We woke on the morning of October 8th, the day we would finally see our daughter we had been waiting for since December of 2006! I was so anxious with anticipation!!
We went down for breakfast and shopped in the little stores around the hotel. We bought our lunch at a little grocery store by the hotel but I couldn't eat. My stomach was so upset and nervous about seeing Meizi. Our guide, Peter was coming to take us to the Civil Affairs Department in Guangzhou, at 3pm, to finally see our daughter! I was worried about how it would all go. How would she react when she saw us? Would she cry and scream when I take her from her nanny or would she withdraw and not make a sound?
I prepared a diaper bag with everything I could think of that might comfort her or that she might need. A formula bottle, juice bottle, diapers, wipes, extra clothes, toys, a soft doll that my friend had given us before we left for China, Cherrios (which she wouldn't touch, she was only eating from a bottle) and a sippy cup (which she wouldn't drink from either)
The drive to the Civil Affairs office was more terrifying then the plane flight. I worried that we were going to hit one of the pedestrians that would walk out into traffic at any time, with no notice, or that someone would hit us. Our driver, Lu, was very good and neither of those things happened. There are no traffic or diving rules, per say in China. Cars go where ever they want, in all directions and there are no lanes to stay in or signal from. I gasped many times during the half hour drive to the Civil Affairs Department and had to close my eyes a few times. All I could do was giggle nervously as we pulled into the dive way, in relief, we had made it!
There were many families there that had just received their very young babies, under a year old. They left shortly after we arrived and I was thankful that we would meet Meizi for the 1st time, alone. In what seemed like an eternity but was really only 10-15 minutes, I saw the staff from the orhanage, Meizi's nanny and the director of the orphange walk through the door. The nanny was carrying a tiny, tiny baby. I asked Scott, "Is that her?" Meizi was so tiny, I didn't recognise her at first. I knew from her reports that she was going to be small but seeing her in person, paled by comparison and I was alarmed at how small she was. I walked up to her and her nanny, immediately and said "Mama" as I held out my hands and took her. She reacted the very way I had thought she would. There was no crying or screaming and she went to me, complacently, without a fight or fuss. This made me concerned since I knew that babies that are attached to their caregivers will normally cry. Meizi didn't utter a sound. Kelly, my 14 year old son, taped our 1st meeting with Meizi and I'm sure you can see and hear the alarm in my voice.
The exchanging of our donation and gifts were also very different from our experience with Jade Lin, 5 years earlier. When we adopted Jade Lin, the money donation was given and discreetly disappeared, along with the gifts that we gave, they were never seen. When we gave our money donation and gifts to Mr. Wu, he counted the money in front of us and Peter, which made me uncomfortable and the nanny looked like she was going to tear into the gifts at any moment. She had a smile on her face so I knew the candy and reading glasses that we were giving along with two Vikings hats, would be greatly appreciated.
We had time for one quick photo of us with Meizi, after being able to ask questions to the nanny and director on Meizi's habits and care. I had a list of questions prepared but couldn't find them in the bottomless diaper bag, I had packed and only remembered a few questions, " Was she allergic to anything?", "How did she like to be put to bed?" I was told no, she wasn't allergic to anything and she went to bed with all the lights out. I was also told she was very "sneaky" and climbed out of her crib all the time, which made me realize that was why she was tied to her crib at nap time and night time, along with all the other babies that were crawling or walking. I saw photos of this right before we traveled so I knew this was true and Meizi sported the circular mark on her ankle to prove this. She hated the crib at the hotel and I ended up laying a down comforter on the floor for her to sleep on. I was told she took formula bottles with cereal and liked them very warm, hot actually.
After the 5 minutes of questions and answers, I snapped the photo of Scott, Kelly, Jade Lin and Meizi. There was no time for a second photo with me. I was a little annoyed at our guide, Peter for not being more sensitive and understanding at wanting to document this 1st meeting with our new daughter and would complain about his impatience and shortness, later to our Chinese Liason who hired him.
We have the two photos of our 1st day anyway and the video tape to look back on, thankfully!
The orphanage director told us she liked pork soup with vegitables too but I don't think Meizi ever ate soup unless they blended it and put it in a bottle for her. She wouldn't take anything but a bottle. We tried finger foods on her, congee, anything soft even though she had a mouth full of teeth and she refused it all. She was the size of a one year old baby and wasn't walking. She would only stand for a few seconds on her own before plopping down on her bottom. She didn't know how to play with toys and had no interest in blankets, stuffed animals or the toys I brought, which was very different from the way Jade Lin behaved at a year old. I knew that her additional year in the orphanage, compared to Jade Lin's one year, made a huge difference and that we would have to work with her. I felt blessed, happy and truly thankful for our new daughter! Praise God for her! Our dream had come true and we had our little girl in our arms!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
October 6th 11:30pm, We Arrive In China!!!!!
I wasn't able to up-date my blog from China for some reason so I'm doing all the up-dating now. We took off for China on schedule and weren't delayed by the weather. It was as if our friends and families prayers for our travel had been answered. The clouds broke and the sun started to come out as we were heading for the airport.
Kelly and Jade Lin traveled very well on the plane. The portable DVD player, DS Light, hand-held poker game and back-pack filled with things to keep Jade Lin busy, were a God send! I wouldn't travel without them! The take-off and landing were extremely hard on me, even with the prescription for Xanax. We hit the Typhoon traveling from Tokyo to Guangzhou and there was more turbulence then I was comfortable with.
We arrive in China early, at 10:05 pm and wait for our guide, Grace, who is late. She thought we were delayed by the weather and was waiting for us at another door. It is a 45 minute drive to the hotel and I slept the whole way, so tired from no sleep on the plane. I forgot that it would be light all the way to China. The flight attendants closed the windows at 6pm, to help the passengers sleep. Of course, us not being use to the time change, we played cards and the kids didn't fall asleep till after 10:00pm. The flight attendants opened up the windows and started serving breakfast at 12 midnight, our time so the kids only had about three hours sleep.
Scott celebrated his birthday on the plane. By the time we got to our hotel room it was after 11:30pm. Kelly and I took showers and fell asleep right away. Scott was so tired he fell asleep in his clothes.
We were all awake at 6am, on October 7th,because of the time difference. We showed the kids around the hotel. Saw both of the beautiful outdoor pools and peeked inside the windows of the game room, which didn't open till 5:30pm, every night. We had a fantastic breakfast buffet in the coffee shop. I had so been looking forward to eating there after 5 years! The view of the Pearl River is amazing and the food is really good. After breakfast we shopped at the little stores along the streets, around the hotel. After a couple of hours we were back at the hotel and fell asleep till 6:30pm. The jet lag hit us all hard this time. I didn't remember it being as hard when we were in China in 2002 to bring Jade Lin home. We walked to "Lucy's" for dinner and barely made it through the meal, we were all so tired. We were asleep by 10:00 pm but were up at 3am;-(
I couldn't stop thinking about the next day, when we would meet Meizi! I was excited and nervous and for some reason didn't think she would scream when she saw us, like Jade Lin did. It would be a very momentous and special day and I couldn't wait!
Kelly and Jade Lin traveled very well on the plane. The portable DVD player, DS Light, hand-held poker game and back-pack filled with things to keep Jade Lin busy, were a God send! I wouldn't travel without them! The take-off and landing were extremely hard on me, even with the prescription for Xanax. We hit the Typhoon traveling from Tokyo to Guangzhou and there was more turbulence then I was comfortable with.
We arrive in China early, at 10:05 pm and wait for our guide, Grace, who is late. She thought we were delayed by the weather and was waiting for us at another door. It is a 45 minute drive to the hotel and I slept the whole way, so tired from no sleep on the plane. I forgot that it would be light all the way to China. The flight attendants closed the windows at 6pm, to help the passengers sleep. Of course, us not being use to the time change, we played cards and the kids didn't fall asleep till after 10:00pm. The flight attendants opened up the windows and started serving breakfast at 12 midnight, our time so the kids only had about three hours sleep.
Scott celebrated his birthday on the plane. By the time we got to our hotel room it was after 11:30pm. Kelly and I took showers and fell asleep right away. Scott was so tired he fell asleep in his clothes.
We were all awake at 6am, on October 7th,because of the time difference. We showed the kids around the hotel. Saw both of the beautiful outdoor pools and peeked inside the windows of the game room, which didn't open till 5:30pm, every night. We had a fantastic breakfast buffet in the coffee shop. I had so been looking forward to eating there after 5 years! The view of the Pearl River is amazing and the food is really good. After breakfast we shopped at the little stores along the streets, around the hotel. After a couple of hours we were back at the hotel and fell asleep till 6:30pm. The jet lag hit us all hard this time. I didn't remember it being as hard when we were in China in 2002 to bring Jade Lin home. We walked to "Lucy's" for dinner and barely made it through the meal, we were all so tired. We were asleep by 10:00 pm but were up at 3am;-(
I couldn't stop thinking about the next day, when we would meet Meizi! I was excited and nervous and for some reason didn't think she would scream when she saw us, like Jade Lin did. It would be a very momentous and special day and I couldn't wait!
Friday, October 5, 2007
Just hours before travel to bring Meizi Meilin home!
Well, it's 4:56am on Friday morning and I have been awake for hours. I'm the only one up because of the storm. Flights were delayed by more then three hours on Tuesday due to the weather and I'm afraid the same thing will happen today. If we are delayed we will miss our connecting flight from Tokyo to Guangzhou. I know we can take another flight but I just want to get some rest before we meet Meizi and we only left ourselves a day and a half to rest and regroup before getting her. I just want to be in China and make sure we are there to hold her on Monday!
We have been waiting so long for Meizi, since December when we started our adoption journey that it still seems so surreal that we are packing and just hours from traveling to bring her home. The long, long, long, long plane flight and leaving Jesse, Cory, Magan and James behind has me sad and anyone that knows me, knows that I worry. I know I will be ecstatic and so very excited, once we land in China but right now I really miss the kids. We are taking Jesse in to school late this morning to have breakfast together and to be near him, hug him and in case him with our love, and hopefully our reassurance. I bought an ecallChina, calling card so hopefully it will be much easier on him this time, knowing he can call us whenever he wants and talk to us as long as he wants.
I purchased a journal to record our journey, just as I did for Jade Lin. Writing has always comforted me and I know the girls will be so thankful to have their journals when they are older.
I'm hoping Scott can figure out how to add larger photos on the blog. They are so small now and I want to capture all the fine details when we hold Meizi for the first time, to share with everyone.
Please keep us in your prayers as we travel to bring our little Mei-mei home.
Blessings
Jodi
We have been waiting so long for Meizi, since December when we started our adoption journey that it still seems so surreal that we are packing and just hours from traveling to bring her home. The long, long, long, long plane flight and leaving Jesse, Cory, Magan and James behind has me sad and anyone that knows me, knows that I worry. I know I will be ecstatic and so very excited, once we land in China but right now I really miss the kids. We are taking Jesse in to school late this morning to have breakfast together and to be near him, hug him and in case him with our love, and hopefully our reassurance. I bought an ecallChina, calling card so hopefully it will be much easier on him this time, knowing he can call us whenever he wants and talk to us as long as he wants.
I purchased a journal to record our journey, just as I did for Jade Lin. Writing has always comforted me and I know the girls will be so thankful to have their journals when they are older.
I'm hoping Scott can figure out how to add larger photos on the blog. They are so small now and I want to capture all the fine details when we hold Meizi for the first time, to share with everyone.
Please keep us in your prayers as we travel to bring our little Mei-mei home.
Blessings
Jodi
Friday, September 7, 2007
We have our Travel Approval!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!
I received a call at work on September 6th. We have our Travel Approval to bring Meizi home! Our social worker, Heather says we received it in "record time".
We should have our definite dates next week and should be able to shop around for our plane tickets. We have to apply for our Visa's too and still have a travel meeting to attend. There is so much to do and we travel in about three weeks. I was up all night last night and couldn't sleep. I was so excited but also anxious about all we have to get done before we travel.
We started this journey in December and it has seemed like the wait has taken forever. Now that we are finally traveling in three weeks and we are going to see our new baby daughter, time is flying by.
We should have our definite dates next week and should be able to shop around for our plane tickets. We have to apply for our Visa's too and still have a travel meeting to attend. There is so much to do and we travel in about three weeks. I was up all night last night and couldn't sleep. I was so excited but also anxious about all we have to get done before we travel.
We started this journey in December and it has seemed like the wait has taken forever. Now that we are finally traveling in three weeks and we are going to see our new baby daughter, time is flying by.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
AUGUST 22ND, WE GET THE CALL, YIPEEE!!!!!!
On Wednesday, on the anniversary date of our referral for Jade Lin, we got the call from our social worker that our letter of acceptance arrived! We were accepted to adopt Meizi Meilin!!! I was at work when the call came in and all I heard was "This is the call you have been waiting for" when I burst out in tears. My friends and co-workers were crying, cheering and clapping for me with hugs from all, even my office manager. I have only known them for three months and they were so sweet and happy for us. They brought me flowers the next day.
All the fear, worry and anxiety were lifted from my shoulders when I got the call and the relief flowed from me with my tears. I was over joyed too but mostly relieved. I was expecting the worst after not hearing anything for 120 days. My fear was that we were going to be denied to adopt Meizi Meilin and I don't know how I would have handled that. Thank God, it didn't turn out that way and we will be traveling in 6-8 weeks. We have to wait for our travel approval now, which will take four weeks, then we travel 2-4 weeks after that, which puts us in China on my birthday again;-) We could be holding Meizi Meilin for the 1st time on October 28th, my birthday;-) could God be planning this more perfectly?;-)
Now we prepare for our journey. We have to pack and prepare the kids for our journey. Hopefully, we will be taking our 14 year old son, Kelly and Jade Lin. I really am excited for them to see the "Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and take the Hutong Tour, which takes us through the old part of Beijing in a bike-drawn carriage. It was so much fun and I would love for the kids to follow the same journey we made when we brought Jade Lin home.
There is one other family at our agency that received their letter of acceptance the same day we did and I can't wait to e-mail them and meet them. It will be so much fun to have another family to travel with. We could even travel with group 92 from our agency. They are waiting for referrals and could receive them any day. Either way, alone, with another family or with a large group, we will be thrilled to be traveling to China and bringing Meizi Meilin home. It can't come soon enough for me!! Our daughter is 11 months older then the photo we have of her and I know she will have changed so much but a mother knows her child, no matter what age they are. Even though Jade Lin was 6 months older then her photo, I would know her little heart shaped mouth, any where;-)
Now Please! hurry, hurry, hurry TA (travel approval)!! Meizi Meilin is waiting!
All the fear, worry and anxiety were lifted from my shoulders when I got the call and the relief flowed from me with my tears. I was over joyed too but mostly relieved. I was expecting the worst after not hearing anything for 120 days. My fear was that we were going to be denied to adopt Meizi Meilin and I don't know how I would have handled that. Thank God, it didn't turn out that way and we will be traveling in 6-8 weeks. We have to wait for our travel approval now, which will take four weeks, then we travel 2-4 weeks after that, which puts us in China on my birthday again;-) We could be holding Meizi Meilin for the 1st time on October 28th, my birthday;-) could God be planning this more perfectly?;-)
Now we prepare for our journey. We have to pack and prepare the kids for our journey. Hopefully, we will be taking our 14 year old son, Kelly and Jade Lin. I really am excited for them to see the "Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and take the Hutong Tour, which takes us through the old part of Beijing in a bike-drawn carriage. It was so much fun and I would love for the kids to follow the same journey we made when we brought Jade Lin home.
There is one other family at our agency that received their letter of acceptance the same day we did and I can't wait to e-mail them and meet them. It will be so much fun to have another family to travel with. We could even travel with group 92 from our agency. They are waiting for referrals and could receive them any day. Either way, alone, with another family or with a large group, we will be thrilled to be traveling to China and bringing Meizi Meilin home. It can't come soon enough for me!! Our daughter is 11 months older then the photo we have of her and I know she will have changed so much but a mother knows her child, no matter what age they are. Even though Jade Lin was 6 months older then her photo, I would know her little heart shaped mouth, any where;-)
Now Please! hurry, hurry, hurry TA (travel approval)!! Meizi Meilin is waiting!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
110th day and STILL WAITING!
I haven't posted for so long and so much has happened.
My friend left on Thursday to bring her little, three year old son home from China.
It is the 110th day since we sent in our letter of intent to adopt Meizi Meilin from China, who was 16 months at the time and is now 20 months old. Our social worker sent us an up-date on our dossier and letter and told us that we made it past the first review and are into the 2nd review now. I found out from another parent who works with waiting children's families that our dossier is in the matching room with the Waiting Child director in China and if he approves our dossier and match of Gao Shao Qiao (Meizi Meilin)then we should receive our Letter Of Acceptance to adopt her in a week or two.
That would add a month to travel approval which would bring us into September and then we would travel 2-4 weeks after our travel approval, which would bring us into October before we would leave for China to bring Meizi Meilin home. The wait has been indescribable and seeing parent's with the same Log in Date as us, getting their LOA and Travel approval, weeks before us is unbelievably hard!
The girl's new window went in yesterday and Scott has been staining the trim to finish the window today. We will have the shades and valance hung back up and I'm painting the shelf with the pocket-rod that goes over their window today. I'm positive all this nesting will bring on our Letter Of Acceptance this week or next. I just have to believe that and have faith that it is going to happen or I don't know how I will deal with news to the contrary.
We have to school shop for the kids supplies and a new outfit or two, back packs and shoes and we don't want to spend a cent until we are finished paying for the adoption, except for our airfare and hotel lodgings in China. Hopefully we will know soon what we will have left to pay and what kind of airfare we are looking at so we will know whether we can take Jade Lin and Kelly. Then theres the decision on what to do with Jesse. Who will he stay with or who will stay with him when he is in school? So much is still up in the air which leaves me with so much anxiety. I just have to believe it will all work out or I wouldn't be able to get up in the morning and function and go to work.
Please pray that all works out the way God has intended and we hear good news soon!
