We’ve got JOY!
Sunday, July 12, 2009 | Ryan Horn
We cannot even begin to put this day into words! We are stunned and speechless at the hand of God in our lives and particularly this journey of adoption. The day started smoothly and we had the orientation meeting with the Holt staff, who are fantastic! They went through a boatload of information and had slides that went with it. At the end of his information, he said something like, now to talk about why you are really here.... and on the screen a map of China came up and slowly a new photo of Fei Fei (Joy Fei Fei Elizabeth Nolan) came on the screen with her name. We started crying as soon as we realized it was her. We couldn’t believe we were looking at an updated photo of our baby! We received a red Chinese album with lots of updated info on her & several more photos. It was priceless!!!
After the meeting we came back to the hotel for lunch (which of course, we couldn’t eat due to excitment), and then we began the last two hours of waiting. When we finally got the “call” to come to the hotel lobby, we were racing to the elevator.... : ) As we walked into the room, she was sitting on a small couch and had red eyes. You could tell she had been crying. We slowly made our way onto the couch beside her and she cried and was quite uneasy as first. We have her the doll we brought and she clung to it (once the orphanage director explained what it was and that it was hers). We made our way onto the couch and quickly fell into parent mode. We distributed cheerios and gatorade and she loved it! After a little while, we moved to the floor and she cried hard when she thought we were leaving. We all sat on the floor and played with her (as much as she would let us between her tears). You could tell she was very anxious, nervous, and scared. Her emotion broke our hearts even though we knew it was healthy for her to have. Those of you that have been here can understand what we mean.
After a little while and more paperwork, we walked with her to our room where we played with toys and let her warm up to each of us more. She was pretty attached to Mommy at first and didn’t want anyone else, but that quickly changed and now she has gone to everyone. She’s had her first bath and didn’t seem to mind. We put Bradly in the tub with her (in his bathing suit because he informed us he was a “big boy” and needed privacy) and they played a little. She enjoyed getting clean and smothered in lotion. : ) She ate some rice for dinner and took her first Juice Plus vitamins (and loved them!) She has a very “wet” cough, so please pray that it clears up on its own, with vitamins, better eating and rest. We don’t like the way it sounds at all but she isn’t running a fever yet so we are not starting her on anything for it.
We did give her some Tylenol tonight just because of the LONG day we knew she had. She LOVES the photo albums we sent to her. We have looked at those with her OVER & OVER & OVER. She points to us and repeats who we are, looks around the room until she sees each of us and then shakes her head yes. It is priceless. Her first word was “Ba Ba” (Daddy) and she has already smiled slightly. The tears have ceased tonight and she is doing exceptionally well, but being parents of three already, we know and fully expect more during the night or in the morning. Please pray.... She fell asleep clutching her new doll, a little blankie made of silk, and her tiny photo album of us in one hand and holding on to Mommy’s hand with her other. PRICELESS! She is now sound asleep behind us and we are about to try and catch some rest to be ready for whatever the night or morning may bring. : ) We covet your continued prayers and cannot wait for you to meet our new Princess, and trust us, she is a Princess!!!! Please pray she will rest well and God will heal her cough. Enjoy the photos (these are only a few...). : ) (just click the link below)
http://picasaweb.google.com/tntnolan/GotchaDay?authkey=Gv1sRgCPfgu4Kzs8yNLg&feat=directlink
Discovering new Joy,
Tony and Tammy (and fam including Joy Fei Fei!) Thank you, Jesus!!
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