We kept Cuyler out of school Monday morning and we all dressed up and headed down to the Pleasanton Superior Court to officializ our adoption of Ginger. It is merely a formality, but we were excited nonetheless!
The judge was an incredibly nice woman who gave each of the kids their own little adoption stuffed animal. SHe was great with the kids. For me this is one more hurdle toward the making of our family. Now Ginger will have an American birth certificate, which really comes in handy when you start kindergarten (among other things!)
Every day brings us closer together as a family as we work toward wholeness not only for the family as a unit, but for each individual within our little nucleus. Ginger continues to open up and show us more of who she is. She has still not stopped eating since we arrived home in March, and is continually amazing me with her intelligence and persistence.
Her vocanulary has expanded immensely. Her latest words:
Shit (actually means SIT, but that is how it comes out)
Mine
No
No, mine
Mine, no
Bow (which she screams and points to the minute we get out of bed. And which MUST match her shoes!)
Flower
Her favorite song is the "no, mine" song, which she sings vociferously in the back seat should anyone try and cross her during car travel. She does not like car travel.
She is OBSESSED with poo-poo. While I am sitting on the potty she will swagger in, press my knees apart, and say "oh, no!" and try and wipe me up. Then, she stands at the toilet bowl looking forlorn as she waves and screams, "bye-bye, poo-poo"! I shit you not. THis kid is a riot!
She is getting gentler and gentler with her big brother, whom she very rarely bites anymore. She still can't resist a handful of golden hair at least once a day, though, and she needs to keep her claws sharp, so she still scratches.
So, we are well; no one has swime flu. I have given up my job and will enjoy spending more time at home with the kids, who I feel really need me right now. The transition to Kindergarten has been surprisingly difficult for Cuy-Cuy. That said, he is doing great and is learning more every day. I love his K teacher, Miss Cronin.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Been a long time...
Wow! We have been home for nearly 2 months and I have not updated my blog! I can't believe how time flies!
Ginger is well-integrated into the family now and we are into a regular groove. She has finally bonded with me and calls me mama and cries when I leave the room (unless of course Daddy is around).
She has several English words, "up, shoes, ball, uh oh". She calls Cuyler go-go, which is her dialaect for gege, which is Chinese for big brother. She often looks right at me and screams, "Mama! Mama!" Sometimes she calls me "MaBa", which is mama and dada all rolled into one.
She is still eating like a horse and has put on 3 pounds, weighing in at nearly 20 pounds! She has become a bit more selective in what she eats, but she still eats nearly everything I put in front of her with the exception of applesauce.
We have had several playdates with her "sisters" who live near us, and that has really been great. Maybe more for me than her! I feel so connceted to the people we travelled to China with and I miss their presence.
Ginger hasn't bitten anyone in weeks, which is a relief! She bit her brother a couple of times, even leaving a bruise and little teeth marks on him one time. She doesn't even relaly hit anymore. We have taught her to be gently, and when I say "Gentle", she will reach out and stroke her brother's head, or the cat. or whatever.
All of her blood work came back perfect: she has had all the immunizations they saidshe had and she doesn't even have so much as anemia! I perfectly healthy, happy and delightful child!
I cannot overstate how grateful we feel to her foster family; they took such good care of her. And what I think of what a delightful child she is, I feel sad for them, as I know they must miss her terribly. If I lost her now I would be devastated. I cannot imagine my life without her.
I go back to work in about 3 weeks, and anticipate a smooth transition. I have taken Ginger to childcare at work several times and she has done wonderfully well. Her brother is there with her, which helps alot, of course. One of the women who works at childcare is now coming over every Wednesday for a couple of hours in the afternoon and babysitting, which is not only helpful to me, but gave Ginger someone to identify with at childcare. It also gives me a chance to get some errands done.
I think the biggest struggle we have had is just going from one child to two, jsut as any family would. Cuyler has been really great about telling us when he feels a little jealous or when he needs extra hugs, so that is extremely helpful, too.
Well, that is all the news that is fit to print to night. I am exhausted. We are just now starting to catch up on sleep, as we began letting her "cry it out" this week. It killled me to do it, but tonight she cried for 3 minutes then went to sleep, so that is pretty good!
Thats all for now!
Ginger is well-integrated into the family now and we are into a regular groove. She has finally bonded with me and calls me mama and cries when I leave the room (unless of course Daddy is around).
She has several English words, "up, shoes, ball, uh oh". She calls Cuyler go-go, which is her dialaect for gege, which is Chinese for big brother. She often looks right at me and screams, "Mama! Mama!" Sometimes she calls me "MaBa", which is mama and dada all rolled into one.
She is still eating like a horse and has put on 3 pounds, weighing in at nearly 20 pounds! She has become a bit more selective in what she eats, but she still eats nearly everything I put in front of her with the exception of applesauce.
We have had several playdates with her "sisters" who live near us, and that has really been great. Maybe more for me than her! I feel so connceted to the people we travelled to China with and I miss their presence.
Ginger hasn't bitten anyone in weeks, which is a relief! She bit her brother a couple of times, even leaving a bruise and little teeth marks on him one time. She doesn't even relaly hit anymore. We have taught her to be gently, and when I say "Gentle", she will reach out and stroke her brother's head, or the cat. or whatever.
All of her blood work came back perfect: she has had all the immunizations they saidshe had and she doesn't even have so much as anemia! I perfectly healthy, happy and delightful child!
I cannot overstate how grateful we feel to her foster family; they took such good care of her. And what I think of what a delightful child she is, I feel sad for them, as I know they must miss her terribly. If I lost her now I would be devastated. I cannot imagine my life without her.
I go back to work in about 3 weeks, and anticipate a smooth transition. I have taken Ginger to childcare at work several times and she has done wonderfully well. Her brother is there with her, which helps alot, of course. One of the women who works at childcare is now coming over every Wednesday for a couple of hours in the afternoon and babysitting, which is not only helpful to me, but gave Ginger someone to identify with at childcare. It also gives me a chance to get some errands done.
I think the biggest struggle we have had is just going from one child to two, jsut as any family would. Cuyler has been really great about telling us when he feels a little jealous or when he needs extra hugs, so that is extremely helpful, too.
Well, that is all the news that is fit to print to night. I am exhausted. We are just now starting to catch up on sleep, as we began letting her "cry it out" this week. It killled me to do it, but tonight she cried for 3 minutes then went to sleep, so that is pretty good!
Thats all for now!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Settling in...
Well... It's been nearly a week and a half and we are FINALLY settling in. Cuyler walks around the house counting: "1,2,3...4" We are finally a family, Mama! He loves his little sister to death, even though she gets most of the attention. Sometimes he feels a bit left out, and he has learned to tell us when he needs extra hugs or he feels like he isn't getting enough lovin. It is so cute.
