We're Here

We're Here

We arrived in Beijing yesterday around 3:00 in the afternoon. We started off the morning bright and early and Everest popped out of bed when the alarm went off. He said to me, "Ma, ya know the coolest thing about today?" "No Everest I don't (me still asleep and in denial about this whole China thing)." "Well Ma, the coolest thing about today is everything about today."

The flight in was actually somewhat tolerable. About two hours into the flight, wine in hand, I said to Ryan - "Hey, I am actually enjoying this a bit." I spoke way too soon. Luckily the plane was a bit empty in the back and before we took off the flight attendent (I love United flight attendents) said to the guy next to me that he could head back to a row with less people, which gave Ryan and I the fourth seat in the middle of the aisle. Everest's eyes were closed before the plane took off. VICTORY. But a short lived victory as he only slept a short time. After a few hours Everest was over the "everything is the coolest" and was ready to get off the not so cool anymore plane. Insert whining, some tears, fidgeting, etc. He was incredibly over tired and I was ready to be off. I can't blame him. He did manage to sleep again for a bit more and gave Ryan and I a much needed break.

When we landed we were met by our Bethany representative, Joy, who was like an oasis. She remembered us and of course remembered Everest. She pointed at my hair, "Ah, you cut your hair."

I think that people are disappointed that Mr. Chunhui no longer speaks Mandarin. I told Joy that Everest was too naughty to be in Chinese school. She said, "Ah yes, I read the first and 6 month reports."

We got to the hotel and Ryan went to the grocery store. We tried to make two bowls of noodles with our kettle. Everest fell asleep before his was done. You will notice that I said the word, "try." We were not too successful. Between the two of us we have five higher education degrees. One would think we could make instant noodles. Everest could have done it better. Pizza Hut was the answer.

Which brings us to the morning and when I say morning I use the word very loosely as it was 3:00 in the morning when Everest decided that he had enough sleep and was ready to explore Beijing. No amount of explaining could deter him. He managed to lay (and not lay still) until 5:30. Seriously. And I need to add that during this brief interlude of sleep he decided he needed to poop. Not once but on two separate occasions. What kid poops twice during the night?!? I mean, you seriously have to go bad to wake up once let alone twice.

This morning we were not the first down for breakfast suprisingly. There were other crazies among us. Everest in his Spiderman jammies with fried noodles and dim sum. The kid is taking full advantage of the food here.

We ran to the grocery store again and then set out to explore a bit. We went to Beihai Park, which was one of our favorites from the last go around. Everest seemed to be taken with all of the Chinese children. He wanted to play with them and seemed to be excited that they all looked like him. His excitement about being here in general has been fun for us. He wants to see "China buildings, China people...and eat noodles." He is doing all of that.

We also had our first squatty potty experience today. Everest was somewhat mortified. He does not remember them. You know it's bad when a 6 year old with no qualms about hygeine let's out a cry. This one was BAD. There was pee all over. I know it was pee because there was not a sink where any other water could have come from. As Everest got ready to pee I told him to hit the potty. In hindsight, he could have just let loose on the walls and it wouldn't have looked any different in there. I squatted like a champ.

I have to admit there was a certain amount of denial that came with coming on this trip. Everything about the last trip was hard. So, so hard. However, this time Ryan and I both feel a certain sense of calm. I don't know what it is. Familiarity? I woudn't think so. Beijing is anything but familiar. I feel somewhat that it is a trip of redemption for us. Look at us, we did it. Look at our son, he is incredible. I have personally never been more proud of Everest in my life as I have been thus far on our trip.

The stares started as soon as we were at our gate at O'Hare and continued obviously when we arrived in Beijing. It is hard to read the stares. I know that a lot of the stares are because he is cute, regardless of the nationality of his parents. Other stares are of a curious sort. Why is that boy with those parents? I also can't help thinking that there could be animosity. I did not feel this way when we were here before but now I feel it. Maybe it is my imagination. Maybe I am tired. No wait, I am totally tired.

The stares just make me more proud. Look a us, we did it. Look at our son, he is incredible.

Tomorrow is another day of roaming around the city. Thursday morning we are getting up early (suprise, suprise) and heading to the orphanage to meet Kingston. After seeing Everest interact today with the children, I look even more forward to bringing Kingston into our lives. I know we made the right decision. However, I will likely need to be reminded of this as the trip continues.

Packing Up

We started to pack for China just as we were getting close to nearing some sort of organization in our new house. We are trying to contain the chaos to one room.

Kingston does not yet have a bed. However, he is now the proud owner of superhero undies.

At what point does a boy decide he shouldn’t wear superhero undies anymore? Sad.

However, if Ryan wore superhero undies we probably wouldn’t be married.

I started to get emotional about everything this weekend. I am more scared this time around. Last time it was just Ryan and I and now the magnitude of what we are doing is intensified because it isn’t just us anymore. We have the most amazing little person with us whose life is going to be forever changed along with ours. He is going to have to share his mom, his dad and his toys. His grandparents. Our friends. I don’t want to lose the closeness that Everest and I now share by bringing another child into the mix. How do I balance? It was a long road to getting to where we are today. He is a momma’s boy and I forever want him to sit on my lap. I hurt for Everest. And maybe I don’t even have to. Maybe he will be just fine. Maybe it is more me that I hurt for. And maybe I don’t even have to. Maybe I will be just fine.

Dear Kingston

Dear Kingston,

We are about to turn your little world upside down. Everything that you've ever known will be no more. And I am sorry. I am so sorry. Although I believe that you will find love with us and that you will be happy - I am sorry. I am sorry for the infinite sadness that you will feel. I am sorry that you will not always understand your sadness. I am sorry that I will not always understand that sadness. But please know that I have a related sadness all of my own because you were not born to me and you should have been. You deserve that and we deserve that. But Kingston, we have our own story and we have our own lives. And just because our lives do not emulate the lives of others doesn't make it wrong, it just makes us different. And that difference in and of itself is something incredibly special and shared only between us.

