Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Official Adoption Day March 26, 2012
Today was the "Official" adoption day in Nanchang. It was very exhausting for the both of us.
First stop was the Civil Affairs office to sign our documents. Every time the group goes anywhere we are driven by the bus driver from the hotel. As the bus driver pulled up to the government building he hit a 2ft. high brick wall with the bus. This put a huge scratch and dent in the bus, I hope he didn't get into to much trouble.
The group then proceeded to go up to the 26th floor of this building. Smoking is allowed everywhere in China and so I find it amazing that people will smoke in elevators, which is what happened to us. Simple things like this remind me how different it is from the US. When the group got to our floor we were given a document that we needed to verify the following: name, address, birth-date and passport number. A very simple task. But it came with the warning that if any of the information was incorrect and we proceeded on we would have to fly back to Nanchang to get it corrected before we could meet with the consulate. This warning seem to make it all the more important that everything were positively correct before we proceeded any further. It was very nerve racking.
After signing the necessary documents and getting our official adoption paperwork I then met with an official and had to swear that I would take care of Kathryn and would never abandon her. (In my head I was thinking....it took me 6 years to get her, why would I ever even think to abandon her.) Of course, I did not say anything but yes!! I also had to promise to send her to a University!! Hope I can afford it by the time she gets to be that age! I hate to think of what it is going to cost in 18 years.
After this momentous occasion we celebrated by going to of all places Wal-mart. Each member in the group really needed to get some stuff for their babies. I needed to get a stroller. While Kathryn is very tiny and probably doesn't weigh 16 pounds yet, continuously carrying her was not easy. I wanted to purchase an inexpensive stroller. I also purchased some Chinese baby food while I was there. Good think because Kathryn really likes it. I think we will be making one more trip and so I might need to buy some more for her then.
After shopping and a bite for lunch the group then headed to the local police station. Kathryn and the babies needed to get their pictures taken for their passports. This was a very simple process and didn't take to long. We met up with some other US families from other agencies doing this to. The babies were all very cute.
One last stop for the day was to the notary. The Notary signed one of the documents, not sure which one. Again, I needed to swear that I would take care of Kathryn and send her to the University. This process didn't take very long but by now it is getting late in the day 3:30 or so, and it is getting hot. Kathryn was getting a little cranky and was certainly getting tired. I was ready to be done. After all families had their paperwork notarized we headed back to the hotel. Thank goodness....
For supper the families decided to order pizza. So Kathryn and I joined in, well I did at least. After supper we headed off to our room. It is going to be an early night tonight. Both of us are very tired.
Tomorrow we are doing some sightseeing and maybe some shopping. This should be fun. Kathryn has been just a little dream child. She loves to move her head to music and likes it when I whistle. I really need to learn some new songs.
Love you all
Kathryn and Elizabeth
Official signing of the paperwork, farmilies are checking over their information.
Wal-mart sign
Wal-mart escalator - takes both people and strollers
Police Station
Police officer who took Kathryn's picture
Pictures of kathryn throughout the day!!
She is teething!
First stop was the Civil Affairs office to sign our documents. Every time the group goes anywhere we are driven by the bus driver from the hotel. As the bus driver pulled up to the government building he hit a 2ft. high brick wall with the bus. This put a huge scratch and dent in the bus, I hope he didn't get into to much trouble.
The group then proceeded to go up to the 26th floor of this building. Smoking is allowed everywhere in China and so I find it amazing that people will smoke in elevators, which is what happened to us. Simple things like this remind me how different it is from the US. When the group got to our floor we were given a document that we needed to verify the following: name, address, birth-date and passport number. A very simple task. But it came with the warning that if any of the information was incorrect and we proceeded on we would have to fly back to Nanchang to get it corrected before we could meet with the consulate. This warning seem to make it all the more important that everything were positively correct before we proceeded any further. It was very nerve racking.
