Day two with Peyton Min

It's been a rough 24 hours or so and I just haven't felt like posting.
We arrived at the hotel (we are staying at the Crowne Plaza in Jinan) at about 1:00. Our guide (who is wonderful by the way) told us that Min has known about us for two months and that he was scheduled to arrive at the hotel at 3:00 instead of 4:00. Exciting, nerve wracking.

We got to our room and started unpacking. Our phone rang at 2:15, they were here in the lobby. We opted to go down and meet him in the lobby.

I knew Min would be tiny but I think I'd expected he would have grown some. He is very small. Pretty much 3 toddler. He was not afraid of us at all, greeted each of us: Baba, Mama, and Guh Guh (big brother). (min is Di Di, little brother. They (the orphanage nannies) called him Dien Dien, so for now, we call him that. He is active and curious. for him not to be afraid or crying or any emotion, to me is not a good thing, as he has not bonded well with any one person and he will pretty much go to anyone. We will have a lot of bonding work to do.

The Nannies think he is a very smart little guy. They told our guide that all of Min's 11 Nannies said he has been their favorite. Our guide told us in all his years of doing this (16 or 17 years) he has never been told anything like this. Interesting.

This morning, Monday, we met our guide at 8:00 to go to the Civil affairs office to start our paperwork. There were 9 other families there. We spent about 1 1/2 hours there. I refused to use the squatty potty. After that, it was straight to the police station for more paperwork. I caved and used my first (and hopefully last) squatty potty. At least it was a brand new building they had just moved into, so not too bad. Then it was off to the Notary office for our final paperwork for the week. Or so we thought... More later.

After that we went to the Sunflower Restuarant for some authentic Chinese. It was pretty good.

And finally back to the hotel.

Finally got Min asleep for his nap (the orphanage still had him on a nap schedule and we think for now this is good). And getting some quiet time. Then our phone rang, our guide. Somehow Lane and I mixed up our passport numbers on the paperwork and it all has to be redone. Unbelievable and discouraging.
After a few very long days, just didn't need this. :( hopefully all will be corrected and put in order. Zane went with Lane and Min and I are here at the hotel.

Please continue to pray for us: for me, I am not bonding well with Min. Zane has done wonderfully well, for that we are very thankful. Lane has done well also.
For our safety, for family bonding. For sleep.
For all of the other families and their kiddos here. And for Lanes business at home to stay on track while we are gone.


'Lord, when doubts fill my mind and my heart is in turmoil, please give me renewed hope and cheer'.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad