We were not able to login yesterday... internet connection problems. It has taken most of today to get on. We sat & waited at the Civil Affairs Office yesterday. It was very crowded with families to be and children waiting to have their lives changed. I saw a lady w/ a child in a blue jacket. The child was not looking my direction but the lady looked familiar & I told everyone that I had seen her. Mei Xin was the girl in blue. She had been taken into the playroom. Soon the curtains parted & I see this little girl waving w/ a big smile as Alison & she exchanged greetings.
Once it was our turn to be officially united, she came to us all grins. She is all smiles and wanting affection. We gave her the B.A.B. (build a bear) & she was playing w/ it non-stop. Alison kind of stole the show. She got lots of attention from the director. Alison is having trouble w/ Chinese. She understands but isn't talking a lot. The words just won't come to her. Emma was quite content to have a moma / baba & at one point she pointed to each of us & said "Father? Mother?" Toward the end of our office visit, I pulled out the pictures of the other Zhu Hai children soon to come home. The director was quite surprised that I had pictures of these children. We asked if we could see these children when we come to Zhu Hai because we know their parents... the answer "of course, of course". I also asked about Mrs. Zhong & she is still working at Zhu Hai & they will tell her we want to see her too. I can't believe it is all falling together so well.
Emma is a hand holder so Alison is now a hand holder. We came back to our room & Emma played with both bears. Alison said Emma likes dolls & she does. She dressed & undressed both bears multiple times. We played in our room for a while & then went out shopping. We ate at an Italian restaurant. Alison couldn’t tell us what she wanted to eat so we told her if she couldn’t find anything she wanted Italian we would pick up McDonalds on the way home (it is next store). Well, Emma ate flat bread & a tomato spread, salad & tomatoes and spaghetti. We ordered the girls a cold cut plate w/ various slices of cold cuts & neither of them liked them. Alison was feeling kind of blue so she agreed to eat a little spaghetti. Oh was she ever sad. The green eyed monster has taken ahold. Alison is trying to resist it but it is hard. She really is trying very hard but sharing us is so new to her. When we got back to the room, I got the girls into the shower. Our shower is huge. Alison said I needed to help Emma several times. Then we both would help her w/ shampoo or rinsing her hair or whatever. After the shower, Alison said “I think I am going to like her.”
The girls slept all night. We all went to bed about 9PM. We had to be ready to leave by 8AM this morning to go back to the Civil Affairs Office to finish the Chinese adoption. Emma did very well at breakfast. She is cutting her eggs with a fork & knife and wouldn’t you know…Alison has learned to do it too. On the bus, the girls had to sit together or Alison wanted the girls to sit together.
At the Civil Affairs Office we were the first two families there (the other WACAP family & us). Soon the room was full of families. There were about five French families w/ Chinese babies. Wow, Chinese babies can learn French? We had our family photo taken. Then we had our paperwork registered. The lady talked to Alison more than Emma. Emma had to write that she liked us at Momma / Baba and that she wanted to be adopted & come to America. Alison did not have to do that. When we went for a final interview w/ a gentleman (who was VERY hard to understand), he asked Alison if she loved her Mom and Dad & she WOULD NOT ANSWER HIM! Can you image? You supposedly have come to adopt another child because you are wonderful parents & your child won’t even say they like you? Quite a moment. He chuckled & signed the papers.
We went to a store after the office visit and we bought the girls Barbie knock-offs. They have been dressing dolls & combing hair all afternoon. Lynn went to the bank w/ Emma & I took a nap. We are going out soon. It is a warm, sunny day…about 70 degrees.
Emma played with the TV in our sitting room & it took Lynn all day to figure out how to get it working again. Then the whole internet thing has been a problem. I would have to call a repair man if it wasn’t for him!
Sarah brought us a cake when we got back. It was beautiful. Of course, in the bus Alison asked her how we were going to get Emma a cake. She kept on her until Sarah finally told her she had one ordered. Alison says “I hope it isn’t chocolate cause I don’t like chocolate.” So, Sarah comes bearing a beautifully decorated chocolate cake & a slice of white cake w/ cherries on top. Alison doesn’t like cherries either but she scraped them off & ate the cake. As it turns out, I don’t think Emma likes chocolate much either. Then of course Lynn doesn’t like chocolate but he and I did eat the cake slices. I have more than half a cake left to eat but oh my is it rich. I can’t wait for Alison to spill her guts to Sarah about the cake. I am warning her to keep her mouth shut but who knows if that will happen. It was very sweet of Sarah. Emma was all giggly & a bit embarrassed by the whole thing.