After signing the necessary documents and getting our official adoption paperwork I then met with an official and had to swear that I would take care of Kathryn and would never abandon her. (In my head I was thinking....it took me 6 years to get her, why would I ever even think to abandon her.) Of course, I did not say anything but yes!! I also had to promise to send her to a University!! Hope I can afford it by the time she gets to be that age! I hate to think of what it is going to cost in 18 years.
After this momentous occasion we celebrated by going to of all places Wal-mart. Each member in the group really needed to get some stuff for their babies. I needed to get a stroller. While Kathryn is very tiny and probably doesn't weigh 16 pounds yet, continuously carrying her was not easy. I wanted to purchase an inexpensive stroller. I also purchased some Chinese baby food while I was there. Good think because Kathryn really likes it. I think we will be making one more trip and so I might need to buy some more for her then.
After shopping and a bite for lunch the group then headed to the local police station. Kathryn and the babies needed to get their pictures taken for their passports. This was a very simple process and didn't take to long. We met up with some other US families from other agencies doing this to. The babies were all very cute.
One last stop for the day was to the notary. The Notary signed one of the documents, not sure which one. Again, I needed to swear that I would take care of Kathryn and send her to the University. This process didn't take very long but by now it is getting late in the day 3:30 or so, and it is getting hot. Kathryn was getting a little cranky and was certainly getting tired. I was ready to be done. After all families had their paperwork notarized we headed back to the hotel. Thank goodness....
For supper the families decided to order pizza. So Kathryn and I joined in, well I did at least. After supper we headed off to our room. It is going to be an early night tonight. Both of us are very tired.
Tomorrow we are doing some sightseeing and maybe some shopping. This should be fun. Kathryn has been just a little dream child. She loves to move her head to music and likes it when I whistle. I really need to learn some new songs.
Love you all
Kathryn and Elizabeth
Official signing of the paperwork, farmilies are checking over their information.
Pictures of kathryn throughout the day!!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Gotcha Day March 25, 2012
What a trip this has been! I left Minneapolis Airport early Friday Morning. Fast forward through a long flight, long layovers and extreme exhaustion to Sunday at 4:30 pm. After 6 years, 5 months of endless paperwork and long periods between with nothing happening Fu Ya Lan was placed in my shaking hands. Her American name is Kathryn Ya Lan.
She is absolutely beautiful!! She is very tiny and very inquisitive. She loves looking directly into my eyes, searching, I am not sure what for. She is everything that I could have hoped for and have dreamed about for years.
Once the babies were given to us we took them to our rooms to feed them. (I am traveling with 3 other families from this point forward.) Kathryn was only slightly interested in food. I will need to work on that and also my technique. I am not sure what the maid is going to think when she comes into my room to find I have shot baby formula all over the mirror! Multiple times!!
Kathryn is very chatty. I am sure you will all agree she will fit right in with me and the family. She has a great smile and is fairly calm. I was able to Skype with family and friends back home and she did very well with all of that. Her Dad, sisters and brothers were finally able to meet her for the first time on Sunday. They all were in awe of her. Ella kept commenting on what beautiful eyes she has and Gracie just loves her little thithter (sister). I can't wait till they can hold her too.
Today we are off to the Civil Affairs office to sign our official documents. Then off to Wal-mart to get our needed supplies. I will need a stroller, she loves to be held but I realize I should have been lifting weights at some point in time!!
Kathryn and I made it through our first night! We are getting up and getting ready. Today is going to be a great day!! Love you all at home, I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Elizabeth
She is absolutely beautiful!! She is very tiny and very inquisitive. She loves looking directly into my eyes, searching, I am not sure what for. She is everything that I could have hoped for and have dreamed about for years.
Once the babies were given to us we took them to our rooms to feed them. (I am traveling with 3 other families from this point forward.) Kathryn was only slightly interested in food. I will need to work on that and also my technique. I am not sure what the maid is going to think when she comes into my room to find I have shot baby formula all over the mirror! Multiple times!!
Kathryn is very chatty. I am sure you will all agree she will fit right in with me and the family. She has a great smile and is fairly calm. I was able to Skype with family and friends back home and she did very well with all of that. Her Dad, sisters and brothers were finally able to meet her for the first time on Sunday. They all were in awe of her. Ella kept commenting on what beautiful eyes she has and Gracie just loves her little thithter (sister). I can't wait till they can hold her too.
Today we are off to the Civil Affairs office to sign our official documents. Then off to Wal-mart to get our needed supplies. I will need a stroller, she loves to be held but I realize I should have been lifting weights at some point in time!!
Kathryn and I made it through our first night! We are getting up and getting ready. Today is going to be a great day!! Love you all at home, I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Elizabeth
Friday, May 13, 2011
Coming Home
Hi Everyone - From sleep deprivation and the system being down I am extremely far behind in my post.
WE ARE COMING HOME!! Yeah!! We leave here on Sunday at 9:15 PM and arrive in Minneapolis/St. Paul on Monday at 9:50 PM. I am so excited to be on my way.
This weekend will be spent packing and doing some last minute things that we would like to do. Hopefully the system will be up tonight when I get home and I can catch up on the blog with some of our activites from this week.
Love you all,
Elizabeth and Gracie
WE ARE COMING HOME!! Yeah!! We leave here on Sunday at 9:15 PM and arrive in Minneapolis/St. Paul on Monday at 9:50 PM. I am so excited to be on my way.
This weekend will be spent packing and doing some last minute things that we would like to do. Hopefully the system will be up tonight when I get home and I can catch up on the blog with some of our activites from this week.
Love you all,
Elizabeth and Gracie
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Saturday, May 7th 9:30 PM
Thursday was a pretty good day all and all. Gracie had some more nightmares but I think we made up for the sleep I missed by sleeping in until after 7. We are normally up way before 6 so this was great.
We only had 2 temper tantrums today so this was a definite improvement. She decided she doesn't want to wear diapers when she is sleeping, this started at nap time and again at bed time. As you all know this is a must based off of our previous posts. (I don't know how many comforters a kid can pee on before you get kicked out but I have to assume there is a limit:) I won the battle and she ended up in the diaper. Since it hasn't happened again I would say I won the war too.
We also went back to the doctor on Thursday to get the results of the TB test she took on Tues. Results were negative!! Yeah!!! One more hurdle passed. Next on our list is to pick up the Travel Documents on Sunday and then change flights. I am starting to see the end of our journey here.
Thursday we also decided to go swimming. You can pay to swim at some of the hotels that are close. It was a very hot and humid day and I thought it would be good to amuse ourselves. Gracie has only been swimming twice before but she seems to love it. Of course she doesn't really swim, she just goes to the edge, holds my hand and then jumps in. Her head never goes under water but she is sure brave jumping off of the side. She even jumped a few times on her own without holding my hands. She has a wonderful laugh and really had a lot of fun.
Thursday evening Gracie and I went to the local restaurant. They know us now and Gracie has started to warm up to all of the waiters. It is close and convenient which is why I like it. The food is also very good. I have not been very adventurous when it comes to the food here. I stay with things that I understand exactly what I am eating. Some of the parents have gotten really sick so I am trying to be carefully.
Whenever we are just hanging at the B&B we are normally messing around with the kids. Gracie really enjoys playing and running with them all. One of her favorite things is to play on the blue reindeer as you can see.
Friday we had a very busy day. We got up and ate breakfast as usual and then decided to do some shopping. We walked to some shops a bit down the road and picked up a few gifts we are planning on bringing back. Gracie and I make quite the pair walking down the road. The B&B I am at has a bright red stroller that they let me use. (Thank goodness, I would be lost without it.) There aren't any sidewalks for most of the streets, so you just walk on the side of the road. I have gotten very good at not getting freaked out by all of the honking that is going on as we walk, they use honking as a form of communication here. We also tend to get a lot of people that stare at the two of us but that no longer bothers me. All kinds of people walk here so I just try to do what the local people are doing and most of the time I am OK. Some of the streets that we cross are very busy and with no street lights or stop signs it is really cross at your own risk.
Friday Evening we went back to the Garden of Dreams and attempted to meet up with some of the US Families. Only one of the families actually showed up. I am assuming that the severe thunderstorms had something to do with the lack of attendance. It really has been raining here quite a bit. We had fun anyway and that is what counts. It was a great time with the family we met. They have a son from China who is 6 and their new daughter is 4. Gracie did not eat a ton that evening...Not sure if it was because she loved the milk shake and drank most of it quickly or if her tummy is bothering her. We got home a little late so by the time I got Gracie to bed she went right to sleep, diaper and all. Putting on the diaper has gotten a little easier.
We only had 2 temper tantrums today so this was a definite improvement. She decided she doesn't want to wear diapers when she is sleeping, this started at nap time and again at bed time. As you all know this is a must based off of our previous posts. (I don't know how many comforters a kid can pee on before you get kicked out but I have to assume there is a limit:) I won the battle and she ended up in the diaper. Since it hasn't happened again I would say I won the war too.
We also went back to the doctor on Thursday to get the results of the TB test she took on Tues. Results were negative!! Yeah!!! One more hurdle passed. Next on our list is to pick up the Travel Documents on Sunday and then change flights. I am starting to see the end of our journey here.
Thursday we also decided to go swimming. You can pay to swim at some of the hotels that are close. It was a very hot and humid day and I thought it would be good to amuse ourselves. Gracie has only been swimming twice before but she seems to love it. Of course she doesn't really swim, she just goes to the edge, holds my hand and then jumps in. Her head never goes under water but she is sure brave jumping off of the side. She even jumped a few times on her own without holding my hands. She has a wonderful laugh and really had a lot of fun.
Thursday evening Gracie and I went to the local restaurant. They know us now and Gracie has started to warm up to all of the waiters. It is close and convenient which is why I like it. The food is also very good. I have not been very adventurous when it comes to the food here. I stay with things that I understand exactly what I am eating. Some of the parents have gotten really sick so I am trying to be carefully.
Whenever we are just hanging at the B&B we are normally messing around with the kids. Gracie really enjoys playing and running with them all. One of her favorite things is to play on the blue reindeer as you can see.
Friday we had a very busy day. We got up and ate breakfast as usual and then decided to do some shopping. We walked to some shops a bit down the road and picked up a few gifts we are planning on bringing back. Gracie and I make quite the pair walking down the road. The B&B I am at has a bright red stroller that they let me use. (Thank goodness, I would be lost without it.) There aren't any sidewalks for most of the streets, so you just walk on the side of the road. I have gotten very good at not getting freaked out by all of the honking that is going on as we walk, they use honking as a form of communication here. We also tend to get a lot of people that stare at the two of us but that no longer bothers me. All kinds of people walk here so I just try to do what the local people are doing and most of the time I am OK. Some of the streets that we cross are very busy and with no street lights or stop signs it is really cross at your own risk.
Friday Evening we went back to the Garden of Dreams and attempted to meet up with some of the US Families. Only one of the families actually showed up. I am assuming that the severe thunderstorms had something to do with the lack of attendance. It really has been raining here quite a bit. We had fun anyway and that is what counts. It was a great time with the family we met. They have a son from China who is 6 and their new daughter is 4. Gracie did not eat a ton that evening...Not sure if it was because she loved the milk shake and drank most of it quickly or if her tummy is bothering her. We got home a little late so by the time I got Gracie to bed she went right to sleep, diaper and all. Putting on the diaper has gotten a little easier.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wednesday, May 4th, 9PM
I have some catching up to do on my blog. It has been very busy these last few days. Mostly because Gracie is off of her nap/sleep schedule. I don't have much free time since she isn't napping and by the time nighttime comes I fall asleep as fast as she does.
I have determined that Gracie has capabilities of mass destruction and when you add in the few things I have broken we make a great pair. I can't go into a list because as of yet I have not confessed to all of them. All in due time.
