Oh my! You think that you are never going to get to go to China to get your child and then it seems as though you are never going to get to come back home! Well, I am here to tell you, eventually you get to do both!
We had a "blip" in our schedule; I really don't know how to say it without getting nasty, but we went through the tidy little ceremony that the US Consulate insists on with about 100 other families, said our oath, were "Congratulated" by the officer. Marney and I cheered and we were ready to head to the Guanghzou airport--we were checked out of the hotel and all the luggage was in a separate van from the rest of our group, and then Mr. Seymore says, "I do need to see the Haddad Family and the W* Family." It was clear it was not for an extra congratulations. Well, it seems that the Office of Homeland Security had not cleared our 2 babies for visas!!! Okay! I have been adopting for 6 years. I had NEVER heard of this happening in a Chinese adoption. I questioned him further once I recovered from the shock that we were not going anywhere, and the problem was with the babies paperwork not ours. Everyone wanting to immigrate to the US needs to be checked to be certain that they did not try to enter the country at another time for some criminal activity. Okay . . . our babies were 13 months and 25 months old . . . how absurd it that! We were both from the same agency, the W* family was alphabetically the last family in the NSN group and I was a special needs family tacked on later. We figure someone just did not get to the bottom of the pile!
I did email Lotus Travel immediately although I knew it was after hours for them; I couldn't sleep so I got up in the middle of the night and called them. They handled changing the flights for me and notified the Travel Insurance company for me, I need to follow through with that on Monday, but they were great. I think that this was the first time that I purchased travel insurance!
Supposeduly 99% of the visas get approved on time, but on Wedneday 9/27, 3 families were delay and on Thursday 9/28, 2 families were delayed. We did get it at 7:30 a.m. the next morning, the other family was able to make their airline connections, but we were not and had to spend an extra day. After having been in China since 9/12, it seemed like an eternity.
I know that everyone wants to see pictures and I am anxious to post them, but our luggage did not get here from New York! (all my download cords are in there even though I was never able to use them in China!) Yes, it made it from China to NY, but not from NY to Pittsburgh. Oh, and Jack, my 25 month old new son--26 months today--was tagged by Homeland Security to be patted down at the airport! Sheeesh!
Everyone is doing great. My kids at home were very well cared for while we were in China, by my friend, Joan, and my sisters, Diane and Linda, and they were at the airport to meet us which was great! Jack seems a bit disoriented, but seems happy to be here. Sammy was feeding him last night and looked at his hand and said, "Mom, why didn't you get him fingers for that hand?" Oh, out of the mouth of babes!
Praise God! We are home safely and I am the mother to 4 absolutely beautiful and delightful children! When I desperately wanted to get married and have babies, I wondered what I had done so wrong that I couldn't have my dreams and now I have these 4 terrific kids and I wonder what I could have done so right! I feel so blessed.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
We are alive and well!
I cannot believe it is the 21st already! We have had Jack since the 19th. All is well. He is beautiful and tiny! He is walking, but not talking. He smiles, laughs, and screams! He sleeps great. All is well!
Marney is being an absolute delight! He actually prefers her which is not a great surprise to me.
I am having difficulty getting computer time as neither really wants to entertain themselves; for some reason they need me to watch them play!
Marney and I did get to visit Hanchuan before we came to Chongqing. It was a wonderful visit. Marney was clearly nervous because all she wanted to talk about was her birthday party which is not until November! Her nanny is still there and we did get to see her. I must say that I was surprised and disappointed that she did not get emotional about seeing Marney. I got emotional about seeing her! She hardly seemed to remember her and, of course, Marney the same. That dispelled my fears that she might have been her mother. As much as I would like to have answers for my children when they start asking about their birthmothers, I just didn't want to have taken her from her.
While here, I have had news that a very dear friend from Aspen has passed away from cancer. I did not know he was ill; a colleague of mine from the school district has died; and my favorite aunt has gone home as well. It is kind of hard to be on the other side of the world when the news arrives. I am so ready to be home and hug my other children.
This has been so very hard. I have never been away from the kids this long. I still feel it was important to add the extra time for Marney, but now we have done that, we have Jack--I want to be home. Darn all the paperwork that still lies ahead!
Marney is being an absolute delight! He actually prefers her which is not a great surprise to me.
I am having difficulty getting computer time as neither really wants to entertain themselves; for some reason they need me to watch them play!
Marney and I did get to visit Hanchuan before we came to Chongqing. It was a wonderful visit. Marney was clearly nervous because all she wanted to talk about was her birthday party which is not until November! Her nanny is still there and we did get to see her. I must say that I was surprised and disappointed that she did not get emotional about seeing Marney. I got emotional about seeing her! She hardly seemed to remember her and, of course, Marney the same. That dispelled my fears that she might have been her mother. As much as I would like to have answers for my children when they start asking about their birthmothers, I just didn't want to have taken her from her.
While here, I have had news that a very dear friend from Aspen has passed away from cancer. I did not know he was ill; a colleague of mine from the school district has died; and my favorite aunt has gone home as well. It is kind of hard to be on the other side of the world when the news arrives. I am so ready to be home and hug my other children.
This has been so very hard. I have never been away from the kids this long. I still feel it was important to add the extra time for Marney, but now we have done that, we have Jack--I want to be home. Darn all the paperwork that still lies ahead!
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Hands of Hope Wall
What an adventure yesterday! Shepherd's Village is 1 and 1/2 hours away from our hotel and it took us 4 hours to get there!!! I was about to say "Never mind!" The "fog" as they call it was so bad that roads were shut down. I do believe the "fog" is very heavy pollution!
