and........ We're Back!

After numerous difficulties of all kinds, we are back to the blog! 

First of all, a very sincere thank you to all of you who have loved us so well during this journey.  Every single encouraging word, card, phone call, meal, and donation has blessed us more than you will ever know.  We are forever grateful.

A few updates....

Pearl is doing remarkably well adapting to family life around here.  She isn't sleeping all that great, and that is wearing me out, but other than that, she seems to be pretty happy.  She still prefers me so I feel like I have an extra appendage, but that will improve with time as well.

We have made the whirlwind tour of doctor's offices since arriving home.  We have seen the cardiologist, pedicatrician, ENT and the dentist.  We will see the cardiac surgeon on Friday.  As well as the cardiologist can tell from the ultrasound done in his office, Pearl has typical Tetralogy of Fallot and should be able to have an uncomplicated open heart repair (if there is such a thing).  That was good news to us!  The pediatrician gave us an antibiotic to hopefully clear up this sinus stuff she has going on.  She also sent us to the ENT as she suspected a possible trachea issue, but that was ruled out and we got a precription for a reflux medicine instead.  Long story.  Hopefully Pearl will sleep better with the Prevacid.  We still have a visit to the craniofacial surgeon to discuss her open palate.  For now, all of the dental and palate work will wait until her little heart is repaired.  The cardiologist thinks we can wait a month or so and let her get settled in.  We will see what the surgeon thinks on Friday.  She also has fairly significant delays in multiple areas, so we will be working to catch her up on a few things after her surgery also.  I have seen her make such progress in just three short weeks, I am confident that in 6 months she will be close to where she needs to be.  With the exception of her speech delayys.
I apologize to my faithful followers ( all 3 of you) that I was such a slack blogger during our trip.  I am going to try to go back and document some of our highlights later when Pearl is a little more comfortable off my lap!  We had a very good trip and best of all - no travel issues - that was a first !
We also celebrated 2 birthdays since arriving home.  Pearl turned 4 on the 18th and Lainie turned 6 on the 23rd.  Pictures of that coming soon.  For now, enjoy the beautiful picture of our Miss Pearl.  Taken on our front porch last week.  Isn't she lovely?

Almost That Time!!!

Today we left Guangzhou, and took the 2 hour train ride to Hong Kong. It was a little challenging as Pearl wasn't the biggest fan of the train. Tomorrow we start the long journey home. Thank you all so much for your prayers as we have traveled to bring Pearl home!! Please continue to pray for us as we travel home. Please pray for safe flights, and that Pearl will do well.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

 Today we spent the day at a flower park. I haven't downloaded those pictures

yet, but here are some from prior days.....

Posing by the flowers in the hotel lobby.

Taking pics in the hotel garden. It got dark by the time I convinced Pearl to

put her feet on the ground. I may try these another day. The hotel has a

garden and waterfall of its own.

Pearl fell fast alseep on the taxi ride back from Shaimian Island. It was fun to

walk these familiar streets and visit the shops that we visited in 2007 and

2010.

One of the shop keepers tried to convince us Pearl needed sunglasses.

Look who warmed up to Papa Ron. I convinced her only he could reach the monkey

bars so she let him touch her. It was brief, but it is progress.

There is a new playground that has been built since we were here last. Pearl

was very timid at first. Her gross motor skills are severly lacking. I don't

think she was ever given a chance to run and play because of her heart. She

ran and played here for about an hour and wanted to play more, but Papa Ron and

I were tired. Maybe we are the ones with the heart condition? Pearl always

seem to out last us.

This college student asked if she could make our picture. Her name is Judy and

she is studying journalism. She is writing about the adoption phenomenon  in China. She wants to change the views of the Chinese people about their daughters and their orphans. Someone told her that adoptive

families can be found in Guangzhou so she had traveled here hoping for photos

and comments. Go Judy Go.

Her TB test was negative ! Thank goodness and thank you for the prayers. On

Thursday we have our consulate appointment then our official business here is

done! On Friday we pick up her visa and head to Hong Kong by train. We will

spend the night there and fly HOME on Saturday morning!

Sorry for the lack of blogging.....

It is almost impossible to type and load pictures with a three year old around your neck. 

She has warmed up a little to papa ron.  He can look at her now without her going crazy.

Yesterday was a great day at Safari Park.  She actually rode about half of the 
way in the rented stroller.  That was a nice break for me.  She also made 
friends with a 13 year old in our group and she let her push the stroller just a 
little.  

The animals were amazing.  Much better exhibits than the Guangzhou Zoo that we 
visited in 2010 with Mia.

There are seven families in our group and it has been fun being with other 
people.  Pearl continues to be happy as long as I am holding her.  

We are off to the medical clinic to get her TB test read.  It looks ok to me, 
but I am not sure what they will say.  We plan to spend the afternoon shopping 
for some things for Pearl on Shamian Island.  

Sorry again for the lack of blogging.  Love you all and thank you for the 
prayers.

All Tuckered Out !!!

We made it to Guangzhou late last night and everything is going well! We are really happy to be here. It is nice to be around other adoptive families.... not to mention the warmer weather! Our hotel is also very nice. Pearl had her medical exam today, which included her TB skin test. Please be in prayer that it is NEGATIVE.... we go back to have it read on Monday.