My friend left on Thursday to bring her little, three year old son home from China.
It is the 110th day since we sent in our letter of intent to adopt Meizi Meilin from China, who was 16 months at the time and is now 20 months old. Our social worker sent us an up-date on our dossier and letter and told us that we made it past the first review and are into the 2nd review now. I found out from another parent who works with waiting children's families that our dossier is in the matching room with the Waiting Child director in China and if he approves our dossier and match of Gao Shao Qiao (Meizi Meilin)then we should receive our Letter Of Acceptance to adopt her in a week or two.
That would add a month to travel approval which would bring us into September and then we would travel 2-4 weeks after our travel approval, which would bring us into October before we would leave for China to bring Meizi Meilin home. The wait has been indescribable and seeing parent's with the same Log in Date as us, getting their LOA and Travel approval, weeks before us is unbelievably hard!
The girl's new window went in yesterday and Scott has been staining the trim to finish the window today. We will have the shades and valance hung back up and I'm painting the shelf with the pocket-rod that goes over their window today. I'm positive all this nesting will bring on our Letter Of Acceptance this week or next. I just have to believe that and have faith that it is going to happen or I don't know how I will deal with news to the contrary.
We have to school shop for the kids supplies and a new outfit or two, back packs and shoes and we don't want to spend a cent until we are finished paying for the adoption, except for our airfare and hotel lodgings in China. Hopefully we will know soon what we will have left to pay and what kind of airfare we are looking at so we will know whether we can take Jade Lin and Kelly. Then theres the decision on what to do with Jesse. Who will he stay with or who will stay with him when he is in school? So much is still up in the air which leaves me with so much anxiety. I just have to believe it will all work out or I wouldn't be able to get up in the morning and function and go to work.
Please pray that all works out the way God has intended and we hear good news soon!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Day 90 tomorrow and no LOA for us yet ;-(
I have been down and blue seeing other parent's with the same dossier log in date, receiving their letters of acceptance to adopt their waiting children, from China and there has been no word for us. We are painting the girl's room this weekend and are praying the "Feng Shui" good vibes, bring our "Letter Of Acceptance" when we are finished!
I love the main color of the walls! It is a warm, sunny, creamy, buttery yellow and so cheerful and comforting. I can see the cheery room, filled with our two daughter's, this winter and even in the coldest, darkest day, it will still be warm, sunny and cheerful;-) The light rose, stripes on the top of the wall, will go on tomorrow, to coordinate with the Chinese lantern boarder. I can't wait to see it finished! I think the walls will remind me of happy memories on a carnival, merry-go-round and I hope the room brings the girl's as much joy.
We want to get the girl's room done as soon as possible so we can move Jesse into his new room. He is so excited. The two boys are at Scout camp this week and the house will be so quiet without them. I miss them already and they just left today. Thank-God I will have the two rooms to keep my busy, after work. I'm usually so exhausted after the eight-hour day that I'm hoping I will be too tired to miss them. Somehow, I don't think it will matter.
My friend received her "Travel Approval" to bring her little boy home from China. She leaves in August and will be home before school starts in September. I was secretly wishing we would be traveling together, but with the delay in us receiving our "Letter Of Acceptance to adopt and then having to wait another month for our "Travel Approval", there will be no chance of that;-(
Please pray that we hear good news to bring our little girl home. She is 19 months now and getting older by the month. The wait is excruciating and getting harder by the week.
I love the main color of the walls! It is a warm, sunny, creamy, buttery yellow and so cheerful and comforting. I can see the cheery room, filled with our two daughter's, this winter and even in the coldest, darkest day, it will still be warm, sunny and cheerful;-) The light rose, stripes on the top of the wall, will go on tomorrow, to coordinate with the Chinese lantern boarder. I can't wait to see it finished! I think the walls will remind me of happy memories on a carnival, merry-go-round and I hope the room brings the girl's as much joy.
We want to get the girl's room done as soon as possible so we can move Jesse into his new room. He is so excited. The two boys are at Scout camp this week and the house will be so quiet without them. I miss them already and they just left today. Thank-God I will have the two rooms to keep my busy, after work. I'm usually so exhausted after the eight-hour day that I'm hoping I will be too tired to miss them. Somehow, I don't think it will matter.
My friend received her "Travel Approval" to bring her little boy home from China. She leaves in August and will be home before school starts in September. I was secretly wishing we would be traveling together, but with the delay in us receiving our "Letter Of Acceptance to adopt and then having to wait another month for our "Travel Approval", there will be no chance of that;-(
Please pray that we hear good news to bring our little girl home. She is 19 months now and getting older by the month. The wait is excruciating and getting harder by the week.
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