I don’t know if you can tell by the picture but Emma is about 3-4 inches shorter than Alison but their feet are the same size! The size 8 pants I brought are a bit tight but ok for her. The shoes I picked up are too small. The shoes she came with are too big & she walks funny in them. She isn’t much interested in new shoes but shopping here is like a flea market w/ lots of shoppers (even in the stores like Walmart).
We have lost the internet again. I am now typing in Word so when we get it back, Lynn can just paste it in. We are headed out for an early dinner & what else? Shopping. Not much else to do. We haven’t bought much. Nothing of any consequence.
I will write later. But did you gather how different these girls are… at least now. Oh with all my work to label the pictures I sent to Emma they director thought we had 11 children plus Alison! Too funny.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
A few hours to go
We went out shopping yesterday afternoon. We are near a high end shopping mall. We walked through but our guide and another couple from NC were with us & I didn't really want to shop. I think I will try to look at their children's clothes and maybe a nice piece of jade for each of the girls. A longer momento of the trip here.
Our emotions run high but what Alison is feeling is off the charts. She has gone from really wanting to come to China to just going home. She is soooo homesick. She misses her family. She misses her home. She is very nervous about visiting Zhu Hai. Our guide told us yesterday that she called and we have permission to visit. A total answer to prayer! Alison is the first adoptee to come back to Zhu Hai (I think). She is so worried that she won't be able to talk and be understood or that she won't understand them. China TV doesn't help that because they broadcast so many different programs in various languages. She was watching a show last night and trying to decipher what was being said and you could see she was frustrated. Then I heard the equivalent of "HI!" and I said... that is Japanese!!!!!
Anyway, as I expected the sights and smells do bother her. We passed a blind man & a woman hunched over who were beggers outside the mall and she was so upset. But, on the good side, we are getting hugs galore. I have had no doubts for well over a year that she was well bonded but this is absoute evidence. She told me today that she does not ever want to come back to China, even for a visit. I hope she doesn't keep that attitude. As with every large city, the rich and poor intermingle. Our suburban, pre-teen has lead a sheltered life. Just another lesson we ned to work on.
The other WACAP family we are with is adopting a 3 1/2 year old. She is SN... a premie. They have waited the same as we have only a year. They have three children at home 11, 8, 5 and wanted to give a home to another child in need. Encouraging to others who may go special needs.
I will write more later this evening once Emma is here. We fell asleep at 4:30 yesterday afternoon and slept until 2AM & then called home. We went back to bed about 4 AM and got up at 8 for breakfast. That is always my favorite meal. We went to McDonalds yesterday & I don't like the oil the fries are cooked in. My grilled chicken was awful. It tasted like a bad fried tenderloin.
More later... Brenda is in search of Mountain Dew!@
Our emotions run high but what Alison is feeling is off the charts. She has gone from really wanting to come to China to just going home. She is soooo homesick. She misses her family. She misses her home. She is very nervous about visiting Zhu Hai. Our guide told us yesterday that she called and we have permission to visit. A total answer to prayer! Alison is the first adoptee to come back to Zhu Hai (I think). She is so worried that she won't be able to talk and be understood or that she won't understand them. China TV doesn't help that because they broadcast so many different programs in various languages. She was watching a show last night and trying to decipher what was being said and you could see she was frustrated. Then I heard the equivalent of "HI!" and I said... that is Japanese!!!!!
Anyway, as I expected the sights and smells do bother her. We passed a blind man & a woman hunched over who were beggers outside the mall and she was so upset. But, on the good side, we are getting hugs galore. I have had no doubts for well over a year that she was well bonded but this is absoute evidence. She told me today that she does not ever want to come back to China, even for a visit. I hope she doesn't keep that attitude. As with every large city, the rich and poor intermingle. Our suburban, pre-teen has lead a sheltered life. Just another lesson we ned to work on.