Ginger is finally bonding to me, and smiles and giggles and laughs and plays all day with her Mama. I no longer have to wait until she is asleep to curl her little hand around my finger and watch her sleep and feel her breath. She reaches for me now and when she wakes up in the morning and sees my face she smiles instead of hanging her little head and sobbing. What a sweet relief!
Her body has finally settled into the new time zone, as evidenced by the fact that she finally pooed in the morning instead of at night! Yaaaaay! Major hurdle jumped! She sleeps all night, and last night was the first night she slept the entire night in her crib, rather than coming in to bed with me around 4:00 am. We work in shifts: David puts her down and when he comes to bed at 10 or 11, I am on call, and go in when she cries around midnight to pat her back to sleep.
I don't think we could possibly ask for a smoother transition, really. Ginger fits in like she has been here all along. She is amazingly adaptive and easy going. Except when she doesn't get her way, in which case she puts up quite a fuss. We will be forever grateful to her foster family, who so clearly took such wonderful care of her. She is a happy, engaged, spirited and bright little baby girl.
I still cannot believe it when I settle into the big bed in our room every evening and read stories to my childREN. We have waited so long for this, and it is so worth the wait. It brings tears to my eyese to see my son so tender and sweet with her. First thing in the morning he runs into her room to "check" on her, and he and I lie in bed and wait for her to wake up.
Tomorrow is her big Dr's check up , and that will be very telling. At least one of the babies in our group has been diagnosed with Hep B. Apparetnly 73% of the population in HGinger's provine have Hep. So.... We will see.
Ooops- I think my little princess is waking from her nap. So I need to get her up, give her a snack, and then we will go pick up brother at pre-school and spend the rest of the day at the park. yeah, yeah, life sucks!
Ginger is finally bonding to me, and smiles and giggles and laughs and plays all day with her Mama. I no longer have to wait until she is asleep to curl her little hand around my finger and watch her sleep and feel her breath. She reaches for me now and when she wakes up in the morning and sees my face she smiles instead of hanging her little head and sobbing. What a sweet relief!
Her body has finally settled into the new time zone, as evidenced by the fact that she finally pooed in the morning instead of at night! Yaaaaay! Major hurdle jumped! She sleeps all night, and last night was the first night she slept the entire night in her crib, rather than coming in to bed with me around 4:00 am. We work in shifts: David puts her down and when he comes to bed at 10 or 11, I am on call, and go in when she cries around midnight to pat her back to sleep.
I don't think we could possibly ask for a smoother transition, really. Ginger fits in like she has been here all along. She is amazingly adaptive and easy going. Except when she doesn't get her way, in which case she puts up quite a fuss. We will be forever grateful to her foster family, who so clearly took such wonderful care of her. She is a happy, engaged, spirited and bright little baby girl.
I still cannot believe it when I settle into the big bed in our room every evening and read stories to my childREN. We have waited so long for this, and it is so worth the wait. It brings tears to my eyese to see my son so tender and sweet with her. First thing in the morning he runs into her room to "check" on her, and he and I lie in bed and wait for her to wake up.
Tomorrow is her big Dr's check up , and that will be very telling. At least one of the babies in our group has been diagnosed with Hep B. Apparetnly 73% of the population in HGinger's provine have Hep. So.... We will see.
Ooops- I think my little princess is waking from her nap. So I need to get her up, give her a snack, and then we will go pick up brother at pre-school and spend the rest of the day at the park. yeah, yeah, life sucks!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Uggghhhh
Oh, I may never write again. We finally made it to Guangzhou and the WHite Swan hotel and I got sick on the plane. The flight was excruciating and two days later I am still not hearing normally. Then once we landed, the fun began. My stomach started twisting into knots, leaving me basically incapacitated. There we were at the airport waiting for the bus, babies rolling around on those always delightful airport floors, and and mom down their with them, crying just as loudly. Well, not really, just trying to amuse!
I have been sick every since, with a nasty throat infection, cough and stomach issues. Well, this time is like no other, I ALWAYS get sick when I come to China. Even my skin hurts! My flesh crawls all night, cold hot cold hot. And poor David was up all night with Ginger last night. She is not well either, and last night was really bad for her. We will take her to the clinic today. Oh, yes, we have pink eye, too.
So. we have lots of little potions and powders to take to try and make us well. i so want to leave the hotel, but I can't walk more than a few moments. Ginger seems to feel bad for a while, then build up speed and be OK for a while. David is just exhausted and grumpy.
Can't wait to show you all our ADOPTION BARBIE doll. No kidding! Mattel sponsors them and they come in a box dedicated to people adopting children in CHina! There is a little play room here, too, well-stocked with toys, that Mattel sponsors. Too smart. Ahh, the marketization of our children! Only the Chinese can do it better than the Americans!
OK, my stomach is writhing and I am due another long session shaking and sweating in bed. This will likely be my last pos till we get home. Who wants to come take care of us?
Oh, and Cuyler came up with a super cute pet name for Ginger, he calls her is little Ginger Bun! He was not interested much in talking to me yesterday, jsut wanted to talk to his Little Ginger Bun. So cute!
Love to all-
I have been sick every since, with a nasty throat infection, cough and stomach issues. Well, this time is like no other, I ALWAYS get sick when I come to China. Even my skin hurts! My flesh crawls all night, cold hot cold hot. And poor David was up all night with Ginger last night. She is not well either, and last night was really bad for her. We will take her to the clinic today. Oh, yes, we have pink eye, too.
So. we have lots of little potions and powders to take to try and make us well. i so want to leave the hotel, but I can't walk more than a few moments. Ginger seems to feel bad for a while, then build up speed and be OK for a while. David is just exhausted and grumpy.
Can't wait to show you all our ADOPTION BARBIE doll. No kidding! Mattel sponsors them and they come in a box dedicated to people adopting children in CHina! There is a little play room here, too, well-stocked with toys, that Mattel sponsors. Too smart. Ahh, the marketization of our children! Only the Chinese can do it better than the Americans!
OK, my stomach is writhing and I am due another long session shaking and sweating in bed. This will likely be my last pos till we get home. Who wants to come take care of us?
Oh, and Cuyler came up with a super cute pet name for Ginger, he calls her is little Ginger Bun! He was not interested much in talking to me yesterday, jsut wanted to talk to his Little Ginger Bun. So cute!
Love to all-
Friday, March 6, 2009
Finally some space to write!
It has been difficult for me to write, as I have been completely consumed by this tiny little bundle of joy that is my daughter. It has been an exhilarating and emotional few days. Ginger is an absolute delight; she is extremely personable and outspoken. She loves to laugh and play; in short she is EXACTLY the person they told us in her dossier that she was. Which is comforting.
In an unexpected turn, she has bonded pretty much exclusively to David. Up until yesterday she would not tolerate my holding her or even getting too close unless David was there. She would let me feed her and play with her a bit, but she had to be safely in Daddy's arms. We had expected this to happen the other way around, with her being afraid of David. Apparently this is not uncommon at all. In fact, it is happening alot around us to varying degrees. David cannot leave the room, put her down or even really look away for long before she starts crying. This is one of the things they didn't prepare us for.
