Gotcha Day!

Ni Hao from Fuzhou, Fujian, China.

Gotcha Day was everything that a parent would want. We met our beautiful Nina-Li in just a sofa area by a meeting room at our hotel. She came up to us very soft spoken and sweet. She had our album we sent her and easily identified all of us. We gave her a panda bear that she would not let go of. We then got out the bubbles. She squealed in delight! It was just as sweet as can be. Up to this day she has been very proud that she is going to America. Boasted about it at the orphanage. However, on the way to the hotel she changed her mind. So, her response to us was very good. However, we were warned that the evening could be rough. And it was.

Once we were done in the conference room and Bill picked her up, she screamed and wailed. It would just break your heart. This continued for about 3 hours. She finally just exhausted herself and went to sleep with all her clothes on at 8:30. She fell asleep with the little princess doll that Linda Forsythe gave her. She even covered up the little princess with her blanket. She slept until we woke her up at 7:45 this morning. Only waking up once and wimpering for about a minute. She is 7 and is fully aware that she will never see her friends and caretakers again. She has cried for her E.I. (sp?) several times. That was her favorite nanny.

She was sad this morning until the phone rang and then suddenly was wlling to brush her teeth and get ready. Everything went remarkably smooth. She began putting everything in a gift bag that we have given her and a couple of things of clothing she wore from the orphanage. Then it dawned on me, she thought she was returning to the orphanage. So, I decided to enjoy the peace we had and just let her think what she wanted. We walked hand in hand to driver to go to some appointments. That is when the next crying session began. Our guide tried to explain she wasn't going back. At every appt. the staff would try to comfort and explain to her. If they couldn't do it in Nina-Li's language, there was no way I could.

One of the problems was she was starving because she didn't eat dinner or breakfast. As soon as we arrived in our room she engulfed a banana, gulped some water down and then tried to escape. That was rough. However, thank you for mother nature. She had to go potty. And that broke up that. Bill arrived with some Congee (rice soup) and she ate all of it, and there was a lot! Bill went to find something for the rest of us to eat, so I had about 60-90 minutes alone with Nina-Li. She wanted her teeth brushed and then she saw my make-up and asked for eye shadow and blush. Well, of course I am going to oblige. We then painted her fingernails, took a walk in the hotel lobby and outside the front door. We read and colored. It was very delightful. Everything was good. We are learning how to communicate the best we can. She played with the boys and is doing well.

We had another little outburst for about 30 minutes or so. We think it was because she didn't get a nap in. She takes 2 hour naps everyday. I finally got her to lay down and after 15 minutes or so, she was fine.

For the evening we went to dinner here in the hotel. I think she really liked that. I believe it is probably the first time she has been to a restaurant and been served. We learned she likes french fries, shrimp, fetticinni alfredo, and bread. As we returned to the room she walked hand in hand with Dakota.

Nina-Li is going through a grieving process and it is completely normal. Difficult to handle. You want to comfort and consoul her. But, you can't. We have found the best thing to do is let her grieve.

And regarding our little make-up session. Now, everytime she goes to the bathroom, she asks for make-up. However, she has to say the English words eyes, cheeks and lips to get it. It is a good bonding opportunity. So far I can only get her to wear the pinguin shirt that Chris Jarrett got her and a jean jacket. She refuses to take off her tghts, boots and skirt that she came to us in. Even after we painted her toe nails, she insisted on getting those tights on right away.

So, we will see what tomorrow brings. We are going to Wal-Mart and have a list of items we want her to choose including a pair of shoes, new tights and a few toys and clothes.

Thank you for all your prayers. They are sustaining us right now. Believe me. This is tough. Yet, we are having more and more moments of connecting.

Love to you all!

Beijing Pictures

Here are pictures of Beijing before we left.

Good-bye Beijing!

