Grace changes everything...

Grace changes everything and everything changes for Grace.

We first saw her from our van when she got out of her van with her traveling companion from her orphanage. She looked adorable and was content until she was handed to Me (Amy) in an alley in a hurry. Then it was a lot of crying/screaming until I introduced her to banana puffs. At first she kept reaching for the woman who brought her and crying, but we could successfully distract her with toys and books and a lens cap (!!) and then more crying. Then we got out the iPad. Winner.

We were at the civil affairs office only a short time and then rode to the photo shop for her passport picture. By then she was smiling as giggling until we put her down for the photo and she broke down. It was so hard to see her cry and cry and then cry some more. It would be hard if this didn't make her turn blue - but it does. So it wasn't just hard - it was terrifying. Finally we got a picture and could leave. Then we had to wait about an hour for the photos. While we waited we played. That was really good time outside. She smiled and laughed and walked as didn't cry once. So much better.

The rest of the day it was appointment and drive. Appointment and drive. Appointment and drive. Repeat. She only got tiny cat naps in the car but when she was awake it was apple juice and puffs of all kinds. Chinese rice puffs and American puffs. She loves her some puffs.

She also loooooves playing with Maddie and Jake. We are so glad they are here. They instinctively know what to do to make her laugh. She reaches for each of us and let's each of us hold her and play with her but she's got a soft spot for big sister and big brother, for sure. It's a beautiful thing to see develop. They didn't once freak out or panic. They didn't once complain about the awful schedule or 2:30 lunch when we were all starving. The were so incredibly selfless I am tearing up just remembering it even now.

Grace fell asleep for about 40 minutes on the ride home and woke up probably needing more sleep. We got to our hotel room and she broke down again. It was past due for a nebulizer treatment so we had to try. She really hates it. I mean, really hates it. We may have to rebuild trust all over again after the nebulizer treatment. Poor baby :( Maybe when she falls asleep we will do it next time.

Every bit of progress, connection, silliness is celebrated. She has been through so much in her life. Time to grieve and to heal and to trust us is going to make the difference. She feel asleep snuggling me and now daddy is taking a turn. She's so precious we can hardly stand it.

Tomorrow will be a much less busy day. All we need to do is go to her finding spot. The spot where she was found. Our guide knows exactly where it is. I'm thankful we can go there and take it in and leave it in the past as we build a future. Wednesday we have no plans and Thursday we leave for Guangzhou (praise Jesus). It's really different being here where almost no one speaks English compared to Beijing. All we have is each other and sometimes our guide. Maybe that's ok. Maybe that's how it's meant to be.

We are however grateful for KFC and "the pizza hot". They say the chicken is safe here. I guess we will find out. After 5 days of no meat KFC really hit the spot. Then Robert and Jake went on a mission for pizza. I almost fainted it was so good.

Please pray her oxygen saturation stays in a good level for her. It was low for a bit but has improved. Please pray that her lungs clear and that God would heal the stenosis in her trachea. I've been singing "Healer" to her all day. I know He can do it. If I've learned one thing in all of this it's that nothing is impossible with Him.