The other WACAP family we are with is adopting a 3 1/2 year old. She is SN... a premie. They have waited the same as we have only a year. They have three children at home 11, 8, 5 and wanted to give a home to another child in need. Encouraging to others who may go special needs.
I will write more later this evening once Emma is here. We fell asleep at 4:30 yesterday afternoon and slept until 2AM & then called home. We went back to bed about 4 AM and got up at 8 for breakfast. That is always my favorite meal. We went to McDonalds yesterday & I don't like the oil the fries are cooked in. My grilled chicken was awful. It tasted like a bad fried tenderloin.
More later... Brenda is in search of Mountain Dew!@
Saturday, February 20, 2010
We are Here!
We got in at 6AM this morning China time or 6PM Indy time. 23 hours travel!!! Alison did great on the flight. Maybe because we flew at night, she (and Lynn) slept at least 8 hours. I slept about five (amazing). She didn't complain. She was helpful. and she slept! We had a pretty empty flight from Indy to LA so we split up and had LOTS of room. Lynn had his own row and Alison and I shared a three seater. Awesome. The China Southwest we flew was ok. Mostly Chinese but still ok. The SEATS ARE TOO CLOSE together for long flights. We had two meals one about an hour into the flight and one about an hour before the end of the flight so bring good snacks. Alison was hungry and wanted something in LAX international terminal. There was NOTHING on the gateside of the airport. We walked forever and then I got three sandwiches, banana, cake and one water.... any guesses.... $38.00. Alison would have melted down without food and I knew at a minimun it was going to be another three hours before we had a chance to eat. I had loads of junk food (which Alison didn't want) and nothing more filling. Even I didn't want to just eat candy bars. I guess I should have packed ham or something for the flight ... (she won't eat peanut butter).
The hotel is gorgeous. Alison is totally in awe. Our hotel window overlooks apartments new/tall and old/short. She says, "I feel sorry for Chinese people. They live in not good houses." We have an awesome shower! Powerful and hot. Oh my did we love the shower. We will take pictures of our room and the lobby.
On our way to get food in LAX, Alison takes my hand as we walk. I say... I can't believe you are in China again. She says, "I know, I am so excited." I said, "but I am not going to leave you behind. You come home with me." She says, "I am American. I want to come home to America. I love my friends and my family." OHHHH MYYYY.
We are over the top excited about tomorrow. We won't see her until 2PM. Bummer! that is a long wait.
We are meeting our guide and another family to go for a local walk and see what is around here. They tell me there is a mall very close. I will catch you up on that one! We have to be downstairs in 20 minutes. We checked in at 8:00, had our complimentary breakfast (which was so good) and then we each showered. We will be ready for bed and have our days and nights turned around the first day... pretty good. Maybe it is better to fly out late in the day and not morning. We all slept better on the plane and have been able to stay up today (so far) without any issues. Got to run. Alison wants to go shopping! She has her heelys on (her rolling shoes). She will be obnoxious to everyone she meets!
Brenda... soon to be a mom of five girls! unbelievable!
The hotel is gorgeous. Alison is totally in awe. Our hotel window overlooks apartments new/tall and old/short. She says, "I feel sorry for Chinese people. They live in not good houses." We have an awesome shower! Powerful and hot. Oh my did we love the shower. We will take pictures of our room and the lobby.
On our way to get food in LAX, Alison takes my hand as we walk. I say... I can't believe you are in China again. She says, "I know, I am so excited." I said, "but I am not going to leave you behind. You come home with me." She says, "I am American. I want to come home to America. I love my friends and my family." OHHHH MYYYY.
We are over the top excited about tomorrow. We won't see her until 2PM. Bummer! that is a long wait.
We are meeting our guide and another family to go for a local walk and see what is around here. They tell me there is a mall very close. I will catch you up on that one! We have to be downstairs in 20 minutes. We checked in at 8:00, had our complimentary breakfast (which was so good) and then we each showered. We will be ready for bed and have our days and nights turned around the first day... pretty good. Maybe it is better to fly out late in the day and not morning. We all slept better on the plane and have been able to stay up today (so far) without any issues. Got to run. Alison wants to go shopping! She has her heelys on (her rolling shoes). She will be obnoxious to everyone she meets!