When she looks at me, huge tears well up in her eyes, she hangs her dead and just SOBS. Oh, man, it is absolutely heart breaking. I just want to hold her and love her and keep her safe. So, between the two of us there are plenty of tears! We are not sure if it is because of my blonde hair (which many people surmise), or because I remind her of her caretaker. Which, when you see her picture to the right, you can imagine why!
We went to the orphanage Thursday and everything started to change afterward. We got to see her "Founding Place", the small building to the right which sits at the gate of the orphanage. They man the building 24x7 so that when someone leaves a baby they can get her in out of the elements quickly. Oh, man, and talk about elements! It is freezing cold and raining here. This couldn't possible be southern China! My feet are wet and I am cold. booo frickety hoo!
Anyway, on to the subject at hand! We chit chatted with her foster mom for quite a while. Well, kinda. I don't really understand the dialect here, and she kept telling me about these two small dogs she has and how much Ginger loves them and how she calls them, blah blah blah. So, i was saying, oh yeah, we have a cat, but no dogs. When Ginger is 3 we will get a dog, blah blah blah.
She kept talking about those dumb dogs, so finally I got an orphanage employee to come and translate a little (into standard Chinese, not English), and it ends up the dogs are little boys! She must think I am a complete and utter moron. Anyway, she was delightful, but Ginger was not horribly interested in her. In fact, she only let her hold her a little bit, and if Daddy wasn't right next to her she cried in her arms. we promised Grandma Pan we would send pictures every year. Grandma pan did translate some of Ginger's words, which was nice. She loves to count. you know, 1,2,3,5,8. That is how Grandma Pan counted. So, we don't sweat the details, like what order numbers go in!!!
Suffice to say going to the orphanage was extremely cathartic for all of us and will forever remain a highlight of our trip. It was really nice to see where she was from; it was actually a poor but nice little town set in some foothills with tree covered hills surrounding it. And LOTS of red mud.
Since returning from the orphanage Ginger has blossomed even more. She is tolerating me at greater and greater intervals and is allowing me to hold her and play with her without Daddy present. I even got to get into a bath with he last night. Yesterday on the bus she stood up and was smiling at me and reached for me and several of the women on the bus had tears in their eyes, as it was so touching. I held her while she slept on the bus, too, and everyone was rooting for me! One f the couples has adopted 4 children from taiwan prior to this, their CHina doll, and they have given me great advice. the dad, Ron, is really a big jolly guy and the babies love him. He told me I had to do the tough love thing with her and let David go out and do something and just let her cry so she had to come around. I was hesitant to do so, because this has been such a traumatic week for her, I hate to traumatize her more, but I did it anyway and it worked.
This group of 8 families has really bonded well, too. We all share toys and clothes that don't fit our babies and food that works, etc. We are rooting for one another, loving each other's babies, and crying on one another's shoulders. Even the hotel attendants are rooting for us! It is very sweet, and a real bonding of humanity. Our world is so full of separation and anxiety and angst and oppositional forces, that it is very humbling and magical to be engaged in something that just naturally brings people together rather than splitting them apart.
In an unexpected turn, she has bonded pretty much exclusively to David. Up until yesterday she would not tolerate my holding her or even getting too close unless David was there. She would let me feed her and play with her a bit, but she had to be safely in Daddy's arms. We had expected this to happen the other way around, with her being afraid of David. Apparently this is not uncommon at all. In fact, it is happening alot around us to varying degrees. David cannot leave the room, put her down or even really look away for long before she starts crying. This is one of the things they didn't prepare us for.
When she looks at me, huge tears well up in her eyes, she hangs her dead and just SOBS. Oh, man, it is absolutely heart breaking. I just want to hold her and love her and keep her safe. So, between the two of us there are plenty of tears! We are not sure if it is because of my blonde hair (which many people surmise), or because I remind her of her caretaker. Which, when you see her picture to the right, you can imagine why!
We went to the orphanage Thursday and everything started to change afterward. We got to see her "Founding Place", the small building to the right which sits at the gate of the orphanage. They man the building 24x7 so that when someone leaves a baby they can get her in out of the elements quickly. Oh, man, and talk about elements! It is freezing cold and raining here. This couldn't possible be southern China! My feet are wet and I am cold. booo frickety hoo!
Anyway, on to the subject at hand! We chit chatted with her foster mom for quite a while. Well, kinda. I don't really understand the dialect here, and she kept telling me about these two small dogs she has and how much Ginger loves them and how she calls them, blah blah blah. So, i was saying, oh yeah, we have a cat, but no dogs. When Ginger is 3 we will get a dog, blah blah blah.
She kept talking about those dumb dogs, so finally I got an orphanage employee to come and translate a little (into standard Chinese, not English), and it ends up the dogs are little boys! She must think I am a complete and utter moron. Anyway, she was delightful, but Ginger was not horribly interested in her. In fact, she only let her hold her a little bit, and if Daddy wasn't right next to her she cried in her arms. we promised Grandma Pan we would send pictures every year. Grandma pan did translate some of Ginger's words, which was nice. She loves to count. you know, 1,2,3,5,8. That is how Grandma Pan counted. So, we don't sweat the details, like what order numbers go in!!!
Suffice to say going to the orphanage was extremely cathartic for all of us and will forever remain a highlight of our trip. It was really nice to see where she was from; it was actually a poor but nice little town set in some foothills with tree covered hills surrounding it. And LOTS of red mud.
Since returning from the orphanage Ginger has blossomed even more. She is tolerating me at greater and greater intervals and is allowing me to hold her and play with her without Daddy present. I even got to get into a bath with he last night. Yesterday on the bus she stood up and was smiling at me and reached for me and several of the women on the bus had tears in their eyes, as it was so touching. I held her while she slept on the bus, too, and everyone was rooting for me! One f the couples has adopted 4 children from taiwan prior to this, their CHina doll, and they have given me great advice. the dad, Ron, is really a big jolly guy and the babies love him. He told me I had to do the tough love thing with her and let David go out and do something and just let her cry so she had to come around. I was hesitant to do so, because this has been such a traumatic week for her, I hate to traumatize her more, but I did it anyway and it worked.
This group of 8 families has really bonded well, too. We all share toys and clothes that don't fit our babies and food that works, etc. We are rooting for one another, loving each other's babies, and crying on one another's shoulders. Even the hotel attendants are rooting for us! It is very sweet, and a real bonding of humanity. Our world is so full of separation and anxiety and angst and oppositional forces, that it is very humbling and magical to be engaged in something that just naturally brings people together rather than splitting them apart.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Gotcha Day
The day we have been waiting for finally arrived and we got our beautiful Ginger. It was pretty indescribable and I am pretty tired, so I think I will just post a couple of pictures for now and try my hand at the narrative tomorrow.