When I was updating the blog on Sunday, the diaper Gracie was wearing was failing. So once again she peed on top of the comforter. Do you know how embarrassing it is to have to fess up to that again? So then because she napped so late on Sunday her sleep schedule has been off all week. She wouldn't go down on Sunday and was very crabby on Monday. We spent most of the day either crying or laughing....no happy medium. Sunday evening, Jamie, one of the guests at the B&B came home with a gift for the kids. Gracie received this cute little dog from her. Jamie left us on Monday to go back home.
Monday we did more exploring around the B&B. I am getting braver the longer I stay here. Since Gracie was having such a bad day I didn't really want to try anything that would be too much for her. Ana and Per got some new fish delivered on Monday. (No Dave they did not name one after you) That was pretty exciting for the group as you can see in the picture. Gracie loves looking at the fish and enjoys watching them get fed. Monday night brought on something new for us. Gracie had some really bad dreams. I hope that does not continue...she would start screaming in the night and cry for awhile, then just as quickly stop crying and start sleeping peacefully again. This happened twice - let's hope it is a one time thing.
Tuesday was our visit to the doctor for Gracie to get her physical and her TB test. She was not very happy when the male doctor tried to touch her. She just cried and cried. However, when they put the needle in her arm for the TB test nothing.....she didn't cry at all. Who can figure her out. We go back to the doctors office to have the TB test read on Thursday. I hope all is well. For supper on Tuesday night I decided we needed to go on an adventure because we needed to have some company other than ourselves. We went to the Shanker Hotel and met up with three other families from the states. It was fun to see the how everyone was coping. Each family has their own struggles, while not easy, at least I know I am not alone.
Wednesday we made our way to the Travel agent to try and change my flight back home. Looks like we might get to come home a few days early. The Travel Agent told me I couldn't actually change my flight until Gracie could book hers. I can't book her ticket until I have her travel document. I don't get that until the 8th, so I continue to hope we can get on a flight back home on the 15th. I really wanted to leave on the 14th but there isn't a flight to Abu Dhabi on the 14th. So then I tried the 13th but that was booked. So now I am looking at the 15th - please say prayers that flight works out. That means I would be home by the 16th, 5 days early!! Then come to find out there are 2 more strike days planned for May - the 13th and 15th. That means I am going to have to make special arrangements to get to the airport on the 15th. Only certain vehicles can drive during a strike. Just my luck.
Wednesday also brought us the discovery that Gracie has lice. I thought we were safe but apparently not. Lice is very common in the orphanages and luckily I had my lice treatment with me and gave it to her immediately. Nirmala, one of the Didi's at the B&B found the lice and was very nice to help clean Gracie's head. Hopefully we will get these little critters dealt with quickly. Gracie really likes Nirmala and sat like a big girl for her while she was examining her head.
Gracie and I spend a lot of time just hanging out with her running around. She is so funny when she runs....
I have determined that Gracie has capabilities of mass destruction and when you add in the few things I have broken we make a great pair. I can't go into a list because as of yet I have not confessed to all of them. All in due time.
When I was updating the blog on Sunday, the diaper Gracie was wearing was failing. So once again she peed on top of the comforter. Do you know how embarrassing it is to have to fess up to that again? So then because she napped so late on Sunday her sleep schedule has been off all week. She wouldn't go down on Sunday and was very crabby on Monday. We spent most of the day either crying or laughing....no happy medium. Sunday evening, Jamie, one of the guests at the B&B came home with a gift for the kids. Gracie received this cute little dog from her. Jamie left us on Monday to go back home.
Monday we did more exploring around the B&B. I am getting braver the longer I stay here. Since Gracie was having such a bad day I didn't really want to try anything that would be too much for her. Ana and Per got some new fish delivered on Monday. (No Dave they did not name one after you) That was pretty exciting for the group as you can see in the picture. Gracie loves looking at the fish and enjoys watching them get fed. Monday night brought on something new for us. Gracie had some really bad dreams. I hope that does not continue...she would start screaming in the night and cry for awhile, then just as quickly stop crying and start sleeping peacefully again. This happened twice - let's hope it is a one time thing.
