U.S. Consulate!

 The trip to the consulate today was very emotional.  But it went wonderfully!!!  We stood with the other adopting parents, raised our right hands and swore the oath.  I teared at the enormity of it all.  I kept glancing from our US flag to SiHan...now her flag too.  It was pretty emotional.  Within 5 minutes of taking the oath I was suddenly in front of "the window" and it was my turn to see if my paperwork would pass muster or would I have something wrong with it.  This was the one step that terrified me - but now here I am on the other side of it ... prayers do get answered!!!  I have been calling her SiHan since I met her, but today when we got home from the consulate she truly became Elizabeth in my heart.  She will always have the SiHan, but now she is Elizabeth SiHan!  I will always be grateful to the woman who gave birth to her for loving her enough to let her go.  It must have been a tremendously pain decision.  And so now, Elizabeth, Jennifer and I are family and I am THE most blessed mom in the world!  We are off to the island for a day of celebration!!

At the US consulate for the oath and visa!!!!  Almost done!!!
She was sooooo sleepy...I had to wake her up because she fell asleep on the way over.

Playing in Guangzhou!

Seems she sees how to do something and that's all it takes.  Jen was the same way!
My parents let me take risks as a child and I turned out ok, so when we got to the playground on the island I just stepped back and let Elizabeth enjoy.  She  her new best friend and roommate to show her how to "do" the playground.  Up the ladder Cora went-Elizabeth followed.  Cora waited at the bottom to "catch her", Elizabeth slid down, turned and tried to catch the next one down.  As I watched her climb and run laughing and squealing total complete joy, tears literally sprang into my eyes at the huge change that had taken place in her little life in less than 8 days!!!  From the rice terraces in one of the most remote areas of China to throwing her head back and laughing as she runs and plays in such a completely carefree way!!!  I am truly blessed!!!

Guangzhou

We spent a wonderful day on the island, ate at Lucy's and Elizabeth has learned to climb the ladder and slide down the slide.  Our hotel is wonderful with a playground on the 4th floor that she LOVES  she is also becoming very good friends with her room mate Cora.  Tomorrow they read the TB test and only a few more days until we get to come home.

China Part 2 on to Guangzhou!!!!

October 19 Fri.:*Arrive in Guangzhou 9:00PM (9AM Friday EST)

October 20 Sat.:*8:30am, drive to New Medical Center for Elizabeth's physical check/TB test

October 21 Sun.: *Rest and adjustment. Enjoy hotel and Parks around

October 22 Mon. 10:00am  drive to Medical Center for TB result checking

October 23 Tue.: 7:40am drive to Consulate for swearing in and Appointment.

October 24 Wed.: Free other than a brief meeting at 4:30pm

October 25 Thu.: Leave 6:30am for Beijing :-)

Water time!

Most children adopted from China need time to adjust to taking their clothing off and having a bath.  Elizabeth was no different.  Several attempts to lure her into the tub by demonstrating how much fun the toys and bubbles were only resulted in her bolting from the bathroom in terror.  Yesterday due to a bug situation in our room we had to switch rooms.  We really HAD to take a shower the very first thing we did when we got to our new room so as not to bring anything with us.  I held her with me in the shower while she screamed as though I was killing her.  It couldn't have lasted more than two minutes but that was enough to break her trust in me for the rest of the day.  It broke my heart to do it, but it was one of those times I just had to be Mom and do the right thing.  Today she took her sippy cup and was dripping water from it on her hand...this gave me an idea to use the sink in the bathroom and take all the time needed to move forward in baby steps.  Each step was slow and she was very nervous but then she stayed so long I had to keep lifting her out to add more warm water!!!  Another victory that I didn't expect was after her bath when I was trying to dress her she wanted nothing to do with anything more than a diaper!!  This from the child who slept in all 5 layers of clothing she arrived in that first night because undressing was terrifying to her.  Such huge milestones for such a little sweetie!!

Monkeys Everywhere!!

Went to the monkey park today but the biggest monkey is here in the room tonight.  I was reading a story to her when she got up, got my camera bag, filled it full of her toys, put on my shoes and headed for the door...running away from home or going shopping...hard to say. lol

It's Official...

It's official, today Elizabeth SiHan's adoption was finalized and we are finally a family.

Family Day!