Suffice to say that it was an amazing experience to be in this big government office with ALL these babies, dressed in the same clothes and mostly crying, while we sat on the other side of the room and waited for them to call our name. I recognized her from across the room.
She is a true Peck, as she slept beautifully through the night, after having fallen asleep on her daddy's chest. She definitely prefers him to me. Every time I hold her she will look up at me and tears will fill her eyes and she will hang her head and cry. It is heart breaking to me, but we must take it one step at a time. She loves loves loves her Daddy and cannot bear to be away from him. So we are here in Nanchang in the freezing cold rain, bonding with our darling girl and hangin out. OK, there are some pics and I am going to go to bed. Will blog more later.
Suffice to say that it was an amazing experience to be in this big government office with ALL these babies, dressed in the same clothes and mostly crying, while we sat on the other side of the room and waited for them to call our name. I recognized her from across the room.
She is a true Peck, as she slept beautifully through the night, after having fallen asleep on her daddy's chest. She definitely prefers him to me. Every time I hold her she will look up at me and tears will fill her eyes and she will hang her head and cry. It is heart breaking to me, but we must take it one step at a time. She loves loves loves her Daddy and cannot bear to be away from him. So we are here in Nanchang in the freezing cold rain, bonding with our darling girl and hangin out. OK, there are some pics and I am going to go to bed. Will blog more later.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Eagle(s) have landed
Well, we made it to Hong Kong in one piece. OK,OK, actually 5 pieces, with our three pieces of luggage. Way too large luggage! As we were leaving the express train bound for Kowloon from the HK airport, I asked David how he thought we were going to carry a baby with all this luggage. He had no answer. neither did I. We will be ditching a bag. Or two!
Our flight here was the longest flight I have ever taken to Hong Kong. I can thank my bad airplane-lucked husband for that. It took fully 17 of the most discomfort filled hours I have had the displeasure to endure. We had to refuel in Taipei (totally unexpected), which added another agonizing 2.5 hours to our fateful trip.
However, it is definitely me we can thank for the fact that our taxi driver got lost going 5 blocks form the train terminal to the hotel. The terminal was so big that we couldn't figure out how the hell to get out of it, even though I knew it was right down the street from our hotel. And why is it that in EVERY major city I visit the taxi drivers get lost? I mean, how is it possible? They drive around the city for a living????? Anyway, no matter what the cause ( which, I suggest is my bad taxi karma), it happened again. And we are staying at one of the oldest and grandest hotels in HK, indeed in Asia. My god, who doesn't know where the Peninsula is? my cab driver, that's who.
I am trying to remember, was there actually a time when I was absolutely CHOMPING at the bit to get on a plane bound for HK (or anywhere, really)? Because if there was, I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Or maybe it is really that international travel has degraded severely in the last 10 years. Please tell me it is so. I am not a particularly large person, but I BARELY fit into my CENTER seat. Every time I had to get into my bag I was afraid I was going to break my neck trying to get down to the damn thing. I do not know how my husband survived. Or maybe he didn't. Perhaps I should wake him up!
Alas, I fear that the truth is that it is I who have degraded severely, and not the travel. I think it is safe to say that my globetrotting days are truly, and blessedly, OVER. I will venture even deeper into my demise to suggest that I am even beginning to understand my in-laws fancy for cruises. that is it, I have descended into traveller's hell and shall never return!
But, it is not that bad here in Hell! The Peninsula is a lovely hotel with fabulous amenities and warm snuggly sheets and a marble bathtub with a t.v. in it. I have already taken a shower and 2 baths. David is working out at the gym, so I am going to join him to enjoy the Hong Kong harbour view and ride the bike. Afterwards we will head to the pool for a little work out. Yes, ladies, that's right!
We fly to China proper tomorrow and get to meet our little Ginger at long last on Monday afternoon. It appears that we will actually get to be rested and refreshed to meet her, as she will come to us in the afternoon, after we go to the bank, of course. I am glad; suffice to say I am NOT at my best right now.
I cannot wait. I cannot believe. I cannot believe that after all this time, it is finally happening.
There is still time for something to go wrong, never fear! More later!
Our flight here was the longest flight I have ever taken to Hong Kong. I can thank my bad airplane-lucked husband for that. It took fully 17 of the most discomfort filled hours I have had the displeasure to endure. We had to refuel in Taipei (totally unexpected), which added another agonizing 2.5 hours to our fateful trip.
However, it is definitely me we can thank for the fact that our taxi driver got lost going 5 blocks form the train terminal to the hotel. The terminal was so big that we couldn't figure out how the hell to get out of it, even though I knew it was right down the street from our hotel. And why is it that in EVERY major city I visit the taxi drivers get lost? I mean, how is it possible? They drive around the city for a living????? Anyway, no matter what the cause ( which, I suggest is my bad taxi karma), it happened again. And we are staying at one of the oldest and grandest hotels in HK, indeed in Asia. My god, who doesn't know where the Peninsula is? my cab driver, that's who.
I am trying to remember, was there actually a time when I was absolutely CHOMPING at the bit to get on a plane bound for HK (or anywhere, really)? Because if there was, I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Or maybe it is really that international travel has degraded severely in the last 10 years. Please tell me it is so. I am not a particularly large person, but I BARELY fit into my CENTER seat. Every time I had to get into my bag I was afraid I was going to break my neck trying to get down to the damn thing. I do not know how my husband survived. Or maybe he didn't. Perhaps I should wake him up!
Alas, I fear that the truth is that it is I who have degraded severely, and not the travel. I think it is safe to say that my globetrotting days are truly, and blessedly, OVER. I will venture even deeper into my demise to suggest that I am even beginning to understand my in-laws fancy for cruises. that is it, I have descended into traveller's hell and shall never return!
But, it is not that bad here in Hell! The Peninsula is a lovely hotel with fabulous amenities and warm snuggly sheets and a marble bathtub with a t.v. in it. I have already taken a shower and 2 baths. David is working out at the gym, so I am going to join him to enjoy the Hong Kong harbour view and ride the bike. Afterwards we will head to the pool for a little work out. Yes, ladies, that's right!
We fly to China proper tomorrow and get to meet our little Ginger at long last on Monday afternoon. It appears that we will actually get to be rested and refreshed to meet her, as she will come to us in the afternoon, after we go to the bank, of course. I am glad; suffice to say I am NOT at my best right now.
I cannot wait. I cannot believe. I cannot believe that after all this time, it is finally happening.
There is still time for something to go wrong, never fear! More later!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
We're going!
Finally! We got our travel dates on Monday, and we are leaving for Hong Kong Thursday this week! Yes, that is the day after tomorrow! These last couple of weeks have been extremely trying, as we have known that we were going soon, but could not confirm exactly when. I am so please it is finally over!
