An adventure without a guide...

Today we desperately need our laundry done. So we needed to go to Shaiman Island to get our clothes laundered. We did it in Beijing hotel, but it literally cost us an arm, leg, and a few other body parts not mentionable. Yeah, chalk that one up to be jet lagged and not paying attention to the exchange rate-I've never been good with math.... So taxi ride was quick and easy, then found a little spot that will cost us about 1/4 of what I paid the first time. Which is a pleasant change, things are not that cheap in China. At least what I was expecting.
By the way, taxi rides are amazingly safe and reliable. However, try not to watch their driving, it can make even the biggest adrenaline junkie pucker. (Note to any entrepreneurs: invest in brakes in the Chinese market, they use them a lot)
We also at a place called Lucy's. Virginia had her first meal in three days, Cate had mashed potatoes and was in heaven, while Caleb loved his burger. My meal on the other hand... Pineapple-Canadian bacon pizza sounds great doesn't it? It does, except the fact they used Ketchup instead of marinara sauce. Yup...delightful. no worries, I polished off the rest of Virginia and Caleb's burgers and fries. I love being the Dad.

Happy New Years

Chris, Virginia, Caleb, and Cate

Lions, Tigers, and Cates....

Of these three, there is one you should never ever mess with her bottle at bed time...She might only weigh a sleek 22lbs, but she's 22 lbs of wiry fierceness.

We started the day at breakfast, by the way, all you can eat bacon, over easy eggs, bacon, hash browns, bacon, can really start the day off right-At least in my eyes. Cate is a yogurt eating machine. She has really begun to show her personality. There are definitely different smiles. The, I just got Yogurt! smile. The what you all looking at smile. The these bath bubbles taste funny smile. The I see my bottle smile. All of these are a welcome change from the soft watery eyes and quivering lips. She has turned a corner and shown her natural curiosity of the things around her like a 1 year old should. Just on the way home from the zoo she took a swipe at her brothers Nintendo DS while he was playing...Which promptly Caleb said, "Mom tell Cate to stop..."  I have a feeling I will be hearing that one in the future a few ba-jillion times. By the way, thanks Jacob Grout for allowing Caleb to play your games. It's been a blessing.

After breakfast to the Dr. for Virginia. Took all of 15 minutes to check her out and dispense three different medicines for her viral infection.
Then we managed to make it to the zoo. Let me tell you, Pandas are all that exciting. You know there is something to be said about inhumane cages for zoo animals. There is no place for them to hide, they must pace their little cells. None of that habitat friendly animal "enclosures" where it takes you forever to "find" the animal you paid to see.
Huge props to our Taxi driver for weaving in and out of traffic like he had 1000 lbs of meth in the trunk. Most importantly, thank you  God for keeping the whole family safe.

We love you all and miss home dreadfully,

The Pena Family

Day 3

It's been an eventful three days. Our apologies to everyone, we have not been feeling too well lately-except for Caleb.Virg has the stomach flu and has lost 4lbs. Please pray that she heals quickly. Caleb, Cate, and I went for a walk to the lake park. Cate has been eating and she slept until 7am! What a blessing and promptly drank two bottles. That has been a praise item since she eats so little. I'm not sure if it's normal since I'm just used to seeing Caleb eating everything in sight. We are off to another appt. hope to post more pics soon : )

GOTCHA!

CATE JIAN PENA!!!

She is amazing! At this moment, Cate Jian is sound asleep in her crib. It was  a hard day today, thankfully big brother is warming up to the role and wiping her tears.  So many emotions and thoughts rush to my head as I write this...But all I can come up with is... We serve an AWESOME GOD. I am humbled by His grace. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

Love and the Peace of God,

Pena Family

What a Christmas Day!

Wake up...get to Skype family and friends, I blow out the fuses on our hotel room, try to get ready in the dark by flashlight, humbly go down stairs to report my error, hotel engineer comes to fix lights, eat breakfast, then off sight seeing and then to finish off the day..Walmart! Chinese style!
Amazing places...amazing tour guide...amazing windchill...amazing new friends that had amazingly similar adoption stories. God is AMAZING..

I will let the pictures tell the story, because I'm bushed.

By the way...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Thank the LORD!

Safe and sound in Beijing! Well...and almost unscathed... I often had said, please let me do nothing for a whole day. After sitting in a plane for 20+ hours, give me work 6 days a week and twice on Saturday. As we came off a 11 hour flight from San Francisco to Tokyo, all of us made it without killing one another or passengers. Honestly, it just flew bye...get it, flew bye...Sorry, just a tad delirious. As usual, Caleb played his DS (thank you all for getting him loaded with games) and watching his DVD player...then he ate just about everything the carts could bring near him. Then we have 5 minutes before we land and Caleb becomes eerily quiet. Seat belt light comes on, make our descent, then Caleb throws up all over the place. Not to worry, because I with my cat like reflexes see this coming and grabbed the barf bag in my seat-alas it wouldn't open.(or I couldn't find the opening under pressure) Virginia grabbed hers and saved the day, but not his clothes.
Just so you know, right after that, Caleb was back to his chipper self. Today/Yesterday was a LONG day(s). I will try to upload pictures and a video tomorrow at some point.

Thank you for all of your continued prayers,

Pena Family

1/3 of the way...

San Francisco...yeah probably not all that significant of a distance to be called a leg... more like a thumb or a big toe. Luckily, the weather is great here and not a wisp of fog, so we will be on schedule.

Caleb's first observation:
[Caleb looks out the window and sees the wings, engine, and propeller] Is that where they will catch fire?

Love and Blessings,
Pena Family

Prayer Request

As we prepare for Cate, please pray for her heart to be prepared for us and all the changes. There will be a great deal of grieving that she will have due to the abrupt changes she will face. There will be moments of joy and moments of sadness and confusion that things will never be the same.

Thanks
Pena Family