Back to the USA

Yeah!  We are back in the USA!!!  Staying in Southern California for a few days to visit with some of our family.  Tomorrow we are going to the beach for a little while with our cousins.  We went to the beach today....Eli liked the sand..a lot, but the waves and surf.....forget it!

The 12+ hour plane ride back was not that bad.  I did not get a lot of sleep, but Eli slept a little in the begining and the end.  He was a little loud and restless during the middle of the flight.  The rude man in front of us was annoyed, but he deserved it........he put his seat all the way back which gave me absolutely no room.  David kept trying to tell me not to let Eli kick the seat, but after a while it was fair game with the seat war.....

I cannot believe that Eli has been with me for almost two weeks.  He has come a long way and is starting to pick up some English.  I am also starting to understand what he is saying.  The temper tantrums at the restaurants have mostly subsided.  He does still throw himself on the ground occassionaly, but that too happens less and less.  My cousin has a 5 year old son that went with us to dinner.  Nate held Eli's hand as we walked on the sidewalk.  It was too cute. 

 

Holt families in Guangzhou with me.  What a great group of people.

Xiangjiang Safari Park

Lots of fun today!  We went with other families from Holt to a safari park.  We rented a stroller from the hotel.......best decision yet!!!

In Guangzhou

Yesterday we had to go for the medical exam.  Very busy place as other adoptive parents had to wait for three exams....eye test, ear, nose and throat, and regular body exam.  Eli did not completely pass the eye exam so he had to go for a private test.  Maybe he needs to have glasses????  David and I tested him back in the hotel and he did fine.....go figure....  ENT was fine.  We have all of our body parts....  Then we came to the TB test......It took 5 of us to hold him down.....  He saw it coming and freaked out.....yikes.

Today is Sunday....we walked to an underground passageway that led to a beautiful park.  It had lush gardens, exercise equipment, boats, a playground, and rides.  We had fun, it was hot.  When it was time to go, Eli started to cry, and cry, and refused to leave.  He sees something and immediately wants to try it.  Needless to say we had to carry him back to the hotel kicking and screaming.  After a quick bath and all the lights out, he fell right to sleep. 

What a wonderful birthday...

Today is my birthday.  Traci, our guide in Fuzhou, and Bradd and Charity, the family staying with us in Fuzhou, gave me a lovely tea set for a birthday present.  When I get back to school we will sit down for tea. 

Yesterday, we went to a "tea" room.  We sampled three different types of tea and learned how to drink or sip the correct way.  It was beautiful.

Today we visited a Buddha Temple.  Traci showed us around and explained in great detail all of the aspects of each area.  On the grounds of the temple, in the water are many fish and turtles.  Eli seems to love the turtles best of all.  Of course he loves pandas too.

Eli seems to be settling down a little.  I believe that he is starting to bond with me and with Uncle "tu tu" David just a bit.  Of course I may just be imaging it.  We did have our first big cry after we returned to the hotel.  I cannot understand exactly what Eli wants some of the time, but the cry was because I took something away from him.  He got very mad at me and then began to cry.....Oh well.....  After about ten minutes of crying he stopped.  All is well again.

Tomorrow, which is Friday, we will travel to pick up Eli's passport and then fly to Guangzhou in the evening.  Flight number four......four more to go after this one.

Eli is finally asleep for a nap!

Wow, what a busy little boy!!!!  The last few days have been a whirlwind.  Sunday, within ten minutes of arriving at the hotel, I had to be on the third floor to sign a permission for Zhao Lin to be in my custody for the night.  As soon as we got back to the room everything became a cat and mouse chase as Zhao Lin said, "WOW!" and proceeded to touch and grab and touch everything, and I mean everything in the hotel suite.  Very quickly I raced around trying to remove glassware, forks, spoons, knives, vases, tv controllers, lamps, bottles of alcohol, tea cups and numerous other items.  His favorite word is "WOW!!!!!" when he sees something new.

Monday morning, we went back down stairs for me to sign all the adoption papers and to answer some questions for the representative from Fujian Province Ministry of Affairs.  Then we had our passport application to complete.  The very last question was "Do I promise to always love and take care of Zhao Lin?"  Absoutely, yes! 

Zhao Lin/Eli has calmed down a little since the first night.  He does usually make a lot of noise in the restaurant, but that is improving also.  I have learned a little bit of Chinese, but I don't think that he has learned much English.  He is also testing us.  Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days.

Signing permission to have Zhao Lin over night.

Our first family picture together.

Panda World, Fujian

How cool is this!

We are in China

David and I have been in China for 5 days.  I had trouble opening up the blog because everything is blocked here.  Finally figured it out .....  We went to the Great Wall of China on Friday. Our guide Nancy said that you are a "hero" if you can make the climb.......well.....no one said that the first  tower climb would be so long, steep and exhausting.  I did make it to the first tower.  David continued on to many more, but the humidity and heat made me give up.  I did meet many people from  many different continents.  The girl beside me is from Italy and beside her the girl is from South Africa.
We also visited the Hutong section of Beijing and rode in a rickshaw. Saturday we traveled to the Forbidden City and Tianamin Square. Our guide, Nancy was terrific. She even went out of her way to make a special purchase. Thousands of people later and a celebrity status for us ( many families wanted us to pose with their children or families for pictures) we returned our hotel before going out to a local eatry with some new found friends.  I ordered pork ribs, but I am still not entirely sure if it was indeed pork.