Our last full day in Beijing was pretty laid back. Bill and I had an adoption meeting all morning and then all 5 of us had lunch with 3 other families who are here with our agency adopting. However, there are several families through other agencies here to adopt too. We have seen a few out and about.
After lunch we decided to defensively walk down to Walking Street. This isn't the actual name, just what everyone calls it. It is closed to traffic so everyone can casually walk around and shop. It is a huge shopping district. From what I know there are a minimum of 3 malls within 3 blocks of one another. They are all 5 and 6 levels. We had fun doing zainy poses and looking in the Asian shops. We went into a candy store and looked around. There was a small tray of some sort of crackers all broken up. They had a few about the store. I tried a little sample when suddenly I was heavily scorned by this woman who worked there. I kept saying Dui Bu Chi which means excuse me. But, she let me have it. Bill and I couldn't stop laughing later about it. It was funny. I didn't know how to say I'm sorry, so my choice of words probably didn't satisfy her.
We are amazed by the international culture here. We have met or observed people from Brazil, Singapore, Germany, France, Japan, Israel, Brussels and Australia.
Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, except we couldn't see the sun. You see wind is a friend to Beijing, and if there is not wind the smog sets heavily down upon the city. It was disgusting. We wanted to eat Roast Duck last night or Peking Duck. It's kind of like barbecue in KC, just the local cuising for the area. The place we wanted to go was only 5 blocks away. However, Bill and I couldn't bare the thought of walking through the smog much more.
So, we settled for a little French place and had pizza!
Last night after dinner Bll and I went down to Snack Street. (Right next to Walking street) Vendors are stretched about 50 yards down the street selling the delicatessens that make you cringe insdie. It was a lot of fun. The assortment to choose from included: Small baby chickens (cooked as if they are trying to escape the frying pan), star fish, sea urchins, eel, whole squid, sea horses, silk worms, beetles, lamb (intestines we think), snake, pranges and more. Bill decided to take a walk on the wild side (does this surprise you?) and eat snake. This family from Israel came up to us and were 'exclaiming what is he eating, what is he eating?' so the gentleman joined Bill and tried some. Bill's description of the taste is a very common one "It taste like chicken." To cook this variet of food it is all served on a stick and deep fried. The grease dripping of of the snake alone was gross, not to mention the food.
So today in about an hour, we are off to the airport to go to Fujian. We will be meeting our daughter in 9 hours. Very Excited!!!!
Blessings to you all!
P.S., Unfortunately I just looked and Bill hasn't downloaded the photos yet. So, you will have to stay tuned...I know you are dying of curiosity to see the snacks! :)

Beijing Chaos & Beauty

Our first two days in Beijing, Thursday & Friday were quite the adventure. From seeing how they live, what they eat to how they get around it was quite the adventure. Although we are still trying to adjust to flying through 13 time zones, we are managing to do as much as we can. On day 1 we hung out in Beijing, and walked a lot. The only sight-seeing we did other than immersing ourselves in the culture was the Forbidden City which is across the street from Tianemin Square. There were thousands of people there. It was overwhelming. And although they are across the street from each other, you go back and forth through an underground tunnel. For the street is 8 lanes wide. I would have enjoyed Forbidden City more perhaps if we had arranged a guide. I guess the tall Americans were easily identifiable. After every turn we were constantly approached by peddlers and willing tour guides saying they would give us a good tour for $$$. We were warned about the peddlers. Not only do you not want to purchase something, because then they all will swamp you. The danger is that the item is of course over priced and they will give you 'change' with counterfeit money. After awhile with so many people and so many peddlers I just wanted to get out of there. Which is a shame because I am sure we would have enjoyed it more.





On Friday we went to the Summer Palace (which was Dawson's, Bill's and my favorite), a jade factory, the Great Wall (Dakota's favorite) and a silk factory.




Bill and I were discussing our observations. The Chinese are hard workers. It is in their culture. From building the Great Wall 2,000 years ago to the Summer Palace being built and a lake literally hand dugged 300 years ago (approx.) We seem them going to work on bicycles with children toting along either on a lap or in the back or miraculously hanging on somehow. If they need to delivery packages (several) or cabbage or 8 fooot long poles and only have a bike, that is what they do. We see a lot of 'delivery' of what we would consider freight simply done on bikes. Our joke is "There goes UPS." But in all seriousness, if we had so much to cart around, and only had a bike, most of us would say, it cannot be done.