Sunday night we had a lovely dinner at one of our fellow families' homes, with 2 other families going with us. It was very nice, and so great to have a chance to chit chat before we leave and the madness begins! These people are going to become very important to us as members of our extended family, as our daughters are nearly "sisters", all coming from the same orphanage. It just makes me get all teary thinking about it. I know, I know, EVERYTHING makes me teary these days!
I just booked our stay at the Peninsula hotel in Hong Kong, and David's last day of work is today, so he will finally do his packing, and we will be ready to go!
David's parents come tomorrow and will stay till Fri or Sat. Nina arrives Thursday night. we practically pass one another in the International terminal at SFO! I am sorry we will miss her. But I think we will make her stay after we get back, as we are going to need someone to take care of us!
Cuyler is having a bit of difficulty with our leaving, as it finally sinks in to his little 5-year-old consciousness. we have been talking to him about this for a loooo-ong time, and we keep reminding him that we are leaving to get Mei Mei, but he, of course, can't think beyond who he gets to play with after school today! Anyway, he is feeling a bit melancholy and is having separation anxiety, not wanting me to leave him, crying, holding on to my leg, etc. Finally! He never did this when the rest of the kids did. all the other kids would be crying, holding on to their Moms and Cuyler would give me a kiss and say, "Bye, Mom, see ya later!" and trot off to whatever the activity was. Old Chopped Liver is finally getting her due!
And jut to spice it all up a little, I learned yesterday that I have stress fracture in the bottom of my foot! Perfect timing! My foot has been bothering me for a while now, but it has finally gotten painful enough for me to go in, and that was the result. No wonder it hurts! We may not be doing those fabulous walking tours I had laid out for us in HK! I may be forced to lie in a the Pen and just use the swimming pool. Darn!
Next time I post will be from China!
Sunday night we had a lovely dinner at one of our fellow families' homes, with 2 other families going with us. It was very nice, and so great to have a chance to chit chat before we leave and the madness begins! These people are going to become very important to us as members of our extended family, as our daughters are nearly "sisters", all coming from the same orphanage. It just makes me get all teary thinking about it. I know, I know, EVERYTHING makes me teary these days!
I just booked our stay at the Peninsula hotel in Hong Kong, and David's last day of work is today, so he will finally do his packing, and we will be ready to go!
David's parents come tomorrow and will stay till Fri or Sat. Nina arrives Thursday night. we practically pass one another in the International terminal at SFO! I am sorry we will miss her. But I think we will make her stay after we get back, as we are going to need someone to take care of us!
Cuyler is having a bit of difficulty with our leaving, as it finally sinks in to his little 5-year-old consciousness. we have been talking to him about this for a loooo-ong time, and we keep reminding him that we are leaving to get Mei Mei, but he, of course, can't think beyond who he gets to play with after school today! Anyway, he is feeling a bit melancholy and is having separation anxiety, not wanting me to leave him, crying, holding on to my leg, etc. Finally! He never did this when the rest of the kids did. all the other kids would be crying, holding on to their Moms and Cuyler would give me a kiss and say, "Bye, Mom, see ya later!" and trot off to whatever the activity was. Old Chopped Liver is finally getting her due!
And jut to spice it all up a little, I learned yesterday that I have stress fracture in the bottom of my foot! Perfect timing! My foot has been bothering me for a while now, but it has finally gotten painful enough for me to go in, and that was the result. No wonder it hurts! We may not be doing those fabulous walking tours I had laid out for us in HK! I may be forced to lie in a the Pen and just use the swimming pool. Darn!
Next time I post will be from China!
Friday, February 20, 2009
The travel permission/consulate date torture
OK, so they told us a couple of weeks ago that we MAY need to be in Hong Kong on Feb 27 )yes, that is 2009, next week). However, they are STILL not certain and will not give us the go-ahead to buy out tickets. They finally got travel permission from the Chinese government yesterday, but now our Liaison in China has to get us appointments at the American Consulate in Guangzhou. They are trying for March 9. So, we will likely get all our permission today, so we can buy our tickets tonight. David and i are flying next Wednesday if this is the case, to spend a few days in Hong Kong as our last childless romantic fling. I do so love HK! we are staying at he Peninsula in Kowloon - a FAR cry from the old Mansions down in the traveler's ghetto!
Yes, that is right, we do not have our tickets yet for a trip we are taking to China in 5 days. Well, I guess I won't be able to use my miles!
Our whole group of 9 families is all a-twitter with are we/aren't we leaving next week? stress. It is proving to be quite stressful for people, particularly David, who never likes to not know what is going on. He seems to have come to some kind of homeostasis with it as of yesterday, though, and is much more relaxed. We all email back and forth every day asking little questions and sharing little tidbits. It is kind of fun.
Sunday night we are going to the home of one of our fellow traveling families for a little pre-trip get-together, which will be really fun. I am looking forward to getting to know these people, because I know that they are going to be an important part of my life from this day forward, as we are going to be relying on one another so greatly as we embark on this journey of bringing our daughters home. i find it very touching and humbling. My other friends who have adopted from China have yearly reunions with their traveling group, and consider all the girls sisters, as many of them come from the same orphanage. I think all of our children but one is coming from ShangGao SWI.
Anyway, I am finally excited. Over-the-moon, completely beyond the pale, over the deep end, can barely stand myself excited. To tell you the truth, i sometimes never thought the day would come. And now, here I am sitting next to my suitcase full of onesies and cute little outfits writing this blog. Life is awesome!
Yes, that is right, we do not have our tickets yet for a trip we are taking to China in 5 days. Well, I guess I won't be able to use my miles!
Our whole group of 9 families is all a-twitter with are we/aren't we leaving next week? stress. It is proving to be quite stressful for people, particularly David, who never likes to not know what is going on. He seems to have come to some kind of homeostasis with it as of yesterday, though, and is much more relaxed. We all email back and forth every day asking little questions and sharing little tidbits. It is kind of fun.
Sunday night we are going to the home of one of our fellow traveling families for a little pre-trip get-together, which will be really fun. I am looking forward to getting to know these people, because I know that they are going to be an important part of my life from this day forward, as we are going to be relying on one another so greatly as we embark on this journey of bringing our daughters home. i find it very touching and humbling. My other friends who have adopted from China have yearly reunions with their traveling group, and consider all the girls sisters, as many of them come from the same orphanage. I think all of our children but one is coming from ShangGao SWI.
Anyway, I am finally excited. Over-the-moon, completely beyond the pale, over the deep end, can barely stand myself excited. To tell you the truth, i sometimes never thought the day would come. And now, here I am sitting next to my suitcase full of onesies and cute little outfits writing this blog. Life is awesome!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Playgroup Babyshower
My playgroup, a group of 5 other women whom Cuyler and I have been meeting oce a week to play with since he was born, held a lovely shower for me last weekend at my friend Nicola's house. It was just absolutely unbelievable, all the touching and personal touches they came up with.