Brenda... soon to be a mom of five girls! unbelievable!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Packing / No Shopping
We have been told the Shamain Island is under construction and we will be staying instead at the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou. Alison is wanting to walk among all the shops close to the hotel where we stayed before. The island was sure a pedestrian friendly place to be. We walked and walked. Even if we were cold. We received these pictures regarding the construction. If there is this much construction, I wonder if the shops are even open.
Guangzhou high in the 50's. I was so hoping for 70 degrees this time. Six days... Less than a week. No we are not packed. No our lists are not all ready to aid the packing. Instead Alison and I spent the day buying clothes at the girly Justice store and creating a new creature at Build a Bear. Of course we were only going to get one for Emma and somehow Alison has one as well. Plus dare I say.... clothes for her bear (oh, and Emma's too). Alison says she will play with this bear for a long time. We will see.
Monday, February 1, 2010
February ... Here we Come!
February has finally come. We will be in China at the end of the month. We have our travel arrangements and will meet Emma on Feb 22.I had asked for updated measurements. They came today. Isn't she beautiful? She is a little over 4 feet tall. They didn't get me her weight. She is a head shorter than Alison.
========================================================
"The following information was received from the orphanage by email on 2/1/2010:Current measurement: height 133 cm, head circumference 52 cm, chest circumference 64 cm, foot length 20 cm.
She’s very happy when she knew that she could see her parents soon."
133 cm = 4.3 feet tall
52 cm = 20 inches head
64 cm = 25.2 inches chest
20 cm = 7.9 inches feet
===================================
We are over the top excited about our trip. We are so ready to bring her into our family. Seeing how Alison has changed and her trials early on just makes me all the more anxious to get my baby home and yet I don't want to short change the experiences we will go through. The observations. What does she like? How does she react? What are her favorites? Favorite color? Favorite activity? Is she ticklish? Like a back rub? A foot rub? How do we teach her to trust? When will she love us? Is she scared?
My heart breaks for what is left behind. All the familiar. All the sights, sounds, smells of home. I know Emma (and Alison) will have a great life here but they are leaving home. Leaving absolutely everything that brought them comfort and joy. To leave their dreams in what they know to the unknown... as an adult I would be terrified and she will be leaving as a child. A very brave child. My girl. Our girl. Soon to be here. Need to get this girl to really smile. What does her laugh sound like? Oh, I can't wait to hear that voice. Love ya girl...
Mom
Friday, January 22, 2010
TRAVEL - FEB 20
We have our TA. WACAP (our agency) called last night. Our tentative plan is to be in China on Feb 21, get Emma Feb 22. We should be home by Friday, 3/5. We know the island is under construction so WACAP doesn't recommend staying there. They recommend the Garden Hotel which is close to the US Consulate. I liked the homey feel of walking around Shaiman Island because so many families have the same experience. We will google the new hotel and see what we think about staying there. We will have our final dates next week including our US Consulate appointment. At that time we can actually make airline reservations.
No word about "approval" to visit Zhu Hai. And no update on Emma's height / weight. I wanted to know so I could plan what size clothes to bring.
So much to do. I have been working on Emma's room. Her room has been a guest bedroom / play room / and extra storage for about 10 years. I am sorting through Alison's clothes that no longer fit and trying to deal with that as well. I expect Emma to be one size behind Alison as she is eight months younger.
I have started a packing list (I started that a couple of weeks ago) and now I can start packing. I haven't left yet and I worry I will forget something. What would I have done if they said we could leave next week?
It totally doesn't seem real. I dread the months when she can't talk to us. After two years, Alison can comprehend everything and tells us more than we want to know. How long before Emma can really tell us what she feels?
Our journey soon begins again.
No word about "approval" to visit Zhu Hai. And no update on Emma's height / weight. I wanted to know so I could plan what size clothes to bring.
So much to do. I have been working on Emma's room. Her room has been a guest bedroom / play room / and extra storage for about 10 years. I am sorting through Alison's clothes that no longer fit and trying to deal with that as well. I expect Emma to be one size behind Alison as she is eight months younger.
I have started a packing list (I started that a couple of weeks ago) and now I can start packing. I haven't left yet and I worry I will forget something. What would I have done if they said we could leave next week?
It totally doesn't seem real. I dread the months when she can't talk to us. After two years, Alison can comprehend everything and tells us more than we want to know. How long before Emma can really tell us what she feels?
