Summer Fun

HI - It has been a long time since I was able to post. The last month has been a challenge. Drew is really starting to settle in and mom is learning to adjust to a very different summer. I came across a summer program at the local elementary school which is in combination with MSU. It is a free program from 8:30 to 11:00 each day. He loves it. I am not sure how much academic help he is getting, but being with kids and working on his English is a huge help. He looks forward to school each morning and even asks to go on the weekends. He also rides the school bus home which he thinks is the best thing ever. Drew has discovered video games and Sponge Bob. This is how Mom has also gotten a break. He already plays on medium level for Rock Band. His favorite song is Eye of the Tiger. Drew also loves to swim. He started swim lessons last week and the teacher says he is a natural. He calls him the little fish.

One month home

A lot has happened since we arrived home. Drew has done pretty well considering. We managed to get TJ graduated and have an open house. Drew had many relatives come and meet him. One Aunt and Uncle and cousins stayed for a week and we did many things. We went to Meijer Garden's in Grand Rapids and to Potter's Park Zoo. He is not afraid of much as he wanted to ride any animal he could and loved feeding the birds. We have also been busy with appointments...Drew did go to field day at his new school which was fun for him. I think he really misses the normalcy of school and being with children all the time. We keep him busy, or I should say he keeps us busy. He has had a couple play dates with Eli, a new friend who was also adopted from China last November. He has talked on Skype with few times with a friend from China who now lives in Wisconsin. Technology sure is amazing. Enjoy the new pictures!

Riding a Bike

Well, we have been home almost two weeks. Drew is doing wonderful. He sleeps well, and eats pretty good too. We went to Toys R Us and purchased a bike and helmet using some money that some wonderful people at work gave us. He is enjoying his new bike. He also likes to go to the playground near our house and swinging.... We play lots of board games which are good for practicing letter, turn taking and counting. He has been asking about going to school. We are going to have to figure out something to do or this will be a long summer.

One Week Home

Drew is adjusting and doing so well. We are just amazed. He sleeps great, is eating good and enjoys exploring toys...He loves TJ and Tara and I think is a little bored when they are in school. We play lots of Candy Land, and have pulled out some other games he also can play. He likes to win, but does fine when he loses. Yesterday we went to the dentist and he did wonderful. The dentist speaks Chinese so that was great. He was not scared at all. He has a loose tooth that we expect will fall out any day. He seems to enjoy getting out so we have been doing that as well. I am posting some new pictures.

We are home

We arrived home after 24 hours of traveling. It is early in the morning and we managed to get a few hours sleep. Drew did very well on the trip and slept pretty good last night. It will take us a few days to adjust. Drew is so happy to be home and loves his new brother and sister.

Guangzhou Zoo

On Sat. morning we went with our guide to the zoo. It was a nice outing. The bears were the most active. We also went to an animal show which was quite entertaining. They had monkeys riding bikes, a bear who walked on a high rope on his back legs holding an umbrella...I am adding a picture of Drew holding a monkey. He loves monkeys and Curious George too.

Medical Exam

This morning, after a very long sleep, Drew seemed ready to go. However, we had to stay in the hotel room and do paperwork with the guide. We also convinced him to try on some more clothes we brought him. He definitely will tell you if he likes something or not. The guide was able to interpret what Drew was saying while we were finishing up our Skype conversation with Tara. He told her that he has some glasses that she doesn't have. (We bought him some sunglasses.) He asked where TJ was. We told him that Tara has been at dance class and he asked if she was still dancing now while she was talking to us. While I was doing paperwork, he said that his Mom was the best at paperwork. He also said that his Mom was perfect. That was so nice to hear. I think he knows already who he should butter up.

We went to get his passport photos and he was laughing and talking with our guide and the man in the office. Boy was he wound up. Then we did the medical exam and he cooperated nicely. He was 42.5 pounds and 45 inches tall. We also were given his immunization records from the orphanage.