When one walked in the door, she was greeted with a red thread to signify our long wait for our little Ginger. They had pictures of Ginger EVERYWHERE, and the whole house was decorated with Chinese lanterns.
Before the party Nicola had emailed everyone and asked them to send her a little wish for our family, and all of these were printed out and cut out and inserted into hand-made fortune cookies by Kelly Demos. They were dipped in chocolate and red sprinkles, too! At the end of the party they presented me with the photo to right, which included all of the wishes in a lovely frame surronding the picture of Ginger. Sharolyn made that one.
At one point my friend Emmeline read the story of the red thread, about a King and Queen who had everything they wished for, but felt a stirring and tugging at their hearts that they could not account for, and so they left their kingdom in search of the source of their pain and after crossing the workd found a baby in a small village in China, who was at the other end of the threads, tugging on them.
I cried my eyes out through out the entire story. All the years of waiting and detaching myself from the outcome must have finally caught up with me! It was very touching. And, the next day I saw one of my students who was at the party and she called me a CRY BABY!
To sum it up, my family and I are just very very lucky people to have so many wonderful and cherished friends!
When one walked in the door, she was greeted with a red thread to signify our long wait for our little Ginger. They had pictures of Ginger EVERYWHERE, and the whole house was decorated with Chinese lanterns.
Before the party Nicola had emailed everyone and asked them to send her a little wish for our family, and all of these were printed out and cut out and inserted into hand-made fortune cookies by Kelly Demos. They were dipped in chocolate and red sprinkles, too! At the end of the party they presented me with the photo to right, which included all of the wishes in a lovely frame surronding the picture of Ginger. Sharolyn made that one.
At one point my friend Emmeline read the story of the red thread, about a King and Queen who had everything they wished for, but felt a stirring and tugging at their hearts that they could not account for, and so they left their kingdom in search of the source of their pain and after crossing the workd found a baby in a small village in China, who was at the other end of the threads, tugging on them.
I cried my eyes out through out the entire story. All the years of waiting and detaching myself from the outcome must have finally caught up with me! It was very touching. And, the next day I saw one of my students who was at the party and she called me a CRY BABY!
To sum it up, my family and I are just very very lucky people to have so many wonderful and cherished friends!
Baby Showers Galore!
Since I last posted I have been given three absolutely beautiful baby showers. Little Ginger will be the best dressed baby in town! At work some of my students arranged a HUGE shower, with 58 people attending! It was extremely gratifying to be honored by my wonderful students, as they are such a source of encouragement and inspiration to me. They like me, they REALLY like me!
My Tues-Thurs morning deep water aerobics class bought me a beautfil Petunia Picklebottom diaper bagthat will serve as my carry on and goes with all my outfits! I cannot WAIT to go to Babies R Us and spend the many wonderful gift cards we were given as well. I can't even name all the wonderful quilts and blankets that my talented ladies showered me with! One of my student's mothers knitted 5 dozen infant caps for me to take to the orphange, too! What an incredible group of thoughtful, caring women. And how lucky I am! I hope to get some pictures from that shower to share soon.
And before that, my friend Emily arranged a lovely little surprise shower at the park after preschool. She and her daughter made gorgeous pink cupcakes and we opened presents and had fun. I was so surprised that when I walked up, I said, who'd the party for? and they said "You!" I turned around to see who was standing behind me!" It was very very sweet and totally unexpected.
It has just been the non-stop party shop!
My Tues-Thurs morning deep water aerobics class bought me a beautfil Petunia Picklebottom diaper bagthat will serve as my carry on and goes with all my outfits! I cannot WAIT to go to Babies R Us and spend the many wonderful gift cards we were given as well. I can't even name all the wonderful quilts and blankets that my talented ladies showered me with! One of my student's mothers knitted 5 dozen infant caps for me to take to the orphange, too! What an incredible group of thoughtful, caring women. And how lucky I am! I hope to get some pictures from that shower to share soon.
And before that, my friend Emily arranged a lovely little surprise shower at the park after preschool. She and her daughter made gorgeous pink cupcakes and we opened presents and had fun. I was so surprised that when I walked up, I said, who'd the party for? and they said "You!" I turned around to see who was standing behind me!" It was very very sweet and totally unexpected.
It has just been the non-stop party shop!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Dossier translation and next steps
We got the translation for Xin Zhi's medical record and dossier this week. How fun to read it all in detail and not have to fuss over little characters that I cannot dredge up from my addled memory! Below are the highlights, directly quoted from the dossier:
* She was found on the steps of the orphanage on November 15, 2007, the day after her birth
* She was wearing a blue cotton top and flowered bottoms.
* She was given to a foster family, and "Grandma Pan" was responsible for her well being
* She enjoys interacting with people
* Little Xin Zhi has a pair of sparkling eyes that seem to talk
* Sometimes she is so happy that she bursts into giggles
* She has rosy fat cheeks that make people want to kiss them
* She started standing up at 8 months as is now walking a few steps
* In sum, she is a lovely smart girl
We cannot wait to meet little Ginger (this is the name we have finally chosen. The reason is that it is close in meaning to her name, which means one medicinal plant, and it sound phonetically as close as we can get in English.) So, her full name is Ginger Xin Zhi Nina Peck! Cuyler was not willing to let go of the Nina part of her name that we had already chosen to use. Ginger was never even mentioned as a name originally, but it really just seems to fit for her.
I am going to a travel meeting Monday and will learn more, but they have tentatively told us to be in Hong Kong by Feb 27 to meet the group, then travel to Nan Chang, the capital of Jiangxi province, where Xin Zhi lives. We may get to visit the orphanage, and we will hang out for about a week in Nan Chang with our new babies. Oh, yes, we are travelling with 9 other families! After that we are off to GuangZhou to the US Consulate where we will hang for another week, taking care of immigration issues. On their current timetable we will be home by March 12. However, it could all be pushed out a week. we will see. My sister Nina arrives Feb 26 to take care of Cuy-Cuy and will stay till end of March- a great help!
David and I plan on hitting HK a few days early, recovering from jetlag and tooling around HK. I haven't been in years, and I can't miss an opportunity to get is a few good Hong Kong walks! It wil be fun to be there with David, and we will stay at the Peninsula for a night, which has long been a dream of mine.
The next couple of weeks are jam-packed with buying everything we need, packing, arranging everything for Cuyler and buttoning down our work issues. Oh, yes, and TWO baby showers next week! We are busier than centipedes in a tap-tapping contest, and WAY more excited!
More as soon as we get definite travel plans
* She was found on the steps of the orphanage on November 15, 2007, the day after her birth
* She was wearing a blue cotton top and flowered bottoms.