Tuesday was our visit to the doctor for Gracie to get her physical and her TB test. She was not very happy when the male doctor tried to touch her. She just cried and cried. However, when they put the needle in her arm for the TB test nothing.....she didn't cry at all. Who can figure her out. We go back to the doctors office to have the TB test read on Thursday. I hope all is well. For supper on Tuesday night I decided we needed to go on an adventure because we needed to have some company other than ourselves. We went to the Shanker Hotel and met up with three other families from the states. It was fun to see the how everyone was coping. Each family has their own struggles, while not easy, at least I know I am not alone.
Wednesday we made our way to the Travel agent to try and change my flight back home. Looks like we might get to come home a few days early. The Travel Agent told me I couldn't actually change my flight until Gracie could book hers. I can't book her ticket until I have her travel document. I don't get that until the 8th, so I continue to hope we can get on a flight back home on the 15th. I really wanted to leave on the 14th but there isn't a flight to Abu Dhabi on the 14th. So then I tried the 13th but that was booked. So now I am looking at the 15th - please say prayers that flight works out. That means I would be home by the 16th, 5 days early!! Then come to find out there are 2 more strike days planned for May - the 13th and 15th. That means I am going to have to make special arrangements to get to the airport on the 15th. Only certain vehicles can drive during a strike. Just my luck.
Gracie and I spend a lot of time just hanging out with her running around. She is so funny when she runs....
PS. She does her own hair, I have nothing to do with the little pony she puts her hair in every day. :)
Have a great day
Gracie and Elizabeth
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sunday, May 1st, 5PM
Friday was a very busy day for us. Diamond picked us up around 10 am to go to process our travel document application. What a crazy place that was. There is only one place where the citizens of Nepal can apply for a passport and that is the Foreign Affairs Ministry. We had to go through security to drive in and park, off to the left are a ton of people waiting in line, they are all trying to apply for their Nepali passport. We drive through security and then had to wait a bit before we could go in, we needed a copy of Gracie's birth certificate in Nepalese instead of English. While waiting their was this guy going crazy trying to get into the building but they wouldn't let him in. Diamond went and got 2 more security guards to assist us get into the building. Very scary! Once inside it is very dark and dungeon like, and all of those people in line can see you. We went through this tunnel area and into a room with 4 people processing paperwork. They have one or two windows facing the outside where all of the people standing in line are trying for a chance to hand over their paperwork. Crazy place and they don't use computers, it is all done by hand. Due to the lack of electricity I am sure that the computers would just make the problems worse.
Once we were done submitting our application they said Gracie's travel documents would be done by Sunday May 8th!! Very exciting. After that we will need to apply for her Visa to get into the US.
Friday afternoon was spent going to the US Embassy for our initial visit. We reviewed the forms I will need to fill out when I go back for my interview for the Visa. Not a ton of work to do so that is great.
Friday Evening Gracie and I met up with the Osswalds at the Garden of Dreams. This is a very beautiful relaxing place. They were celebrating their pending departure the next day with their in country rep and were kind enough to invite us to join. Their in country rep had bet Gracie before when she was assisting another family from Gracie's orphanage. She said that she looked so much happier now! In the picture above Gracie is with her friend Nate, Nate is the son of the Osswalds.
Below are pictures from the Garden of Dreams.
Saturday was a low key day for us. Gracie and I were very happy for the Osswalds because they and the other family staying at the B&B were headed home. We wish we could havebeen with them.
Once we were done submitting our application they said Gracie's travel documents would be done by Sunday May 8th!! Very exciting. After that we will need to apply for her Visa to get into the US.
Below are pictures from the Garden of Dreams.
Saturday was a low key day for us. Gracie and I were very happy for the Osswalds because they and the other family staying at the B&B were headed home. We wish we could havebeen with them.
Missing home a ton. Hoping the process keeps on moving!!
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