Trip to Keelung and the Northern Coast of Taiwan

Michelle eating stinky tofu..............You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Michelle and her hubby are here adopting their little Tessa where our little Tessa came from in Taichung. They will get her on Monday. best wishes to them in there bringing home #3

Jhiuefen Villiage

Todd(Michelle's hubby) and Travis rubbing the lucky rock in Keelung. I rubbed it lots also...

Keelung is a port and absolutely great views of the shipyards and such, It was a little dreary because we were out in the eye of the storm. No big deal though. Trey enjoyed chasing the pigeons and Mr. Yeh playing Grandpa Jie Jie and letting him ride the toys. This is where Mr.Yeh grew up and he showed us where he use to live. He told us some great stories about his childhood. We then headed up the coast and saw an amazing display of the angry ocean during the end of a typhoon. Yeiliu Park was closed due to the storm. It was a nice ride out there anyways. We then walked through Jhiufen villiage and shopped a little and ate a little. They really have some great yummies if you aren't feeling car sick........ Then back to the hotel dinner and bath for my little guy. Still the best trooper I have ever seen. He has done so great... Still waiting to see a meltdown. No tears yet. No problems other then he is very busy. But what 5 yr old isn't...
yeah I think he is truly our little guy.... AWNRY! And a great Teaser!!!!

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Typhoon day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These spiderman jammie pictures were right after we got the pruned finger and toes out of the bathtub. He loved the big garden tub and playing with his toys and the foam squirt soap Angie gave him. He was in the tub about an hour. When he saw his spiderman jammies and spiderman uderwear he was ready to get out....

2nd day and loving life with his foam gun and darts with big brother Travis.

typical boy.... trying to shoot momma.... We are already trying to teach him high in the sky or a door.... He is getting it...

So handsome with his Chi gel in his hair and a little smell good on from his brother.

What a handsome boy.

Yep to top it all off we are in a Typhoon right now in Taipei. We have not left the hotel other then to run Trey around the block litterally..... once. The wind is really picking up. The storm is moving slow and will most likely cancel our top of Taiwan trip with Michelle and Todd who are now here adopting their Tessa from TWCA through Gladney also... They came up for a little bit tonight and are going just about as stir crazy in their room as we are...

I left North Carolina hoping one would not hit there while we were gone and the darn thing found us here..... Oh well.... We will more then likely try to do something on Sunday which we had planned on being a down day.... Wish us luck that we get out of the hotel tomorrow......

The Novel of our Gotcha Day!

Mr. Yeh and Alex picked Travis and I up around 9:30 am yesterday to go to Pinglin Tea Museum. It was so beautiful up there in the mountains. It was a museum that showed us the history of Tea. How is was farmed back in the day and present. It showed us old tea pots and new ones. How to take care of your tea pots etc. It was so interesting to see how tea was harvested and made for drinking. We then sat and had 2 kinds of tea. One was very flowery and the other was was a little fruitier. It was just awesome. It was raining quite a bit. And we were there for about and hour. Then we were off to Taipei 101 area to eat lunch before going to Chung Yi at 2 pm. I managed to eat about a 1/2 of my 6 in sub from Subway. My nerves were finally shot....



We then headed to Chung Yi which is about 15 mins. from our hotel. We get out in front of Chung Yi and are greeted so nicely. I took a few pictures and they asked me to follow them to another office to go over paperwork and then see my boy. We went over all the documents and went through the box of all of his belongings. They asked me to check things off the list to insure all of his toys and clothes were in there. I have to say I got everything back that I can think that we sent him in 4 care packages. Jing Cyuan's social worker also was there to answer any questions I had and tell me a little more about him. She was very very nice also. I just hope she knows how much she made our family so happy for allowing us to adopt this adorable little boy. I gave her the button for her shirt which we both were wearing and sent Foster Mom's gifts home with her.

I also gave her the original photo album I had scrapbooked for Chung Yi when we started this adoption. Gave her my blog address and told her we hope to see her and foster family again when we return in about 6 or 7 yrs with the 2 little ones..... She was truly a beautiful girl who really seems to love what she does with these children.