* She was given to a foster family, and "Grandma Pan" was responsible for her well being
* She enjoys interacting with people
* Little Xin Zhi has a pair of sparkling eyes that seem to talk
* Sometimes she is so happy that she bursts into giggles
* She has rosy fat cheeks that make people want to kiss them
* She started standing up at 8 months as is now walking a few steps
* In sum, she is a lovely smart girl
We cannot wait to meet little Ginger (this is the name we have finally chosen. The reason is that it is close in meaning to her name, which means one medicinal plant, and it sound phonetically as close as we can get in English.) So, her full name is Ginger Xin Zhi Nina Peck! Cuyler was not willing to let go of the Nina part of her name that we had already chosen to use. Ginger was never even mentioned as a name originally, but it really just seems to fit for her.
I am going to a travel meeting Monday and will learn more, but they have tentatively told us to be in Hong Kong by Feb 27 to meet the group, then travel to Nan Chang, the capital of Jiangxi province, where Xin Zhi lives. We may get to visit the orphanage, and we will hang out for about a week in Nan Chang with our new babies. Oh, yes, we are travelling with 9 other families! After that we are off to GuangZhou to the US Consulate where we will hang for another week, taking care of immigration issues. On their current timetable we will be home by March 12. However, it could all be pushed out a week. we will see. My sister Nina arrives Feb 26 to take care of Cuy-Cuy and will stay till end of March- a great help!
David and I plan on hitting HK a few days early, recovering from jetlag and tooling around HK. I haven't been in years, and I can't miss an opportunity to get is a few good Hong Kong walks! It wil be fun to be there with David, and we will stay at the Peninsula for a night, which has long been a dream of mine.
The next couple of weeks are jam-packed with buying everything we need, packing, arranging everything for Cuyler and buttoning down our work issues. Oh, yes, and TWO baby showers next week! We are busier than centipedes in a tap-tapping contest, and WAY more excited!
More as soon as we get definite travel plans
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Information trickle
We have learned a little more about Xin Zhi and our upcoming trip to China. At the end of this post is a link to her orphanage, with comments from some people who have adopted children from Shanggao Social Welfare Institute (SWI for short). If you scroll down the link, you will even find some Shutterfly pics of the orphanage itself. Man, I am loving technology right now!
It seems that Zin Zhi lives in a very large and modern orphanage that is shared with an old folks home, and the children stay in a room with a senior citizen who is given a small stipend for taking care of the child. What an amazing idea- giving two members of society who so often get overlooked the opportunity to love and nurture one another. I have no doubt that the love and affection go both ways, and that both parties benefit tremendously. I must admit I am pretty surprised by the Chinese Government's forward thinking and social experimenting with two classes so under valued. Warms the shackles of my rotten little heart, it does!
Anyway, the consensus from people who have adopted from our SWI is that the children seem to be happy, healthy and well cared for. I can't tell you how relieved it makes me that there is a chance that our little girl has been loved and held and cared for so tenderly. It makes me cry. But then, I cry a lot these days! Whenever I hear that song by Jason Mraz, I'm yours. It cannot wait - I'm yours! We are finally getting our daughter!
On another note- we have not decided what to do about her Wesetern name yet. We had originally sort of settled on Nina, after my sister, but because Xin Zhi will be 15 months when she gets here, and she knows her name, and because she will be in such shock already with so many changes, we are thinking of calling her Ginger, which sound a lot like Xin Zhi Our name is our virtue, as Mraz says, so it is important to me!
We still don't know when we fly to China, but we have a travel meeting Monday to discuss details. Hop to know when we go by end of next week, maybe. I am getting to know the 9 other families we will fly to Chine with. 5 families total are from the Bay Area, which is really nice.
I need to go get Cuyler up and we need to start our day, so here is the link to the orphanage if you are interested. One of the funny things is that in one of Xin Zhi's pictures she is leaning against a big yellow hand, and I see the hand in some of the videos and most of the babies pictures from the institute. The ubiquitos HAND!
http://www.gurrad.com/china/shanggao.htm
It seems that Zin Zhi lives in a very large and modern orphanage that is shared with an old folks home, and the children stay in a room with a senior citizen who is given a small stipend for taking care of the child. What an amazing idea- giving two members of society who so often get overlooked the opportunity to love and nurture one another. I have no doubt that the love and affection go both ways, and that both parties benefit tremendously. I must admit I am pretty surprised by the Chinese Government's forward thinking and social experimenting with two classes so under valued. Warms the shackles of my rotten little heart, it does!
Anyway, the consensus from people who have adopted from our SWI is that the children seem to be happy, healthy and well cared for. I can't tell you how relieved it makes me that there is a chance that our little girl has been loved and held and cared for so tenderly. It makes me cry. But then, I cry a lot these days! Whenever I hear that song by Jason Mraz, I'm yours. It cannot wait - I'm yours! We are finally getting our daughter!
On another note- we have not decided what to do about her Wesetern name yet. We had originally sort of settled on Nina, after my sister, but because Xin Zhi will be 15 months when she gets here, and she knows her name, and because she will be in such shock already with so many changes, we are thinking of calling her Ginger, which sound a lot like Xin Zhi Our name is our virtue, as Mraz says, so it is important to me!
We still don't know when we fly to China, but we have a travel meeting Monday to discuss details. Hop to know when we go by end of next week, maybe. I am getting to know the 9 other families we will fly to Chine with. 5 families total are from the Bay Area, which is really nice.
I need to go get Cuyler up and we need to start our day, so here is the link to the orphanage if you are interested. One of the funny things is that in one of Xin Zhi's pictures she is leaning against a big yellow hand, and I see the hand in some of the videos and most of the babies pictures from the institute. The ubiquitos HAND!
http://www.gurrad.com/china/shanggao.htm
Friday, January 23, 2009
Mei Mei's Room
Not everyone is interested, but I have included a couple of pictures of Mei Mei's room, which has been ready for her for 2 years, since we moved into this house. We have been waiting for her for sooooo long that we have actually h ad 2 nurseries redy for her! I can't beleive the day is finally coming!
We have a double bed in there with her crib, just in case one of needs to sleep with her. And Cuyler thinks that he will probably sleep with her just in case she gets scared, so he can protect her. He is going to be the best big bro in the whole world!
Cuyler and I spent time this morning going over Mei Mei's as yet untranslated dossier, looking at the pictures and trying to glean what information we could from my pathetic Chinese. It seems taht she has a similar routine as ours, getting up roughly the same time as we, but she goes to bed a bit later than we do, at 8:30 pm.
Cuyler said he thinks that she is "Cute AND Cool"! He also said, "I wish she were already hear, Mom" When we first moved into this house he said to me one day, out of the blue, "Mommy, you know what the saddest thing about this house is?" And I, totally unaware that there was anything "sad" about our house, replied, "No, sweetie, what?" He said to me, "Mei Mei isn't here!" Well, our house will finally be happy very soon!
We have a double bed in there with her crib, just in case one of needs to sleep with her. And Cuyler thinks that he will probably sleep with her just in case she gets scared, so he can protect her. He is going to be the best big bro in the whole world!
