LUCY & FAMILY VISIT

VISIT FROM LUCY : Lucy, who was adopted from the FuShun orphanage shortly after our granddaughter Betty came home to her forever family, visited Saint Augustine last week with mother, grand mother, aunt and her six sisters and cousins.

Pictured are Lucy and Betty family and friend. They spent the week at Saint Augustine Beach. They had a great time in the ocean, pool, shopping on St. George street and eating out.

Pictured to the right are all the kids at the pool. Everyone in the picture had visited China or was adopted from China except Asher in the middle. He is our newest grandchild born April 11, 2011.

REUNITED AGAIN

FuShun Flowers

Three teenage girls adopted from the FuShun China orphanage were recently reunited in South Carolina. The girls are Cindy, (left), Lucy, (center) and Betty, (right). The girls lived together in China for many years and were the best of friends.

Cindy, now 16 came to North Carolina two years ago. Betty, 14 came to Saint Augustine in June and lives with our daughter Lauren and her family. Lucy came to North Carolina and her new family in September.

We Have Been Blessed Twice!

We returned home from China in early June from a most extraordinary journey. Pat and I traveled this time with our daughter Lauren, her husband Greg and their sons, Dan, AJ and Adam on their adoption journey for Cui Yue "Betty." After two long years of paperwork, Betty, whom we have known for four years, is now are granddaughter and home in America. Betty will begin school this week and will be going into the 8th grade.

Everyone enjoyed the two plus weeks in China. The boys saw all the sites in Beijing and enjoyed climbing the Great Wall. We spent two weeks in Shenyang and then one week in Guanzhou.

Our other blessing came last week when our son Robert and wife, Karri returned from China with Alex, their second daughter from China. Alex will be five years old this month and is adapting well to her new older sister Avery and younger brother Walker.

Physical Therapy for Zheng Haoen

Zheng Haoen, the two and a half year old boy who has a rare condition call arthrogryposis, is now receiving physical therapy at the Shepherd's Field orphanage near Beijing. The cast on his feet have recently been removed.

According to his physical therapist, he is learning to grasp items with both hands. He is receiving strength exercises with the hope of getting him to stand. She says that he is a very pleasant little boy who is smart and always happy.

Shepherd's Field is American operated and is home for about 80 Chinese orphans, many with severe and sometimes life threatening conditions. Visit their website at www.chinaorphans.org.

ZHENG HAOEN GETS NEEDED SURGERY

Zheng Haoen (Robert), who was two-years-old on Dec. 6th has received needed surgery to repair his feet. We first met Zheng Haoen as a six-month-old at the FuShun orphanage that we visit each year. He appeared to have both clubbed feet and hands. Zheng Haoen was transferred to Shepherd's Field, the American run orphanage outside Beijing. Shepherd's Field, operated by the Philip Hayden Foundation, has performed more that 3000 surgerys on orphan children in China.

After examination in Beijing, it was determined that Zhen Haoen had a rare condition call Arthrogryposis. The condition causes the ligaments and tendons to stiffen and contract. An American surgeon went to Beijing this fall and performed corrective surgery on Zhen Haoen's feet. Hopefully he will be able to stand someday. He is receiving daily physical therapy and can lift his right arm and grasp small objects. He care givers say he is a very bright little boy and is always happy.

We will visit Zheng Haoen in the Spring of 2010 when we returned to China to visit Shepherd's Field and the children at the FuShun orphanage.

BOB ASSIST MAGGIE TEACHING KIDS

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MAGGIE TEACHES THE OLDER KIDS ENGLISH

Maggie, our guide while in China goes to the orphanage each Sunday and teaches the older children basic English. Maggie has a college degree with a major in English. In the past few years, Maggie has become our friend.

When she goes to the orphange, she always brings the kids sweets. She works as a guide to westerners and for those families adopting children from this province.