I cannot go back and look at my blog to see what I have written or posted, due to being a little tired, I cannot remember...hahahaha! So sorry if I am repeating myself over and over. I really want to be able to look back and be able to reconstruct this huge time in our lives for Emma. Someday she might want to know what went into bringing her into our family, so thanks for taking that in account and thanks so much for the comments you who have commented have NO IDEA how it has encouraged me and Justin.
Once we got Emma in our hands yesterday, we brought her back to the hotel. We talked our guide into at least helping us find some bottled water, which she finally took Justin out on the street to find a vender for that. We are in a beautiful hotel, nicer than the Couer D Alene (our room is on the 23 floor) but outside is another story. I think we will find it easier to venture out as we are not so tired and know what to expect from Em. So anyway, we figured out a bottle for the little one and gave her some oatmeal we had brought, (not a good idea, as it came up), we gave up on eating dinner after we asked every person in the lobby and no one could help us. :) Fishy crackers did the job. We aren't starving. :) Emma had a bath and then fell asleep in her Daddy's arms and transitioned right to her crib. She woke in the night with a 101.8 fever but thankfully I brought meds to help her through the night. She is coughing very raspy, but I don't think she is getting worse. There is a hospital very close by if we get too concerned.
We woke very early and had breakfast in the lobby...which made us feel so much better. The highlight of the morning was talking to family back home...parents and kids! We have only heard how great our kids are doing and we are so thankful they are in great hands...we haven't worried a bit about them, but miss them something fierce. It has only been gone for six days but it feels longer. Love you all!
Sent from my iPad
Monday, March 4, 2013
Official Adoption Day
Today after we ate we went back to the same place as yesterday...where our adoption became official. We were asked many questions, that they already know from our paperwork, and had to promise never to abandon Wei Xiao Ting. She asked us several times to promise because 'very important' to not abandon our daughter. Once we got through those formalities we paid all kinds of money and met with the notary. We were told that the Notary is equivelant to a Supreme Court Justice, so a very important man. He must've been having a bad day because he locked his notary stamp in some sort of safe box and couldn't figure out how to open it...so we had to come back several hours later for our adoption certificates. :)
We then went to the police station to apply for Emma's Chinese Passport, which we will pick up before we leave Xian on Friday. So for the next three days as we wait, we will rest and do a little bit of sight seeing...specifically the Terra Cotta Warriors.
We also went to the equivelant of a Babies R Us today to get some baby items and some shoes for Emma...they saw us coming I think because all we got was some crackers, formula, three jars of baby food and some shoes...for $45.00. Shopping there was quite the experience, because they followed us around and didn't let us pick out our own things...the especially wanted us to buy formula imported from Switzerland. Apparently they are proud of that?! ? All in all it has been a great day and a lot less stressful. Emma is doing great! She is a true gem, just like we knew she would be.
Love to all!
Sent from my iPad
We then went to the police station to apply for Emma's Chinese Passport, which we will pick up before we leave Xian on Friday. So for the next three days as we wait, we will rest and do a little bit of sight seeing...specifically the Terra Cotta Warriors.
We also went to the equivelant of a Babies R Us today to get some baby items and some shoes for Emma...they saw us coming I think because all we got was some crackers, formula, three jars of baby food and some shoes...for $45.00. Shopping there was quite the experience, because they followed us around and didn't let us pick out our own things...the especially wanted us to buy formula imported from Switzerland. Apparently they are proud of that?! ? All in all it has been a great day and a lot less stressful. Emma is doing great! She is a true gem, just like we knew she would be.
Love to all!
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Monday Morning
Didn't get much written for Gotcha Day..and don't really remember what we sent off since it was such an overwhelming day. We left Beijing and arrived at Xian without any trouble. The airport in Beijing was so huge...the terminals you go to, or gates, are in a three level building. You eventually get sent to a door which leads you to a bus and then they taxi you (standing room only) out weaving through the runway until they (hopefully) find your plane. We were only at one terminal building, there were many. It was crazy and I wish we could've taken pictures but they don't allow it.