Cuyler and I spent time this morning going over Mei Mei's as yet untranslated dossier, looking at the pictures and trying to glean what information we could from my pathetic Chinese. It seems taht she has a similar routine as ours, getting up roughly the same time as we, but she goes to bed a bit later than we do, at 8:30 pm.
Cuyler said he thinks that she is "Cute AND Cool"! He also said, "I wish she were already hear, Mom" When we first moved into this house he said to me one day, out of the blue, "Mommy, you know what the saddest thing about this house is?" And I, totally unaware that there was anything "sad" about our house, replied, "No, sweetie, what?" He said to me, "Mei Mei isn't here!" Well, our house will finally be happy very soon!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A day to remember!
The day we have been waiting for has arrived! WE got our referral for our daughter Shang Guan Xin Zhi today, January 22, 2009! Her birth date was November 14, 2007 and she is 16.95 pounds, 27 inches long. She is from Shangguo county, Jiangxi province, and we think she has been in foster care (very very good news.)
Here are some pictures of her, as well as some shots of us at our adoption agency with her referral packet and signing papers saying that yes, she is indeed OUR daughter!
Thank you all for your support. We can't wait to go and get our little baby!
Here are some pictures of her, as well as some shots of us at our adoption agency with her referral packet and signing papers saying that yes, she is indeed OUR daughter!
Thank you all for your support. We can't wait to go and get our little baby!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
OK. As anyone who is here on this sight knows, we have been long awaiting the arrival of our daughter, Mei Mei (which means Little Sister in Chinese; this is not her actual name), from China. After 3 long years of waiting, we are expecting our "referral", or letter with her picture in it, any day now.
I thought now might be a good time to sort of explain the Chinese adoption process, as so many people have inquired, or heard me talk about it at different times. So, here goes, the Executive Summary of a long and complicated process, along with a few milestones in our own journey. And, I of course, have a different name for it...
The Chinese Baby Torture...
The first step in the process is to gather an obscene amount of personal information on both myself and my husband Dave, including an income statement, fingerprints from 3 different organizations and medical records saying we are safe and sane (well, almost in my case), and letters of employment, etc. (completed in December of 2005)
Second we have a "homestudy", in which an American social worker comes to our home, interviews everyone who lives there, watches us interact with our child, checks out our marriage, etc.
Next, all those doucments get notarized, blessed and otherwise officiated, and sent off in a big bundle, or Dossier, to China. (Jan 1, 2006)
Once they get to China, they are offically LOGGED IN at the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA). This is a VERY important date, becuase our life from then on hangs in the balance of this date. For us, the Log in Date, or LID, as we adoption officianados know it, is March 1, 2006
After that, the docs are translated and gone over, then, I imagine, put in a pile in the Matching Room of the CCAA , as you see to the right of this post. God and the commies only know how long we languished in one of those stacks, while back home we were painting the nursery, buying bedding and preparing our then year old for the arrival of his little sister.
Then we waited...
...and waited...
...and waited...
And did a ton of our paperwork and fingerprints over again, just in case we had decided to lead a life of crime while we awaited the arrival of our child...
...and waited...
...and waited...
...You get the idea...
Every month the CCAA releases a statement on how many dossiers they "matched" that month, along with a date to which they have moved up. For instance, we learned at the beginning of January that they had matched all the dossiers up to the date Feb, 28, 2006. OMG- one day from my dossier! The month before that they had gotten to within 6 days of my dossier! The process is painstaking and nerve racking!
So, anyway, they are offically one day away from my dossier. They average 6 days of dossiers a month, Chinese New Years not withstanding, so we are pretty sure we are IN! We are now finally getting ready to go to China. Cuyler is now nearly 5 years old and cannot wait to meet his little sister.
I am feeling 9 months pregnant, and am nesting and re-folding onesies and going over the very detailed, 3 page packing list I recieved from our wonderful adoption agency. At the bottom of this list they posted a reminder to "pack light" hmmm... in three pages?!?!?
Anyway, that is the update. I hope that my next posting will include a picture of our daughter and our flight plan!
Thank you all for your unending patience and support through out this long process of completing our little family!
I thought now might be a good time to sort of explain the Chinese adoption process, as so many people have inquired, or heard me talk about it at different times. So, here goes, the Executive Summary of a long and complicated process, along with a few milestones in our own journey. And, I of course, have a different name for it...
The Chinese Baby Torture...
The first step in the process is to gather an obscene amount of personal information on both myself and my husband Dave, including an income statement, fingerprints from 3 different organizations and medical records saying we are safe and sane (well, almost in my case), and letters of employment, etc. (completed in December of 2005)
Second we have a "homestudy", in which an American social worker comes to our home, interviews everyone who lives there, watches us interact with our child, checks out our marriage, etc.
Next, all those doucments get notarized, blessed and otherwise officiated, and sent off in a big bundle, or Dossier, to China. (Jan 1, 2006)
Once they get to China, they are offically LOGGED IN at the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA). This is a VERY important date, becuase our life from then on hangs in the balance of this date. For us, the Log in Date, or LID, as we adoption officianados know it, is March 1, 2006
After that, the docs are translated and gone over, then, I imagine, put in a pile in the Matching Room of the CCAA , as you see to the right of this post. God and the commies only know how long we languished in one of those stacks, while back home we were painting the nursery, buying bedding and preparing our then year old for the arrival of his little sister.
Then we waited...
...and waited...
...and waited...
And did a ton of our paperwork and fingerprints over again, just in case we had decided to lead a life of crime while we awaited the arrival of our child...
...and waited...
...and waited...
...You get the idea...
Every month the CCAA releases a statement on how many dossiers they "matched" that month, along with a date to which they have moved up. For instance, we learned at the beginning of January that they had matched all the dossiers up to the date Feb, 28, 2006. OMG- one day from my dossier! The month before that they had gotten to within 6 days of my dossier! The process is painstaking and nerve racking!
So, anyway, they are offically one day away from my dossier. They average 6 days of dossiers a month, Chinese New Years not withstanding, so we are pretty sure we are IN! We are now finally getting ready to go to China. Cuyler is now nearly 5 years old and cannot wait to meet his little sister.
I am feeling 9 months pregnant, and am nesting and re-folding onesies and going over the very detailed, 3 page packing list I recieved from our wonderful adoption agency. At the bottom of this list they posted a reminder to "pack light" hmmm... in three pages?!?!?
Anyway, that is the update. I hope that my next posting will include a picture of our daughter and our flight plan!
Thank you all for your unending patience and support through out this long process of completing our little family!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Wow! OK, so I am now officially in the 21st century! Why, because I started my own blog. Are you proud of me, Dreedle? And, "why", I hear you cry! Why, after nine years have I FINALLY deemed the 21st century worth joining? Because our mei mei, our little daughter form China is FINALLY going to be joining us soon!
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Mei Mei room
Mei Mei's room is the sunniest room in the house