Many, many steps......

Nancy and I in the Forbidden City

Africa, Europe, North America....COOL!

Packing, Packing, Packing

Oh boy!  Not my favorite thing to do....packing...  In less than three days I will be leaving for China.  In seven days I will see my son.  How do you pack for the one of most important events in your life? This week has been a very emotional week, as more and more people, especially at school, now know that I am adopting.  Everyone has been so kind with their words.  I can't begin to thank enough, all of those who helped me get to this point.  As I am taking this quiet moment to write, I want to especially thank the following people....I hope some day that I can be as wonderful to you....

Jolynn and Fernando, Jodie, Tami, Sharon Z., Sharon B., Desi, Cheryl and Ken, Pastor Linda, Nanci, Dr. D., Maureen(the notary), Mrs. Gregory, David, and most of all, Dad.

Without their help in one way or another, I wouldn't have made it this far.  It also has helped that I can be very determined if I really want.

Counting Down the Days

12 more days until I will meet my son.  Can you believe it?  I am feeling a little overwhelmed tonight.  Carpet arrived today and the extra room that I have been working off and on for two years is almost ready.  School starts tomorrow morning.  How fast does the time go!!!  I will be toning things down this year at school, I think.  I need to cut back on all the extra decorating.  But, you know, the kids love it.  I still have a lot to do before next week.  I just keep running my lists over and over in my mind.  I hope that I don't forget something. 

Official Travel Dates!

The official travel approval paperwork arrived via Fedex last Thursday.  On Monday I received an email that confirmed my travel dates.  We will be leaving on August 29th and return some time after September 13th.  My child handoff day or the "Gottcha" day will be September 2nd.  Last night, we were up until 2:00 trying to find just the right flights to and from China.  It is not cheap or easy to get from here to there.  Just kidding a little, I suggested that we fly all the way around the world by flying through Paris on the way there and come back through the West coast.  But, that route was way too expensive and it takes a very looong time. I am a little nervous about being on a plane for more than 10 hours, but I am sure every moment will be worth it.  We are stopping on the way back in Los Angeles for a few days and then traveling home probably on Sunday. I have so much do to until we leave that I am feeling.....I don't know......definately excited, anxious, estactic, thankful, a little bit crazed at the thought that I will have a son in five weeks!

IT'S HERE!!!!

Late last night I received this email:

"Dear China Families:


We are happy to let you know that your travel approval has arrived. Travel approvals do not arrive with travel dates but we are working with our staff in China to arrange your schedule as soon as possible. Scheduling depends on several factors, some of which may not support your preferred arrival, but we will try to arrange it and notify you by email when the dates are confirmed.

Please read the attached Travel Packet, a document with important travel information that will help you plan your trip, and call Holt anytime you have questions. We will also arrange a Webinar orientation and a telephone conference call before you arrive in China and provide more information about them shortly....."

That was super fast!  Only 1 week from Article 5 to Travel approval!  Can you believe it?  Now I have to make some quick decisions.  Also this week I received my VISA back from the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco.  It has the "pass" that allows me to visit China.

I'm ready to go meet my son, but I have so much to do!!!!

Article 5 Approval OMG!!!

I received an email this morning that the Article 5 approval has been processed.  One more step to go before I can travel to meet my son.  Can you believe that!!!!  I am overwhelmed with emotion right now.....

This is the China Family Timeline that I have been following. Double click on it to enlarge it. I have been checking each step as I go.  Next is Step 7, Travel Approval, then Step 8 is Family Arrives in China.  It should be about two more weeks before I hear anything about the TA.

We are getting soooooo close....

I Believe, I Believe, I Believe

The NVC confirmation email/letter came this morning.  Next will be the Article5 approval and then the travel approval.   I finally believe that this might will happen, SOON!  Here are some more pictures:



My favorite and the picture that captured my heart.



Keep your prayers coming!!

I am almost afraid to post this.....but I don't think that I can hold it back any longer.  I have been disappointed so many times in the past 5 years, that's right, 5 years, however, I believe that it is actually going to happen this time.  So without any more drama......introducing Zhao Lin...

My LID, Log in date, was 2/17/2012,  my LOA (letter of approval) came on May 22nd.  The I800 approval arrived on June 11th.  Now I am waiting, again, for the NVC confirmation letter, which should be here any day.  After that arrives I will be waiting for the Article 5 from the US Consulate.  Lastly, the CCAA will send my TA, travel approval, to Holt International for me to plan for my departure dates.  I should be traveling somewhere between the end of July and middle of September.

So keep me in your prayers!!

Thank you.

I know, I know.......it has been a very long time since I last opened this blog.  I promise that I will update everyone in a few days.  I feel as if my life has been on a roller coaster for the last year.