We arrived at Xian and were met by a guide, who was a talking history book. She seems very knowledgable in the adoption process but not overly sympathetic what we are actually going through. She took us to our hotel for an hour to unpack and get ready to meet Emma. Then when we left the hotel we had to go to the Bank of Ch*na to exchange our huge wad of new US dollars to Chinese currency. It was a very nerve wracking process, which I am amazed we even got done. We were exchanging more than the allowable amount for one day. It had us a bit frazzled and by then late to our next stop...Emma. When we got to the huge building where we would meet Emma, we walked into a huge abandoned building and got onto an elevator that was only plywood, seriously! Somehow, by Gods grace we made it up to the correct floor, which I think the building is being remodeled or something. We walked down a little hallway and already heard children crying and people talking. We walked in and there sitting in the arms of a nanny and next to the director..was Emma. No one had to introduce us, we knew it was her. She had been waiting for two hours for us and yet still was just sitting there content. She let me hold her right away, no tears, no struggle or reaching back for the Nanny. She really loved my glasses and kept pulling them off. That one moment time stopped but then chaos took over...we were asked to sign all kinds of papers, ask any questions we had for the nanny, and then we were ushered out. One note is that the couple we met in the airport the first night were there as well, but there was a miscommunication and there daughter had never left the orphanage over 9 hours away. They had to leave empty handed. I am hoping we see them today when they get to meet their daughter. Kara, the woman, took all kinds of pictures of us with Emma, she will email to me later...what a blessing!
Have to get ready to leave so will write again later, the internet doesn't work in our room so I am sitting in the lobby. Been trying to send pictures via cell-phone, glad you have gotten them and shared them, if you have.
Love to all, miss everyone so much! We are so tired but feeling better this morning after some breakfast. Will finish our days events later.
Blessings!
Sent from my iPad
We arrived at Xian and were met by a guide, who was a talking history book. She seems very knowledgable in the adoption process but not overly sympathetic what we are actually going through. She took us to our hotel for an hour to unpack and get ready to meet Emma. Then when we left the hotel we had to go to the Bank of Ch*na to exchange our huge wad of new US dollars to Chinese currency. It was a very nerve wracking process, which I am amazed we even got done. We were exchanging more than the allowable amount for one day. It had us a bit frazzled and by then late to our next stop...Emma. When we got to the huge building where we would meet Emma, we walked into a huge abandoned building and got onto an elevator that was only plywood, seriously! Somehow, by Gods grace we made it up to the correct floor, which I think the building is being remodeled or something. We walked down a little hallway and already heard children crying and people talking. We walked in and there sitting in the arms of a nanny and next to the director..was Emma. No one had to introduce us, we knew it was her. She had been waiting for two hours for us and yet still was just sitting there content. She let me hold her right away, no tears, no struggle or reaching back for the Nanny. She really loved my glasses and kept pulling them off. That one moment time stopped but then chaos took over...we were asked to sign all kinds of papers, ask any questions we had for the nanny, and then we were ushered out. One note is that the couple we met in the airport the first night were there as well, but there was a miscommunication and there daughter had never left the orphanage over 9 hours away. They had to leave empty handed. I am hoping we see them today when they get to meet their daughter. Kara, the woman, took all kinds of pictures of us with Emma, she will email to me later...what a blessing!
Have to get ready to leave so will write again later, the internet doesn't work in our room so I am sitting in the lobby. Been trying to send pictures via cell-phone, glad you have gotten them and shared them, if you have.
Love to all, miss everyone so much! We are so tired but feeling better this morning after some breakfast. Will finish our days events later.
Blessings!
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Soon!
We leave our hotel in 45 minutes!! Pictures are not far away! So excited! Thanks for the prayers, we are so blessed!
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
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