Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

You all saw that post title coming a mile away, didn't you?

Well, all in all today was better- much better. I think we have figured out the source of the weirdness: we are in sort of a no-man's-land. Cooper is recognizing us to some degree as mom and dad, but we aren't really, completely mom and dad yet. It's just weird. We started today just hanging out with Cooper in preschool. It was fun as we got to knnow several of the kiddos better, and after our visit to the foster fmaily's home yesterday, Emelia had warmed up to us. So, she was ALL ABOUT us today, and that was so fun. She's an amazing little girl, and by 10:00am, Scot and I were already talking about how hard it was going to be to leave her.

After preschool, we got to have lunch with Cooper, Emelia and their foster mom. It was a great time to find out more about Cooper- his likes and dislikes, how he likes to be comforted, things that scare him, etc....it is so strange because she and I do not speak the same language, but we share a deep connection. She loves Cooper so much, and she is clearly in pain to see him go, but she knows a permanent home is what he needs. She tells all her neighbors that she has three American sons (two previous foster children have been adopted to the US).

After lunch, I got to hang out and chill a bit, do laundry, and figure out how to send you all the pictures you are stalking here for! :) Chloe and Scot napped, and thankfully, Scot woke up feeling clearly better. Scot got some antibiotics form the villiage here for his sinus infection, and lacking any better options, trusted that all the people here take them so they must be ok....and they have already made a huge difference. While we both still were having nausea issues today, he is clearly feeling MUCH better!!!

This afternoon, we had two hours to play outside with Cooper on our own. It was nice, but my back is killing me form walking him around on the bike all afternoon and/or hoisting him up to reach stuff! He plays well with Sawyer and Chloe too. It was nice, if a bit long....after awhile, we ran out of interesting things to do with him. I tried to read him some books, but he's an energizer bunny, and he was having none of it (UGH.....I'm going to have to start drinking coffee I think!)

Dinner was really nice- it was just the five of us, and that felt a lot easier. He repsonds better to us when it is just us and him, and we can act more naturally also. He clearly loves noodles but is now refusing to eat with chopsticks! Sawyer and Chloe won't use forks, and Cooper won't use chopsticks. No short dinners- it takes them all forever to eat because they can't figure out how to use their utensils! (actually, Sawyer is doing quite well, since all Chloe will eat is rice, she gives up after about 5 bites.)

After dinner, the foster mom and Emelia showed up to pick up Cooper, and Emelia ran right over to me, jumped in my lap, and began sharing dinner. Scot served her up, and she ate a bit. When it came time for them to go, both Scot and I nearly lost it. We hugged her long and hard, and in English we told her we'd be praying for her fmaily to come for her very, very soon. Leaving her was the hardest thing I have ever had to do- but when she started begging me to get in the cart and come home with her too I'm pretty sure my heart literlly broke in two. She is a wonderful, wonderful little girl and if we could bring her home right now, we would. Please pray with us that she is matched with her fmaily, very, very soon....she is available for adoption right now, and I can hardly stand leaving China not knowing when her fmaily will come for her!!!! Even Scot (who is hard to win over) was having a very hard time leaving her.

Scot and Sawyer are asleep, and I'm about to give Chloe some melatonin (wish me luck on that) and we're off to bed ourselves.

Tomorrow, we visit the Great Wall of China, and the Summer Palace. After two very long, emotional days, this will be a welcome bit of relaxation and fun!!!

Thanks for your prayers! We truly know they are what is getting us through every day!!!