Monday, October 31, 2011

Day Three (Gotcha Day) and Day Four (Finalization of Chinese Adoption)

What an amazing few days. All the days are starting to blur together as one, and we usually have no idea what day it is or the actual date (I just realized it's Halloween, will have to dress Chynna up later).

She has been an amazing baby. What a day yesterday was. We got up early as we had to meet down in the lobby at 5:30 a.m. to head to the airport, it was Gotcha Day after all. We were supposed to have a 7:40 a.m. flight out of Beijing to Nanchang, but unfortunately after we loaded our plane, the fog rolled in, and it was so thick you couldn't even see the planes on either side of us sitting really close to us. We ended up sitting on the plane for over 4 hours waiting for air traffic control to release us and for the fog to finally roll out. And then we were in the air, on the way to our daughter's province. The pilot did an amazing job and made up some time in the air, and we finally landed. But due to the lateness of our arrival, we were really cutting it short on time. We arrived at the hotel and as we were checking in we could hear our babies crying but couldn't determine where or I think they would have had a stampede on their hands of the anxious parents wanting to finally see and hold their precious ones, I know I wanted to run towards that fabulous noise. But yet I had to restrain myself and head up to our room to meet back down in 10 minutes for the ceremony. We received our bags, I dumped the suitcases to find Chynna's lovey, and some dolls to take down in case she was upset. And then we flew as fast as our feet would carry us down the elevator to the meeting room. We were allowed in the room and there were our precious baby girls. I looked at Chynna at first and thought I recognized her, but then another baby girl was holding her key ring we sent in the care package so I got really confused, and like a bad mommy had convinced myself that was our Chynna, but in reality my good friend Kim had already told me,, no that is not your Chynna, the first baby was and she was right. My adorable baby girl was the first one I had thought (silly key ring for confusing this easily confused mommy, lol). The time came to deliver the babies. We were second, and she came right to me, happy as a clam. I did scare her a bit when I tried to give her kiss and she immediately pulled back and started whimpering a bit, so I backed off and spoke the little bit of mandarin I learned while waiting (hello, don't cry, and I love you). She looked at me quite funny but quit whimpering and started to feel my face after insisting that I take my glasses off so she could look into my eyes. She was quite fascinated with my nose, she would pull it, tug it, and grasp it anyway she could, but I didn't care. After all this time I was finally holding my Chynna. She stayed happy and went down easy for bed the first time. But after about half an hour to hour she woke up and was confused and seemed scared and missing the only home she's known, her foster family. She wouldn't allow me to sit and hold her, we had to keep right on walking, so we did, around the room and in the halls, with her just trying to throw herself backwards and crying off and on. After some hours of this I had to sit down, to lay down myself to sleep, so I woke Ray and he took over and got her right to sleep after walking her in the hall some singing to her. And alas at about 11:30 p.m., she finally was asleep for the night. This morning I had to wake her up as we had to have breakfast before our appointment at the civil affairs office. We got her dressed, had breakfast (she ate some eggs, congee, watermelon, peach), and headed over to the civil affairs office to finalize the adoption. Chynna loved the bus ride over, we got there and went in, waited our turn, answered some questions, got our family picture taken, paid our fees and donation, and then it was finalized. She's ours in the eyes of China. We still have a ways to go til we head home, but we are enjoying our time here in China and loving the time with our baby girl. Now here are some pictures for you to enjoy too.











Saturday, October 29, 2011

Day Two in China: Beijing

What a day, long but amazing. Got to see some great things from Tiananmen Square to Forbidden City to climbing the Great Wall. Went to the Jade Factory and ate at a great restaurant. Took a while to put these pictures up, so I'll close for now so you can see the pictures. Sorry they are backwards, newest ones are first, oh well I'll get the hang of this soon.

Tomorrow will be an early day, out in the lobby by 5:15 am, fly out to Nanchang at 7:40 am, arrive in Nanchang about 10:30ish, prepare to finally be handed Chynna at 3:30 pm. I will post updates and pictures again in Nanchang if I am able to connect to the internet. Please pray that Chynna has as smooth of a transition as possible. She will be leaving her foster family tomorrow to travel to the orphanage to then be brought to the hotel to her new Forever Family. It's definitely gonna be a long sad day for her and her Foster Family.

Until then, next post Gotcha Day!!!




