Beijing is huge. 20 to 30 million people (we've heard both). As an outsider, it is chaotic. For them it is organized chaos. How they manage to get through the streets alone is something you have to laugh about or you will have anxiety wondering if you will survive. Somehow they turn a two lane road into 4 or 5 lanes. Sometimes go the wrong way on the road and if all else fails, they use the sidewalk. We even saw a bus simply parked on the sidewalk. No big deal, huh? One of my favorite pictures that Bill took to describe the organized chaos is a mess of electrical lines streaming from everywhere and then jumbled all together in some kind of crazy configuration.

Today we have a meeting with other adoption families and are going to hang out with our kids. This is our last night as a family of 4. Then tomorrow we will fly to Fuzhou to get Nina-Li.


Love to you all.
Michelle

They've arrived!!!

Hello, everyone! Michelle is having trouble accessing the blogger website from China, but the family has arrived safe and sound. For now, I will be updating the website for them, as I am able. Michelle will email me photos and updates, and I will post them here as soon as I get them, so everyone at home can stay up to date on their journey!!

Stay tuned...

~Dani

Happy Birthday Nina-Li

Today is Nina-Li's 7th Birthday! We sent her a video of us sing Happy Birthday to her in Mandarin. Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè (Jew knee shun gree kwi le) sung to the Happy Birthday song. We are hoping that she got it!
I met someone also named Michelle on a Yahoo group that is adopting from the same orphanage. Her daughter turned one in July. She was able to send her daughter a birthday cake and get pictures of the occassion. She sent them to me in hopes that Nina-Li was in several of the photos. During that time, I believe I shared with Michelle that our agency won't allow us to send Nina-Li a cake. It is actually the CCAA (the agency that oversees adoption in China) that set the policy and our agency strongly encourages us to follow it.
At the end of September Michelle contacted me to let me know they are trying to visit the orphanage our daughters are at. This is rare, and therefore she wasn't sure if she would get to go. She asked if she could take anything or tell Nina-Li anything while there. With respect to our agency's wishes I just emailed her a family photo and asked her to take it.
Right now Michelle and her family are in China and got their daughter Mingmei. I have been reading their blog routinely! I was shocked when I read the paragraph below. I am not a crier. I don't cry easily. But this made me burst into tears of joy!
From Michelle Hascall:
October 19, 2010
Tuesday was a huge day for us, in a number of senses. Our agency had gotten approval and made arrangements for us to visit Mingmei's orphanage. The trip there was 20 minutes in a van to the train station, 15 minute walk through the station, 70 minutes on a bullet train and then 50 minutes by car. (Driving in China deserves its own post, another day, not even going to start on that one right now.) Was it a little crazy to attempt with two kids? Yes, but maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. The best way I can describe it was humbling. Even now, it shakes me to the core. You really have no concept of how easy and posh life is in the US until you leave there. We were welcomed into the orphanage with open arms, didn't hurt that we showed up with birthday cake. (I have found some amazing support from people online and a person I met has a daughter waiting for her at the same orphanage. The daughter's birthday happens to be today, so we took cake from her parents.) We were able to meet the nannies who have cared for Mingmei and see her room and "crib". It was difficult to see, although the conditions were superior to most because her orphanage is relatively new and well-funded. It was good for us to experience. We then had tea with the two directors and they asked us more questions. They seemed pleased that we were well educated and thought we would provide well for her. Next they took us to lunch :D I warned Troy that he better eat whatever they gave us and smile. He was a champ. I think my two favorites were watching Troy pull the head off shrimp then eating it as well as watching Troy pull apart a crab to eat the innards while Ray was freaking out and couldn't believe we would eat that, because "it was scary". Troy's quote when I asked him about it later, "Ah, the things we do for our kids." We also went to Mingmei's "finding place." As some of you know, she was left at the hospital's OB unit the day after she was born. Again, a humbling experience. We have a few pictures, but those belong to her and it will be up to her if she ever wants to share them.

