Cray to the Z - CRAZY!!

Woowee, what a day! After an extremely hard evening of grieving, our sweet boy slept quite well and started the morning extra early at 4:30am. Both Mike and I woke up multiple times to check on Apollo and it's a good thing we did because we had to put his oxygen cannula back on each time. I don't think we'll sleep soundly until he's slept through the night with it in on several times. We were able to get him undressed and even change his shoes. We were unsuccessful in getting Apollo to take his medicine last night but Daddy got the job done this morning. Score a couple of points for Daddy and Mommy! Mike has been an absolute rockstar and Apollo is quickly becoming Daddy's boy! It's a good thing since Magnus has been a mama's boy from day one. 

 

 

 

 

 

After a couple hours of play and getting ready, we headed down to a delicious breakfast. We are staying at the Shangri-La and it is phenomenal in every way including the 5 star food. Both boys ate their share and then made an absolute mess. A certain little cutie really likes throwing his food so this is something we will definitely be working on. 

 

 

 

Our guide, Michael, then met us to head out for a busy day of finalizing Apollo's adoption. We knew what to expect since we did this just one year ago but it didn't go as smoothly as before. The orphanage representative got into a car accident and was taken to the hospital for observation so another representative had to come. We waited about an extra hour to hour and a half at the civil affairs office, but the boys kept us busy!

 

   

Once we finally wrapped up, our guide said it was probably too late to go to the police station or notary before lunch.  So we came back to the hotel, had a quick lunch and then tried to get the boys down for a quick nap. It didn't go so well! Apollo got about a 30 min nap and Magnus got a 10 minute one. 

We then set off for the last two stops, the police station and the notary office. The notary office really gets to Mike and I each time because they ask us a series of questions and one of them is "Are you satisfied with the child?" The ride to the office was one of our wildest yet. The driver was a bit crazy and angry - what a combination! At one point he pulled into the wrong parking lot and almost got us completely boxed in. There were cars parked in every which direction and we missed each of them by an inch or maybe two!

Finally we were all wrapped up and the adoption was finalized. Now we just need to move toward getting his visa and becoming a US citizen.  

 

We are going to make sure Tuesday is low-key. We told our guide to not even come meet us until the afternoon so the boys can have time to just play and take a normal nap.  

All in all, it was a really good day for Apollo. He definitely became much more comfortable with us and Magnus. However, when he gets excited, his breathing because extremely labored. Our family can heal his heart emotionally, but we need those expert docs out in Boston to do the rest!

Apollo has arrived

After getting settled into our room in Nanchang, we played the hurry up and wait game because Apollo and his Nanny were not set to arrive until 4:00. We killed the time by snapping a few pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 At approximately 3:30 pm, we were greeted by a precious little boy in the lobby of the hotel with arms wide and smiles abound.  Below are few of the beginning photos of Apollo's journey through life with us. 

 Though Apollo has shared with us much happiness already, he has also been quite upset this evening about losing his beloved Nanny.  Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes. Please keep them coming.

 

    

 

    

 

 

A Letter From Mama

To my oldest son, Apollo,

The day has finally come when I get to hold you and never let go! Happy Forever Family Day, my precious son! I have dreamed of this day for months and now I'm ready to burst with the love I've been holding on to for so long. It was love at first sight and that love will continue to grow beyond my last sight of you. Starting today, you will always have a hand to hold, open arms for countless hugs, lips to kiss every boo boo, and a voice to sing you to sleep each night. I will strive to be everything you dreamed of and deserve. I'm so very sorry it took me so long to find you but I know this has always been God's will. You have always been my son, it just took some time to find my red thread to you. You have fought so bravely all alone but will never have to ever again. We have a difficult and winding road ahead but we will travel it together. When you look, I will be right by your side and never leave it. From this day forward, you are mine forever and ever. I love you to the moon and back, Apollo Daniel WanRong!

Love,

Mama

Seeing the Wall...and then hitting it!!

Hello to everyone back home. The Apollo mission team has safely arrived in Hero City, Nanchang.  A lot has happened since our last post, but things are also happening very fast without much of an opportunity to stop and write about it.  

Quick synopsis of our Saturday.  Unfortunately we have not yet adjusted to the time change, so we were all awake by 1am and watched some strange sheep-people cartoon for about 5 hours until the restaurant opened for breakfast. We were able to repackage our suitcases because the plan for the day was to check out of the hotel, go to the Great Wall, and then catch an overnight train ride from Beijing to Nanchang.  

 

After a lovely breakfast, we had about an hour to kill before our guide arrived so we hit the streets to try to find a Starbucks. The day was absolutely glorious. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the temperature was about 70... a stark difference from the 60 degree, overcast and windy day from Friday. My phone said that there were multiple within a mile. I chose one and off we marched. Not for coffee to drink, but rather to buy gift cards to give as gifts (although I probably would have gotten a coffee to drink too).  However, after walking up and down the street where it was supposed to be, no Starbucks could be found. We did see some quaint little shopping streets. We hustled back to the hotel to grab our suitcases and check out. 

 

There was another adoptive family that is with the same agency staying at the hotel (not just by coincidence, our agency put us together for ease of coordination by our shared guide. We all piled into the van to head toward The Great Wall. The other adoptive family was represented by the Father and 14 year old daughter. They currently have 6 children (2 previous adoptions) and are in China to adopt 2 more! We really got to know them on the van ride and they are wonderful wonderful people!  We will see them again in about a week when we get to Guangzhou. 

This trip we have our same guide in Beijing that we had last year, Cindy. When we saw her we asked if she remembered us, she said "Oh yes, three girls, twins, panda stocking hat".  She was right on. This is how we looked last year.

