Guangzhou Part 1

From Hudson's province of Guizhou, we traveled to Guangzhou to complete the visa paperwork and we also had a doctors examination while there.

Hudson was a Rock Star at the doctors examination.  We were packed into this small area with probably 15 or more families and all the children had to complete 3 different exams.  ENT, height and weight, and strip down and be checked head to toe.  Hudson had the ENT first.  He had actually run a slight fever that morning because of a cold and the doctor confirmed that was all it was.  He was awake for that doctor.  Then we had to wait a bit for the other exams.  Hudson decided that this was a great time to take a nap which worked out for us perfectly.  He slept through the rest like a champ...even the undressing for the head to toe check-up. 


These next set of pictures were from the island.

We had a great time letting Hudson run around and examine all the bronze sculptures.

He was fascinated by these probably because they children were his size.  He examined them very closely as you will see.

I think that here he is counting the little girls fingers and thinking HA...I've got one more than you.  You can see his extra digit hanging down.

Now he is checking out her ears.

Gotta check out the nose too!

Posing for Daddy

This one was cute because of the little Ch*nese boy statues behind him.

Very, Very Curious!

Pictures from the trip

We had soooo many great pictures from our China trip but I will just pick out a few to post over the next couple of weeks.

I found for myself that one of the very special parts of the trip were getting out and touring the local area. 

All of these pictures were taken while we were in Hudson's province.

This was a park that we walked around.  It was very special to us because this was the very place that one of the precious baby girls that was adopted in our travel group was found.  This was her abandonment spot. 

I loved all the lanterns that were still up everywhere we went in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Everywhere we went there would be groups of people exercising and dancing. 

This is what a lot of the homes looked like.  Hudson's province was very overcast the entire time we were there and everything was very dirty.  The pollution was awful. 

These senior citizens were so inspiring.  They were more flexible and energetic than most people my age.

Look Closely....There is a man swimming in this lake.  The temperature outside was probably in the low 40's that day.  I can't even imagine how cold the water was.  Brrrr!!

Seeing all these people definitely added to our experience. 

Coming out of the fog...

Out of the Jet Lag fog....

We have been home for 3 nights now or is it 4 nights...I can't remember...still a little fuzzy...

But we are all getting settled and getting used to being a family of 5.  That's a nice number...5.

Hudson is doing amazingly well.  Eating like a champ and bonding with all of us.  Emma (our 13 year old) commented to me after the first day home how surprised she was that Hudson was doing so well and coming to her and Cody so easily.  I said to her it's not just great...it's God.  I told her that we were so covered in prayer that he would bond so quickly that God answered YES!  I really believe it is an answer to prayer.

We had so much trouble posting anything from his province that I thought I would share some pictures from the beginning.  These are from the first moment we saw him in real life.  Such a sweet chaotic scene of 4 families being joined with their children.  It was a little crazy but something we will never want to forget.

He had his back to us as we came up the stairs into the meeting room.  I knew him immediately though because he was wearing the winter outfit that we had sent in a care package.

There's that sweet boy's face.

Hudson's not quite sure what to think about all the craziness and this strange American woman holding him here.

He enjoyed sitting with his Daddy right away.

Here he is getting his hand stamped for some of the paperwork.  Notice he is holding a muffin in his right hand.  He's not about to let go of it. 

Just keeping it real in this picture.  After we brought him back to the hotel that first night, the poor little guy was not happy to be taken away from what he had known.  So Sad.  It broke my heart for him.  He was so upset that he threw up on me about 3 times before he was so exhausted that he was ready to fall asleep.  I wore that throw up proudly.  That's what momma's do.  I made sure that Bill got a picture because it is part of the story...  Part of Hudson's journey of becoming a Spangenthal.

I'll try to be good about posting the next couple of days to share about the rest of our China trip to get Hudson.  We have some great pictures.

Monkey'ing Around China

We were warned to stay away.....apparently the monkey's don't care for Americans.

This is the traditional dress of the Miao people. That is the minority area that Hudson is from. They wear these costumes for all of their special festivals. We were outside a Buddhist Temple.

A sleepy Hudson all snuggled in to daddy.

I am just regaining feeling in my legs after hiking all the way up to that first tower that you see the day before we got Hudson. It about killed me.

Next stop: Guangzhou!

Introducing.....

Hudson FuXing

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5

Welcome to the family Hudson!
You are so loved!

It's ChinaEve

It's hard to believe that the long journey to Hudson Fuxing is finally coming to an end. 

And as of Sunday afternoon, February 5 (Ch*na time) the next journey begins.

A JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME...TOGETHER...AS A FAMILY!

Praise God for the miracle of Adoption.  We feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to say YES to one of the "least of these".

Really~~ Our hearts are full. 

We leave tomorrow.  Bill and I should arrive in Beijing on Friday night.  We will tour on Saturday.  Then on Sunday we will fly to Hudson's province and that afternoon we will meet our son.

I am going to try to blog while there so follow along if you would like.  I may be totally exhausted emotionally and physically but I will at least post pictures.

Leave us a note if you stop by.  We will certainly appreciate the encouragement!!

YIKES!!!

Yikes!!  In 7 days, we will be leaving for Ch*na!  I can't believe that it's finally here.

My bedroom looks like a bomb went off in it. 

Suitcases everywhere.
Clothes everywhere.
Snacks for Hudson everywhere.

It's a little crazy around here right now. 

But it is OH SO WORTH IT!!

I can't wait to get my hands on this sweet boy!!

It just seems like yesterday that we saw his face for the first time.

yes- I'm aware that he is wearing pink.  I had no control what they put him in.  :o)

And now look how big he is...

Gotta get back to packing...Right now I can't find my bed so I need to get all that stuff in a suitcase if I'm going to sleep in it tonight.

Anyone with advice on travel or tips on what to pack please leave me a comment.  I'd love to hear what you have to say.