I am so thankful that Michelle & her husband were the hands of God and delivered Nina-Li a birthday cake! I was so discouraged that I couldn't do it and thought how sad to have another birthday come and go with out any celebration. I am overwhelmed that a family we really don't know would do such a kind thing for us.

We have seen God move through this entire process. I have wanted to adopt since before Bill and I got married, it was one of those package deal things. Well, it took awhile before Bill was ready. In the summer of 2009, he shared with me that he was ready. We officially began the process at the beginning of September, going out on faith. I cannot even remember how many things just 'fell' into place. Knowing that it was a God thing.

The moment I saw Nina-Li's picture, I knew she was our daughter. There are several families who want a healthy little girl. And there are a lot who are like us and want an older daughter. When I inquired about G09-230 her number on the website, I was so surprised to find out we were the only family thus far who did. They sent us paperwork to fill out. Every Thursday they go to board and discuss a families' application and make a decision regarding the match. If there are more than one family, they carefully consider each family and make a decision. There were no other families who inquired about G09-230. I believe that is because God knew Nina-Li was for us, and made the process simple and easy for us.

Through the Yahoo group I have mentioned I met Terry Daly who adopted a friend of Nina's last year. Then of course I also met Michelle. 10 years ago that wouldn't have been possible. I love God using Yahoo!

God has provided financially. Travel costs nearly doubled this past summer. When I saw that I was a bit concerned that we wouldn't be able to afford to take the boys. However, they have returned to normal. We are blessed to take my father and kids who will be with us the entire time. And my dad & the boys can do other things while we are dealing with all the goverment paperwork. The weather this time of year is supposedly beautiful in China. So, we are very excited.

We are so thankful for so many of our friends supporting us and praying for us through this process.

To God be the glory!

1 Month Away????

It is quite possible that one month from today we will be arriving in Beijing. There is sooo much to do. From gifts to buy, to packing, and cleaning. Cleaning? Yes cleaning. I have this weird thing that I cannot stand leaving my home while on vacation messy. It is awful coming home to something that you have 'to do'. I know there are more like me on this issue, we've talked!
Anyway, the amount of anticipation and anxiousness I feel is overwhelming at times. I find myself constantly thinking o.k., what else can I do right now? I continually think about Nina-Li and pray for her safety and hope. I pray she has hope. Hoping for a family to come, hope for a new and better life. For if she has hope, she will possibly receive us as her family just a bit easier. I wake-up through-out the night now thinking of her and praying for her until I drift off to sleep again. We have spent the past 9 months doting and admiring just a few photographs that we have received. Yet, I still don't know if she knows that we are coming.
We made her a family album and mailed it, but we do not know for certain if she got it. I can understand why. I would understand if the orphanage waits until they know for certain we are coming. How heart-breaking it would be for a child who has been with out family to wait and wait for a family that doesn't come. Or, for a child to continually wonder when is this family coming? We don't even know for certain the date we will come, so how can a child understand the process?
This month the boys and I are working hard on homeschool, for we will be taking about a month off of the curriculum for our trip and adjustment back home. I am excited to give them the opportunity to see and experience the Chinese culture. That is one of the benefits of homeschooling. At least for our family. We try to give the kids opportunities to learn by experience as often as possible. I don't see the results right away. But, I do sometimes days, months or even a year later. When they are reflecting on what they did or telling a friend about it. The learning process seems to be more solidified when reading/learning are combined with experiences. When a child says 'Oh, I read about this.' or 'I remember seeing pictures of this.' OR when they are reading something and then say ' I remember being there or seeing that.' Sorry, going a different direction with my rambling.
Well, in short, we will try to communicate with everyone at home through this blog. I hope to do it as often as possible, given all electronics we are taking will not fail us!