Our journey soon begins again.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Waiting on 2010 & China
We had lovely holidays. One to go... New Years and then a new life begins for Emma. We heard today that our Article 5 is at the CCAA and one last hurdle is our Travel Authorization which can take 2-4 weeks. We have asked for quick travel when our TA comes. We were exactly at the same time two years ago with our adoption of Alison. We were the last group to finish our processing before the one week "halt" before Chinese New Year. We could be in the same situation.
We are all very excited to be going to China. Alison wants very much to go to old and new Zhu Hai (the orphanage has moved to a new location since she left). She says she has been to the new orphanage so she knows what it looks like. She also says that not everyone will go to the new orphanage. She says the not so smart and the babies will not go to the new place but we will find out when we get there.
Alison is quite protective of her new sister. She has insisted we buy items for Emma or we save some for Emma. That is a good sign but we all know there will be sibling rivalry. She wants me to buy Emma new things and not share what she has. Alison says she wants a new bike and Emma can have her old one. Well, that isn't going to happen!
The trip should be a huge boost to Alison's Chinese language skills. The language that is spoken on the national level is Mandarin (which is what is taught in school and the Chinese class that Alison takes once a week). Alison and Emma will know Cantonese as their native language. Alison did not know the difference when she first came but she does now. So special that the girls will be able to talk to each other and Emma won't be so frightened by the language disconnect.
We certainly dread the flight but I am so ready to meet our daughter. She is said to be shy and must be encouraged to join activities. She must be very sensitive and introverted. I worry that I won't be the first line for comfort. Will she come to snuggle and sit on our laps? It took a very long time to establish a strong love bond. Will it be similar or so different? I dread the time when we can't talk. When she is frustrated because she doesn't understand. Oh, I know it will be easier with our built-in interpreter but that may extend the time to bond.
We have decided not to travel around China on this trip. I so want to take the girls to Beijing. Lynn wants to do the whole China tour that we did in 2001. Three weeks of touring all over China. I highly recommend it. I DID NOT WANT to go but loved it. If I had not gone on that trip, I never would have fallen in love with China and gone back on two mission trips and soon two adoption trips. I would not have heard or understood or felt drawn to the children of China. God allows us to take baby steps to giant strides in life changes.
Love you Emma. We are weeks away from you now. You are on our hearts and in our prayers. Stay warm, stay healthy... your family comes soon.
We are all very excited to be going to China. Alison wants very much to go to old and new Zhu Hai (the orphanage has moved to a new location since she left). She says she has been to the new orphanage so she knows what it looks like. She also says that not everyone will go to the new orphanage. She says the not so smart and the babies will not go to the new place but we will find out when we get there.
Alison is quite protective of her new sister. She has insisted we buy items for Emma or we save some for Emma. That is a good sign but we all know there will be sibling rivalry. She wants me to buy Emma new things and not share what she has. Alison says she wants a new bike and Emma can have her old one. Well, that isn't going to happen!
The trip should be a huge boost to Alison's Chinese language skills. The language that is spoken on the national level is Mandarin (which is what is taught in school and the Chinese class that Alison takes once a week). Alison and Emma will know Cantonese as their native language. Alison did not know the difference when she first came but she does now. So special that the girls will be able to talk to each other and Emma won't be so frightened by the language disconnect.
We certainly dread the flight but I am so ready to meet our daughter. She is said to be shy and must be encouraged to join activities. She must be very sensitive and introverted. I worry that I won't be the first line for comfort. Will she come to snuggle and sit on our laps? It took a very long time to establish a strong love bond. Will it be similar or so different? I dread the time when we can't talk. When she is frustrated because she doesn't understand. Oh, I know it will be easier with our built-in interpreter but that may extend the time to bond.
We have decided not to travel around China on this trip. I so want to take the girls to Beijing. Lynn wants to do the whole China tour that we did in 2001. Three weeks of touring all over China. I highly recommend it. I DID NOT WANT to go but loved it. If I had not gone on that trip, I never would have fallen in love with China and gone back on two mission trips and soon two adoption trips. I would not have heard or understood or felt drawn to the children of China. God allows us to take baby steps to giant strides in life changes.
Love you Emma. We are weeks away from you now. You are on our hearts and in our prayers. Stay warm, stay healthy... your family comes soon.
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