Friday, October 28, 2011

Sitting in Hotel in Beijing

Well we made it to Beijing safe and sound. It was a really long flight, I know others have said it was a long flight but until you experience sitting in a chair for so long you just don't fully appreciate what they are telling you. I did sleep some off and on on the plane but sleeping sitting up is not that comfortable, and they feed you soooo much food, it feels like they are either giving you something to eat or something to drink for the whole 13 hour flight. Our guide was right there waiting for us when we finally found our luggage in the luggage carrier, and she whisked us away to the hotel. Riding in a car in Beijing, I'm sorry but quite scary, the road lines appear to only be suggestions. All the cars were driving wherever there was an empty space, and as close to the car in front of them I doubt a piece of paper would fit between their bumpers, but thank goodness we made it to the hotel without an accident. Another fun story (Dad you'll appreciate this) Mom's really big luggage (which is really hers and my clothes) that Mom was insisting we didn't bring because it always gets checked, got checked. She was upset that it happened again, but my thoughts are what difference does it make, she's not carrying anything she shouldn't be, so who cares what they look at. Also, on our way to the grocery store to buy bottled water, I almost got run over by a McDonald's delivery guy on a bicycle on the sidewalk, guess he had more right to the sidewalk than me. I learned my lesson, watch out for the bicyclists cuz they don't look out for you. No pictures yet, but hope to have some up after our tours tomorrow. Until then (2 more sleeps til we get Chynna!!!), check in again soon!!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Waiting in the airport

Well here we are, early, waiting at that airport. Got thru security checkpoints really quick (which is a big change from last time we flew out of here). Everyone we've spoken with at the airport has been amazing. Hoping by telling them the reason we are flying will get us some perks, you know like maybe upgraded to first class (hey a girl can dream right???). So far so good on the internet connections, but we are still in Florida, so we'll see how I do getting us back online once we land and are settled in our room in Beijing. I'll try to post again once we land in Chicago (we do have a 2 hour layover), but if not, we'll see you all on the flip side!!!

Leaving for the airport in a few hours

Here it is 3:25 a.m. after I went to bed at 12:45 a.m. after last minute packing (for myself and my mom, Chynna's been packed for a few days), and I am wide awake. My head spinning. Is it excitement (yes), and fear (yes), and worry (YES YES YES)? I am beyond excited, I am fearful of being a new mom again (I know I'll do just fine, but how will she feel? The trama Chynna is going through scares me, will I be able to console her right away and take her fears right away?) And I worry, have I packed everything? Is our luggage within the required weight limits (even though we have weighed it and weighed it)? Will the peanut remember me when I come home or be resentful I've left him for 2 weeks? All if know for sure is all will go okay, things will be as they should, and I should get as much rest as I can. So I guess I better go and lay back down and try to sleep a little more.

I promise to post as much as I can to journal this amazing journey to an amazing little girl who's been a huge part of our family for many many years!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Little over 24 hours til we are off......

In a little over 24 hours we will be boarding the plane to begin our journey to Chynna, it will be a long flight, but well worth it. Can't wait to meet online friends in person and give them hugs as well as see friends we miss dearly (Cyndi and Dean), finally get to hold Chynna and kiss her little face, climb the amazing Great Wall, and just experience all the amazing things China has to offer so we can share them with Chynna.....let the journey begin (of course after I finish packing)....

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

8 days to go....and Wacky Wednesday, the Card Test




You Are Together



You would do anything for the people you care about. Thinking about them keeps you going.

Life is too hard not to be easy on yourself. You forgive easily, especially when it comes to your own mistakes.



No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You try not to get worked up.

You think about how your actions effect others. You act deliberately.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

and the countdown has begun....


9 days til we leave for China, 12 days til Chynna is finally in my arms....

Every emotion possible is running through me, happiness, excitement, fear, nervousness, sadness.....I feel like I have a rainbow of emotions. One minute I'll be happily telling you about my baby girl, the next I could be crying and not knowing exactly why. Then I may become fearful about not already being with my little girl, what if she's sick, what if she's already been taken to the orphanage and away from her foster family, is she sad, does she know how much her life is about to change? This then makes me sad for her and for her foster family as I know how much she has been loved by them and I know how hard it is gonna be for the foster family to let her go. Then I get nervous, what if I don't know what to ask the orphanage director, what if I don't make her bottle the way she likes it and she doesn't eat. But after all those emotions, I think, I can do this, I've been preparing for this moment for almost 6 years and finally I will have my Chynna, and the happiness comes back!!

9 days til we leave, and 12 days til she's in my arms!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Wacky Wednesday...what's your tea type?




You Are Chai Tea



You're quite the charmer. You know how to get what you want from almost anyone.

You are high-powered and spunky. You bring a lot to the table... sometimes too much!



You are brilliant and pioneering. You never do things the normal way... you do them your way.

Friends describe you as sensitive, spirited, and compulsive. Bright and blazing with intensity, you seem mysterious and moody to many.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Wacky Wednesday...The Autumn Test




You Are Calculating Yet Compassionate



You are physically affectionate and warm hearted. You treat people with kindness and respect.

You are wise and bright. You reason through your problems quite well.



You're usually the first to discover a new trend. You have broad, ever expanding tastes.

You have great vision and can be very insightful. In fact, you are often profound in a way that surprises yourself.