This little girl  has so much spunk and is full of energy.... she has more than me! But, as you can see from the picture, she does eventually wear out.... she has been napping around 3 hours now!! We are not seeing any signs or symptoms from her heart condition, that is such a praise! Tomorrow we will visit Safari Park, we are all very excited about that!

All is well!!!

I wanted to let everyone know that all is going great in China except internet access.  We were able to skype with Ronny, Jennifer and Pearl.  Pearl is a handful.  She seems very comfortable with Jennifer.  She was running around a jewelry store with the top of a trash can on her head.  I do have video of this but I am having problems with computers myself.  Jen is so sorry that she has not been able to blog daily.  Her hope is that in Guangzhou, the internet will work better.  Be in prayer for them in there travels.  They fly today in about 4 hours.  I am so happy that Pearl is a part of the Barbee Bunch.  I just want them HOME!!!!  Bobby

It's Official!!!!

 

Pearl continues to be a happy, delightful girl.  She copies everything that I do.  She loves to make us laugh.  She is very clingy to me and doesn't have much to do with her Papa Ron yet, but we know she will in time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we visited the governmental offices and made our adoption official !  There was a little playroom there that Pearl enjoyed.  On Thursday we will visit the orphanage and today they offered for us to meet the foster mother.  I know that it may be a setback in bonding and attachment, but I think in the long run it will be a good experience.  Pearl has only lived in the foster home since September.  

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your continued prayers.  We are heading out for lunch and a walk at the park. 

An Amazing Day!

We had an amazing "gotcha day". Pearl came through the door saying, "Ni Hao Mama." She is yet to shed a tear or have a sad moment. She is tiny - the 3T clothes are a little big, but she seems very happy. She does LOVE to be carried, so I am glad she is tiny at this point. She loves jewelry and hairbows. She was dressed in quite an array of them when she arrived. We have since had a bath and toned down our outfit just a bit. Everything is perfect so far.

Thank you for all the prayers. Tonight, there is one less orphan in the world. Her name is Pearl Alexandra JinZhu Barbee.

We are still experiencing multiple technical difficulties. If you are following along and you want to contact me, you will have to email me... 4barbees@bellsouth.net I am getting email on my phone.

An Adventure With Dad

Growing up, my dad's job as a minister caused him to be in and out of the house and out and about all the time. He was oftentimes visiting the sick, visiting in people's homes and going to meetings. I can remember every time he went out of the house I would say, "Where are you going?" "Can I go please?" If he was going to the hospital, I would beg to go saying that I would wait in the lobby while he visited. If he was going to a home, I would beg to go saying that I would wait in the car. As long as I can remember I wanted to be wherever he was going. I wanted the adventure.

Now, at age 41, I am experiencing the greatest adventure of all with my dad. Here we are on the other side of the world together. The greatest adventure of all. I am so glad to be sharing this time with him.

Today we saw The Great Wall.....

Tiananmen Square.....

The Olympic Village....

A Jade Factory, The Forbidden City and a Tea House...

 We are exhausted. We arrived here in Nanning around midnight and after multiple issues with the electricity we are now going to bed at 3 am. Tomorrow morning around 10:30 am (9:30 pm your time on Sunday night) Pearl will be brought to us here at the hotel. Please pray for her precious little heart. That God would quiet her little soul with His love. I will blog as soon as I can tomorrow with pictures of our girl!

Good night.

Arrived in Nanning

This blog of ours is over 5 years old.  You have seen my name, watched my children grow and you have read beautiful things from my wife.  Now you get to hear from me, Bobby the dad and husband.  Writing is not a great quality of mine.  Well, it is not even a quality at all!!  "I do hope that this blogspot thing has spell check on it.  If not, you will see why later."

While the kids and I were at church this morning, around 11:00am, I received a text from Jennifer that they had landed in Nanning, Pearl's providence.  She was not even off the plan yet when she text me.  I did speak with her and Ronny about 40 minutes later while they were traveling to their hotel.  It was around midnight there so I know they are exhausted!!!

Yes, the reason I am writing this is that the Internet service in the first hotel was terrible.  I am hoping that this next hotel will be better equipped with better service so Jen can do the writing. 

On Monday morning, about the time that we crown the next Super Bowl champion, Jennifer and Ronny will meet Pearl for the first time.  Jennifer did find out that someone will be bringing Pearl to the hotel that they are staying in.  I am so praying for a great meeting.  Please be in prayer for everyone as you enjoy your Sunday.  Sorry I do not have the great flow of words that my wife has.  I know she will "shreak" when she finds out I wrote this.  I hope this satisfies the "post stalkers" for now.  Hopefully tonight, Jen will be back.  Take care!!  Bobby

We have arrived!!!

We arrived safely in Beijing around 4:00pm China time.  All is well.  We have made it to our hotel.  Ready to rest!!  Will blog again hopefully Sunday morning(China Time) which will be late afternoon (USA time).  Thank you for all your prayer!!!  Love Jen and Ronny

Finally Time

As long as we have been anticipated our travel date, I still can't believe it is finally here.  My dad and I are headed out early in the morning.  We should arrive in Beijing at 3:40 pm on Saturday (China time).  It will be 2:40 am here on Saturday.  We are grateful to all who made this trip possible.  Every gift has brought us one step closer to this day.  Every prayer said has been answered and every word of encouragement has helped us move forward one day at a time.  Thank you to all of those who support us eventhough you may not toally understand our crazy life.  I look forward to sharing Pearl's story of hope with you all.  To God be the glory.