After that they brought Jing Cyuan in to meet us. I stayed back for a minute. I did not cry!!!!!!!

I was afraid I would scare him.... A few minutes later one of the staff(young man) who was translating the whole thing said go ahead and offer him a toy. Yeah buddy I jumped right on in and that was that.. I gave him his Teddy Bear that Sandy G had given us a while back and felt it needed to go with me since it was their adoption bear. There was a back pack on him and I put 3 rubber figurines in it and unzipped it for him and he thought that was cool. Then he went right for his back pack I brought. I opened the view master stuff up and that was it. That was really all he wanted. He knew exactly what to do... then I brought out 2 little dinosaurs and roared at him and he laughed and laughed... That was the ice breaker. About 5 minutes into it and all the nervousness was over. The young man told me I was very good with kids. Well, I have had lots of practice... Ya think.... He then told us to make sure to follow through on what we say. No means no... No problem there. I seem to remember another son of mine needing to have firm commands and I have survived 21 as of tomorrow great years.... I love you Tyler....

so this little boy was definitely meant to be ours.



We then were told we will walk back to the main building thru the alley way well I told Jing chen chen mama.. hold momma's hand and we ran very fast..... He loved it and laughed so hard....

Once we got back to the office I met the rest of the Chung Yi Staff and we took photos they were

so nice and so welcoming and genuinely happy for our family and Trey JingLai.



I had to ask Chung Yi about the Typhoon Marakot and what will happen with AIT. I asked them to call AIT for me.... This is thurs and our Ait is Fri 9am and we are afraid the visa office will close due to the storm. So Chung Yi called and Mr. Fu said if we are there by 3:30 he will take us. Oh my Goodness.................... 3:10 and we still have to go back to the hotel and get my other documents. EEEKKKK. Once again Mr. Yeh saved the day. We arrived around 3:45 but Mr. Fu told the guards to let us in.............. they did. Mr. Fu came down to meet us and took Trey'svisa paperwork and his papers and passport from Taiwan and was going to stay late to get them put into the system to get his visa ready so we can show up on Monday now and do the American side of paperwork to complete his package to bring him home Monday night. WHEW!!!


So once again never a dull moment for me in Taiwan and especially AIT. I have always had to climb up hill to get where I want all of my life but I have to say when it comes to all of my family it has been so worth it. Growing our large family through adoption has been one of the hardest, emotional journey's we have ever experienced but feel the rewards have certainly out weighed the hardships along the way. I need to thank all of my family, friends and clients for surviving these past 4 years also. The support and love has meant everything to our family. Thank you once again for sharing in our adventures at the Henke House......



Trey JingLai may you find peace in the next few months adjusting to the American way and our family. We will be their for you as you find your new family and life fun and adventurous and a little hard at times. You are a strong little boy and have given Travis and I sooo much love and fun in the past 2 days. We are so proud of you. You have been so perfect. Leaving the family who loved you for 4 yrs and we know they loved you lots and prepared you for our arrival and you are such a trooper.... We look foward to a life of adventure and love with you. We Love You soooooo very much. We will soon forget the 15mos it took to finally hold you and kiss you and call you our son Trey JingLai Henke.

Our Beautiful Son Trey JingLai

Chung Yi Orphanage and all their beautiful staff. They were just so nice.

Yep that is our boy!!!!!! Still smiling

His favorite toy I brought. The view master.

Everything went perfect........... We have been getting nothing but kisses and hugs ever since....

He ate 1/2 a Big Mac for dinner. This is what he wanted. Bath was a blast with all his figurines and now in his Spiderman underwear and pajamas he is crashed in my bed with big brother Travis. We have had a awesome night. Lots of fun. Lots of love and so happy to be with us. WHEW!!!! We are expecting a Typhoon tonight. So we will be stuck in tomorrow. No big deal.

We have our son. I will post later all about our day but am sooooo tired and just need to sleep before I tell you all about out AIT deal once again...... Due to the Typhoon. So happy to finally have our son. No other craziness matters............

