done with our trip now. Daddy and I are missing you more and more every day. We can't wait to get home and see you guys. Dad says he can't wait to watch the new Power Rangers episode with you boys. He promises he won't fall asleep this time. I love you Mag and can't wait to for you to meet Mr B. You are going to be the best big sister ever (for the 3rd time). We are so ready to get home to you all but we are enjoying our trip and thanking God at every opportunity for this amazing opportunity he has given us. Love you all.
Glad you're sleeping longer! I was emotional just reading this post. God's been watching over B
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