We did finally make it. Unfortunately, the children were all napping since we were so late, but we toured the facility which is wonderful! They are doing wonderful things there. We did get the pictures of the tiles. Very cool!
I do wish two things. I had packed lighter! I am nervous about getting on our flight today. In country flights are limited to 44 pounds. Our bags were marked 50 and 55 in the US! But, I do wish that I had a computer with me. When I awaken at 3 or 4 in the a.m. I would very much like to journal or do email, but . . . Marney is not feeling well today so I need to get her back upstairs. I am not sure what is going on. She has gotten plenty of sleep so I just am not sure.
We did finally make it. Unfortunately, the children were all napping since we were so late, but we toured the facility which is wonderful! They are doing wonderful things there. We did get the pictures of the tiles. Very cool!
I do wish two things. I had packed lighter! I am nervous about getting on our flight today. In country flights are limited to 44 pounds. Our bags were marked 50 and 55 in the US! But, I do wish that I had a computer with me. When I awaken at 3 or 4 in the a.m. I would very much like to journal or do email, but . . . Marney is not feeling well today so I need to get her back upstairs. I am not sure what is going on. She has gotten plenty of sleep so I just am not sure.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! WE ARE IN CHINA!!!!
Marney has asked me to quit saying it! I don't think that this whole adoption has really seemed real to me. I cannot really believe that I am going to be blessed one more time! and yet here we are!
It is so very cool to be in China with Marney. Oh my! It makes me want to start planning our Russia trip for Tracy and Sam. It is just so cool to watch her see China! She has come from, "They don't even speak my language." to "China is really beautiful!" in such a short time.
I told her at breakfast this morning that I want her to be an international business woman and speak many languages and travel the world taking me with her!
That said, we are suffering from jetlag!
The Great Wall was phenomenal! All that I read and watched through Virtual Tours on the Internet just did not do justice to the awe that I felt being there. We did climb higher than anyone in our group and Marney just wanted to keep going, but we were limited by the time frame given to us by our coordinator. Bummer!
Marney and I are missing Tracy and Sam terribly! I knew that we would, but Marney cannot stop asking me, "What are Tracy and Sam doing now?" We are 12 hours difference in time so it is fairly easy to predict. Except for the fact that I keep forgetting what day it is!
More touring today. I am anxious to get to the Phillip Hayden Foundation on Saturday, Marney's orphanage on Monday, and Jack on Tuesday!
More later!
It is so very cool to be in China with Marney. Oh my! It makes me want to start planning our Russia trip for Tracy and Sam. It is just so cool to watch her see China! She has come from, "They don't even speak my language." to "China is really beautiful!" in such a short time.
I told her at breakfast this morning that I want her to be an international business woman and speak many languages and travel the world taking me with her!
That said, we are suffering from jetlag!
The Great Wall was phenomenal! All that I read and watched through Virtual Tours on the Internet just did not do justice to the awe that I felt being there. We did climb higher than anyone in our group and Marney just wanted to keep going, but we were limited by the time frame given to us by our coordinator. Bummer!
Marney and I are missing Tracy and Sam terribly! I knew that we would, but Marney cannot stop asking me, "What are Tracy and Sam doing now?" We are 12 hours difference in time so it is fairly easy to predict. Except for the fact that I keep forgetting what day it is!
More touring today. I am anxious to get to the Phillip Hayden Foundation on Saturday, Marney's orphanage on Monday, and Jack on Tuesday!
More later!
Friday, September 01, 2006
THE TRIP!
The picture is Race for the Cure in Pittsburgh, PA, in May 2006 placed in the blog as a diversion from all the text.
On September 14 we are visiting Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City and will see an acrobatic show
15th Great Wall and Summer Palace
16th van trip to Wuqing to visit the Hands of Hope Wall. I requested that we spend the day there after I realized that we could volunteer. It is located at the Philip Hayden Foundation. I started out just wanting to go and photograph the tile that I bought for Marney. While clicking through the site looking for a contact, I realized that this could be a great opportunity for us to spend some time with some children so I emailed the director and asked about volunteering. I am pretty excited about it.
17th we fly to Wuhan, the city where I first met Marney
18th we go by van to Hanchuan and fly that night to Chongqing--that doesn't give us much time where Marney was born and I am going a day earlier than my agency suggested.
The afternoon of the 19th we get Jack!
25th fly to Guangzhou
Our consulate appointment is the 27th
On the 28th we fly back to Beijing and fly out of there on the 29th
Thursday, August 31, 2006
We are going to China!
It is all set! On Monday, August 28, I received the very good news. We had TA, travel approval. My agency requested that we be allowed to have a consulate appointment with the 7 other families from BAAS that had received their approval the week before. The request was granted so we will have our appointment on September 27!
Marney and I will leave here on September 12 and return September 29. Jack joins our family on September 19!
Details will follow soon!
As with my other adoptions: I waited, waited, waited, and panicked!
Marney and I will leave here on September 12 and return September 29. Jack joins our family on September 19!
Details will follow soon!
As with my other adoptions: I waited, waited, waited, and panicked!
Marney's tile in China
Part of what has been driving my plans for our return to China is that I want to see the tile that I purchased on the Hands of Hope Wall built by Angel Covers as a fundraiser for orphans in China. In searching for the directions of the wall, I found that it was built at the Philip Hayden Foundation's Shepherd's Children Village. It is located with LangFang Children's Village both house orphans, but they choose not to call it an orphanage. I have emailed them and requested that Marney and I be allowed to spend the day there helping in any way they see fit. My contact in China is to make the arrangements. I am very excited about this experience for Marney and for me.
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