Last night as a Mom to 4 fabulous children!

Ok so I did reall well till this morning. A little emotional thinking about the whole thing. So far it didn't seem real until today. Just like being back in Taipei hanging out with Mr. Yeh and Alex and visiting things I did not make it to last time, due to the mess with AIT and Tessa's visa.
We managed to do some last minute goody shopping for Trey today. A few books in Chinese, and a medal Taiwanese police car, a train and an airplane that says Welcome to Taiwan on it. Then off to Snake Alley Night Market for lots of traditional 2 piece outfits for the 2 little ones and a beautiful shirt for Tatumn. And of course our Scrolls.
Tomorrow is the big Day. We will head out at 9:30 to the Tea Market and then back to the hotel to change and at 1:30 we head to Chung Yi. It is now 1 am and my stomach is starting to feel the nervousness. I know once we see him it will all be better........ He wants a hamburger as he requested that on our last Skype. We will head out for a early dinner at Mc Donalds.
Kaydee will hopefully be joining us so the two little ones can truly discuss how they got us parents and how much fun they are having on the indoor playground... Ha Ha...
Please put Travis and I in your thoughts. We hope for a smooth transition over the next few days. We have some fun filled days planned for him after our Visa appt on Fri morning at 9 am.

Trying to forget about how Foster Mom might be feeling tonight about having her son of 4 yrs go to America. I have thought so much about this and this is probably the most difficult emotion for me to hide. The loss of losing your child. I will forever grieve for their family too....We thank her and her family for opening their hearts and home and loving our little boy for 4 long years till his forever family found him....We will love him as our own. We have loved him for 14 long months now....It is time to bring him home to our home.

Wish us luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are on our way Trey JingLai 13 more hrs. till ya have a crazy Momma.....
We love you!

Window on China

Taiwans High Speed Rail

Travis was totally digging this blown glass Dragon. Yeah right... Can you see us trying to get this home on the plane.....

A performance that was going on at Window on China. All the children there were loving the show.

Mr. Yeh knida knew how I got excited about seeing all the groups of school children. What a cool field trip. So he asked a girl if she could take our picture with the children. I think they were equally excited and so many told us goodbye in English when we were done. Melted my heart.

Jason, Kaydee, and Angie. Kaydee was mesmorized by the show and was taking it all in.

Kaydee and her Momma. What a trooper she was today. Just a pure giggle box and silly girl.









Our day started off by shopping for a suitcase for all the goodies going home.. Got back to the hotel and waited till 1pm for Mr. Yeh. Angie and Jason had their pick up time for Kaydee at 10am. I thought they would go right back to the hotel. I walked out towards the van and saw a little head in there. I opened the van door and started to cry. It was Angie, Jason and Kaydee....

So so real.... There she was, this little girl I saw on Commonwealth's waiting chile page throughout my whole adoption process with China/Taiwan, since Sept 05. She has her family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful little girl! So special and will have a very special family. I never new how awesome it was to be in Taiwan with another family. Especially a family who has waited equally as long as our family to bring our older children home.. I will forever know why we waited so long for Trey... So we could do this with their family.

We enjoyed Window on China. These pictures up above of all the boats,trains, etc. are all small versions of the real things in Taiwan. It was awesome to walk around the gardens and see this working model type country. We were very impressed.... Then each area had their own fun things to do. There was an indoor play area with rides, and games for children. Kaydee loved them all... Travis and Alex did too!!!!!!!! The big boys rode the log ride in the pouring rain and the rollercoaster. They had a great time to. They are still kids....

Then we ate Mongollian style Barbeque. Yummy!!!!!!!! it was soooo good. Big boys ate and ate. Then we needed to kill an hour prior to fireworks and the boys and Mr. Yeh decided it was time to teach me how to use chopsticks. First I picked up corn, then a little slivver of carrot. I finally got it. So I ate it so I did not have to do that again..... It was an awesome day. I can hardly wait to come back so day with the 2 little ones and take them there. How cool was Window on China.