 

On the way to the wall we stopped at the largest Jade market in Beijing. It is the same place we went last year and spent and exorbitant amount of money. This year we just browsed and bought a 3 yuan Fanta. 

 
 

After the jade market, we continued our drive northward into the mountains. We asked Cindy if we could go to a different place on the wall than last time.  So we went about another 20 minutes beyond the previous section and arrived at Badaling.  A few differences from last year.  This one had a cable car to take you up to a higher section (don't worry, there was still a plenty of climbing up there).  The biggest difference this time was the crowd. Here is last year's pic:

 

and this is this year's:

 

The Great Wall is truly a marvel of the world. The fact that it was built entirely by men's bare hands with no machinery still boggles my mind. Our guide said it has been called history's longest cemetery because the slaves that were used to build it would work to their death and then just be buried in the mountain right alongside.  

Magnus was more interested in taking on the wall using his own two feet than to be carried. 

      

After about 2 hours on the wall, we took the cable car back down to meet Cindy and the other family. We then went to lunch at the same place as last year. It doubles as a restaurant and copper factory (the metal, not what a 1920's gangster would call a doughnut shop)...insert Dana's eye roll at my humor here.

After lunch we had quite a bit of time left before we needed to be at the train station so the guide took us for a Chinese Tea Ceremony. It was really a neat experience. We were in a private room and a lady came in to make multiple forms of tea for us to sample.  Dana and I are not big tea drinkers, but after sampling some new types, we will definitely start!  The first one was called Ginseng Oolong. It gave one of the most refreshing after-tastes ever.  Even Magnus got in on the tea drinking.

 

After the tea ceremony, we drove by all the Beijing Olympic sites. Cindy said they have the 2022 Winter Olympics coming back to Beijing. 

 

Around 5:00 we arrived at the train station. The best way to describe Magnus at this point is somewhere between Fiery Exhausted Rage and Hangry Frustration.  We were "those Americans" with a screaming Chinese child that looked like he hated us.  When we finally got on the train I got a little confused by the numbering system and put all of our stuff in one of the sleeper rooms. A lady came to the doorway and just stared at us. After comparing the tickets, it was clear that I was in the wrong and we needed to move down a couple doors. Moving all our stuff with the lady refusing to step out of the doorway and Magnus screaming like a hyena was...fun. 

 

Now, after a semi-full night's sleep, we are ready to prepare for Family Day!  

 

 

We will go check in at the Shangri-La Nanchang. We learned that Apollo will be taking the train down Sunday from Beijing and he will come right over to us at the hotel.  This is the real reason we are here!! We are ready to bring Apollo into our family and show him the love and care every child deserves.  

 

Why We Said Yes...Again

We had an incredibly special day today but we've been asked not write about it or post pictures. Sorry!! We can tell you we are so blessed!!

Saturday we will climb the Great Wall again but this time with Magnus. We're so excited to show him "his wall"! Since we can't give details about today, I'll post what I wrote on the plane yesterday - 

We have been asked more times than we can count about why we are adopting again. And why we are adopting a child who is so very sick. The simple answer is "because this is what God has called us to do". He has spoken to us in a way we have never been spoken to or called before. It's truly indescribable but one of the most glorious gifts we have ever been given. We believe everyone has been called in some way so if one of your callings isn't adoption, it's okay to not understand why we do what we do. We only ask for your love and prayers!

For those who have met Magnus, there is no doubt he has been an absolute gift to our family. A God-given gift! Nothing about his little life has been less than a miracle. He exudes pure joy and we see this same joy in the pictures and videos we have of Apollo. Oh how blessed are we?! That's right, WE are the ones who are blessed. Both boys have been called "lucky" time after time but what about their lives has been lucky? They were both born with very special hearts, which in turn, meant their birth parents likely couldn't afford the surgeries that would save their lives. They had to make the most selfless and loving sacrifice of giving their children up so that they may be saved. There is no greater love. We will always speak lovingly and respectfully of their birth parents and the love they have for our sons.

Another popular question has been about Apollo's heart needs. Even though he has multiple congenital heart defects like Magnus, Apollo's heart is much more complex. His heart only has one ventricle (single ventricle) and is dextrocardia (points to the right side of his chest instead of the left). He also has an ASD and VSD like Magnus along with pulmonary atresia. Finally, one of our cardiologists suspects he may have heterotaxy where some of his organs are on the opposite side of his body. As you as can see, Apollo is super special! He uses oxygen while he sleeps so we are anxious to get him back home and to the hospital. We will see our St. Louis cardiologist several days after being home and then we will fly out to Boston the following week and most likely stay for surgery. The difference between the boys' surgeries and futures is that Magnus's anatomy allowed for him to have a full bi-ventricular repair where his heart is operating as a "normal" heart should. Apollo will likely not be eligible for any type of full repair due to only having one ventricle. We understand what this may mean for the longevity of his life but our faith in God is great! So we will live every day to the fullest together!

Now the name game - did we choose Apollo because it's just a really "cool" name? No, it is much more meaningful to us. In our minds, we derived it from the Apostles. And just like the Apostles, we pray Apollo will be the hands and feet of Jesus. We pray he will proclaim His good name for all to hear. If he comes to love our Lord as Magnus has already, he will live such a beautiful and fulfilling life. Do we like that it's a pretty awesome name too - absolutely! And as his big sister, Anya, has said, "He will shoot for the stars!". Mike prefers the phrase "We will love him to the moon and back" in keeping with the spirit of the NASA "APOLLO" missions to the moon.

Last year, an adoptive father told us in China that it's not IF you go back, it's WHEN you go back. At the time, we didn't know we would be adopting again but those words etched themselves into our hearts. And here we are, 16 months later as we're about to complete our family and become the Duff Family of 7 on Sunday!!