Soooooo... Arrived at the Civil Affairs office only to find out they would be 15 minutes late because they got a flat tire on the way.  She was coming from 2 1/2 hours north of where we are now. We got most of the paperwork done while we waited.  Suddenly we heard a ruckus and there she was grinning and laughing.  I had asked them not to hand her to me right away because I wanted her to adjust just a bit.  I handed her a sippy cup and a containers of puffs which she crammed into her mouth, then she tried to crawl up in my lap ... I scooped her up and their she stayed for the longest time, eating, drinking and laughing with me.  While the guide asked all my questions of the people who had been taking care of her.


We stopped at a grocery store on the way back to the hotel because I knew I would be needing a lot more food. Back in the hotel room I realized she had a messy diaper.  We have been told not to try and take their clothing off the first day or two if they seemed reluctant, but I couldn't leave her in a poppy diaper all night long.... sadly, that broke her trust of E and wouldn't let me near her for over an hour .. It didn't help any that a half an hour of that time we were locked in the bathroom.  I called the front desk but they don't understand English.  They sent someone up who knocked on the door of the room but when I didn't answer it they went away.  I called again and finally they came and let us out. lol.  but bit by bit she has made her way back to me and even gone well past our first mark...she just put on my sandals and walked around the room in them.  There are two items she is completely attached to.  One is the photo album I sent to her 6 months ago and the other is a doll my mother sent with me here.  She is completely in love with that doll Mom!
Peggy was online so we skyped for a bit and the monkey side of her really came out.  Since then she has picked up the phone twice (which calls the front desk) and best of all came over to me and gave me a huge hug!  Hoping to get her to sleep ...her caregiver said she sleeps solid from 8PM-6AM but I am thinking she might have been fibbing!

Will let you all know how tomorrow goes...at 10 AM our time her adoption becomes final =)

I Made It!

It is now 29 1/2 hours since I left my brother David's house and I am ready to burn my clothing and take a shower then sleep!!  But first the good news.... I will be meeting Elizabeth tomorrow (Sunday) at 5PM Sunday at 5AM your time!!  I will send pictures as soon as possible.  Not sure exactly where I am but thinking it is Zunyi City... it is a copy of Manhattan.  After I checked in I went for a walk just 2 blocks in each direction and I do believe I am the only non-Asian here...got LOTS of stares so headed back to my room and will explore more tomorrow.  For now... shower and sleep ... thanks for all the prayers and safe travel wishes....they must have worked because I am here with no glitches!  This is where I am staying http://en.trade-pointhotel.com/

The Time Has Come!!

It is so hard to believe that I will actually be halfway to China this time next week!
 In 10 days I will hold her in my arms....amazing! Here are my travel plans:
Dates and times in parenthesis are U.S. EST dates and times once I am in China.

Friday October 12th

Leave Portland 6:08 AM Arrive Newark 7:30 AM Leave Newark 11:55 AM Arrive Beijing Saturday 1:45PM (Sat. 1:45 AM) Lv Beijing 4:15 PM (Sat. 4:15 AM) Arr. Guiyang 7:15 PM (Sat. 7:15 AM)

Monday Oct. 15th

9AM (9PM Sunday)Go to Civil Affairs office meet Elizabeth for the first time and sign temporary custody papers!!        Bring Elizabeth back to hotel with me.

                      Tuesday Oct. 16th 9AM

(9PM Monday) Return to Civil Affairs office to finalize adoption.

                      Wednesday & Thursday

Resting, getting to know one another, some seeing sites in her home province.

                       Friday October 19th

Leave Guiyang 7:25PM (FRI. 7:25 AM) Arrive Guangzhou 9:00PM (Fri. 9AM)

                       Saturday October 20th

                        Doctor appointment for Elizabeth

                       Sunday October 21st

               Free/tour getting to know one another day perhaps a trip to the Shamian Island                      

                     Monday October 22th

                Follow up Doctor appointment Elizabeth.

                       Tuesday Oct. 23th

                    8:30 AM (8:30 PM Monday) US Consulate appointment for Elizabeth's visa.

                        Wednesday Oct. 24th

                   Free/tour getting to know one another day.

                        Thursday October 25th

leave Guangzhou at 9AM (Wed9PM) Arrive Beijing 11:55AM (Wed11:55PM)

                 Thursday Oct. 25th

leave Beijing 3:45PM (3:45 AM) Arrive Newark U.S.A.!!! 5:20PM See Peggy and hopefully Harriet.

                  Thursday Oct. 25th

leave Newark 9:59 Arrive Portland!!! 11:11 PM See Kendra, Livi and Barb. Stay over in Portland the night, then...

                Friday Oct. 26th

                       Home Sweet Home Friday morning!!! Where Elizabeth and I will start our US lives together!