We will come to China and get you. Your dad, brother and your mom. We will be tired and we will be scared. You will be tired and you will be scared. But we will love you. Kingston, I would like more than anything to be able to tell you that I love you with all of my heart already but I cannot. I have made that mistake before. I have lived and I have learned. For self perseverence I know that I must lead with my head and not my heart. But Kingston, in time I will love you. I have lived and I have learned and I know that a learned love is something to behold. A learned love does not come easily. It is sometimes with great hardship that one learns to love. It is sometimes with great sadness that one learns to love. But in the end there is love. And it is a strong love. This love is what defines us as a family. If things were easy then they wouldn't be so hard and they wouldn't be worth fighting for. And dear Kingston you are worth it and we are worth it. Welcome to the Lentz family Kingston Tao.

Life Changes

So I've been a bad blogger. It started with a too-hectic work schedule and has morphed into a too-busy home life. Here at the Lentz household we are going through some life changes. I went ahead and got myself a new job and with this new job comes a new house. Oh and wait we are also adopting another little munchkin in a couple of months. Plus, let's tack on the fact that my little man got a staph infection of some sort in his wounds that has knocked him down for the past week and a half. Luckily I am home to deal with his whining. And when I say whine, I mean whining like I've never heard it before. Full on, every sentence out of his mouth. It would almost be funny if it wasn't so annoying. Poor little guy is really struggling because he is such a good natured little kid when he feels good. First sign of a problem is when Everest #1) naps #2) whines and pouts. He is bringing whining and pouting to a whole new level and taking naps like his momma likes to do. Does give me time to get in a little Dr. Phil and Oprah in the afternoons though. On the flipside of being lucky to be home, I am unluckily without health insurance for the family. We are on temporary major medical but nothing to pay for clinic visits. I took Everest to the Walgreens clinic and they prescribed some antibiotics, which should hopefully do the trick. If not, we'll be heading to the dermatologist on Monday to spend a fortune for a skin culture. Oh well, life is nothing if not exciting. The house went on the market this week and we've had in realtors, photographers, contractors, painters, carpet cleaners, etc. The last of the work is being completed as I type. Oh and did I mention that I need to get Everest registered for Kindergarten? We are going on Monday. He does have himself a fancy new Spiderman backpack and lunchbox of which he is incredibly proud. I am incredibly proud too.

LOA!

It is with much excitement and anticipation that we introduce our new love, Everest's little brother and our son, Kingston Tao Lentz, born 11/12/2008. He's a little peanut.

LID

Hello all - We are Logged in with China as of May 11th. One more chunk of wait done. A couple more to go. Kingston is this little person who is waiting very patiently for us in China. He is not even knowing he is waiting at this point. If he did know, he would be too young to understand. We are waiting very patiently for Mr. Kingston, way more patiently than the last go around. Everest keeps us so busy!

Everestisms:

The other day in the car on the way to school Everest said "penis." I said, "Excuse me?!? What did you say?!? Do you even know what that means?" "Yes," he says. "It's a wee-wee and the balls are what are attached."

WHAT?!?!? I quickly regain my composure. It is early in the morning without coffee.

"Well I'd prefer you say wee-wee instead," I say.

"We don't say wee-wee. It's a language word," he says.

"No, you're right and we don't say penis either. The only time you say wee-wee is if perhaps your wee-wee itches and you need to tell mommy or a teacher or maybe if your wee-wee hurts and you need to tell someone," I say diplomatically.

"Ohhhh OK...." he says, "Like if I have a wee-wee ache."

Awesome drive into work.


A few nights ago we were reading a book about Noah's Ark. After reading it a couple of times I realized it was only a matter of time before Everest asked me about God. Sure enough, this was the time. How does one explain God at 8:30 at night to a 5.5 year old? The following is probably not how one should handle it.

"Which one of them is God?" Everest says pointing to the picture.

Instead of just saying, "That one next to Noah." I say, "Um you can't see God."

"Why can't you see God?"

Great question.

"Um you just can't."

"Well what does God do?"

"Wellllll, God is, is, is well God is um...God is like, is like a (lightbulb moment) SUPERHERO!"

"OOOOHHHH, So God is like Iron Man."

"Sure, God is like Iron Man."

I think the conversation is done.

A couple more pages.

"So, does God have a gun?"

Oh dear.

"No, God does not have a gun."

"Well how does he protect people."

Good question.

"Well God can just tell the bad people to not be bad and he can tell the good people to stay away from the bad people. God is very powerful."

"Oh."

A few more pages. Almost done.

But
not
quite.

"Mom is God more powerful than The Incredible Hulk?"

"Well yes Everest, he sure is."

DTC!

Hi there,
We found out last week that we were DTC (Dossier to China) on April 29. Now we are waiting for our LID (Log in Date). We are hoping to travel some time in September or October but you never know with these things. We'll keep you updated and I apologize for the lack of posts lately. We've been very busy both during the week and during the weekends. We've been traveling a bit during the weekends and the weekdays are filled with work, home, dinner and sleep. Not much else.

This past weekend we went to Lake Geneva and did a half marathon. Ouch. We stayed at a hotel with a water park but unfortunately little man was not tall enough to get on the slides. I think he is so tall now to think that he isn't big enough for things came as a suprise.

Anyway, off to enjoy a Mother's Day dinner. Had a great day where I was able to enjoy a two hour nap. That was a fabulous Mother's Day present. I have since then taken a shower and sat on the couch while my boys have made hamburgers. Good stuff.