Gotcha Day

Monday, July 27th, we met our little Mei Mei. Such a long awaited day for us, yet a day of confusion and sadness for our little girl. Her little world was turned upside down. This is what I wrote on our facebook page on Gotcha Day:

Adoption is hard. It is beautiful, but it is hard. Mei Mei was loved and well taken care of at her orphanage, which is a wonderful blessing. But there is no future there. After today she will be an orphan no more. She will have a mother and a father, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. My heart hurts for her, but I have joy and hope also, our God will bring beauty from these ashes.




We had a half a day to spend before it was time to meet our guide and driver, and head to the Center for Intercountry Adoption of Hubei Province. We ventured out in search of a laundry (no luck), but found a CVS (we think??), and got lunch. We still had plenty of time, so we went swimming at the hotel pool.

But finally it was time to head out to meet Mei Mei.




As we walked inside, we saw immediately Mei Mei was already there! Mr A was ready with the camera (thank you!!!). She had been told I am her mama, but you could tell she was struggling to understand. She wanted to stay with her nanny, and it was so clear they loved each other very much.




After I picked up Mei Mei, her nanny left the room (which I wasn't all that happy about, I didn't want her to just 'disappear'). I think Mei Mei was really overwhelmed, and probably very tired from her long journey from the orphanage, and fell asleep in my arms.

The nannies brought us a photo album for Mei Mei. It has photos from her time in the orphanage, and is such a treasure. The nanny who was holding her at Gotcha Day, held her in many of the photos in the album, too.




I needed to fill out some paperwork, so both of her nannies were able to hold Mei Mei a little longer. Even though we would see each other again the next day, I think we all were crying by the end of our time there.

We needed to stop by the police station for a passport photo before heading back to the hotel, and that is where Mr A snapped the very first photo of this blog post. Mei Mei was so sad, but did let me comfort her, which was a huge answer to our prayers.




We ended up ordering room service on our first night together. Mei Mei ate rice congee and had a bottle of formula. She was fairly subdued, very clingy to me, and then finally fell asleep on me.

Such an amazing day, full of emotions...

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I am going to try to document our first days together in China. Mei Mei is doing so well, and we are in love! She is very affectionate, silly, and full of spunk. Still needs to know where mama is at all times, but I am able to go to the bathroom without her now ;-)

We have two more full days here in China, then will travel back to the States. If wifi works, and my (!) two year old is happy, I will try to post more. If you don't hear from us, just pray we make our connection in Beijing, and that everyone would travel well.

Daily updates on Facebook.

To Hubei

Today after breakfast Linda, our guide, picked us up with our driver, and took us to Beijing airport. It was time to fly to our daughter's province to meet her.




If you look carefully, you might see a rainbow in the picture above. Very faint, and I pretty much missed it with my camera, but I looked out and down the window, and spotted it! A rainbow below us! The rainbow to us is a sign of God's promises, and I loved the reminder as we step out in faith to adopt another little girl.




Arriving in Wuhan.




We were concerned about the flooding in Wuhan, but as you can see in the above photo, we didn't have to worry about it. We saw some puddles, that's all. (Thank You, God!)

We didn't meet our province guide yet, but was picked up and brought to our hotel in Wuhan.




Walking into the room the first thing we saw was a crib for Mei Mei! This is becoming very real, here. What is wonderful is Little Miss becoming excited again, too. She has wished for a little sister, but lately has had her doubts about it.

Tomorrow is the day! We were told to come down to lobby at 2:30 pm, and we assume we will drive to an government office where we will meet Mei Mei.

(Eeek!!!!!!)




Our driver pointed a restaurant near the hotel for dinner, and we liked the recommendation very much. The food here in China has been so so amazing!!! Good thing we walk so much and sweat so much, otherwise our clothes would get too tight quick ;-)




After dinner there was thunder, lightning and rain, so I quickly snapped a few shots, and we rushed back to the hotel.



Mr A caught this lightning shot from our hotel room! We have quite the view...

Tomorrow is a big day, so we are ready to turn in. If you think of us, please pray all goes well, and for Mei Mei's heart to be prepared. Thank you! We will update when we can!

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Kaikki hyvin Wuhanissa. Ei tulvia, lätäköitä vain...?? Huoneessa on jo pieni sänky Mei Meille!! Olemme kovin innoissamme, myös Pikkuneiti, joka kyllä pyysi pikkusiskoa, mutta viime aikoina ei ole ollut kovin varma enää...

Huomenna treffaamne paikallisen oppaamme ensi kerran 14:30 (joku muu haku meidät kentältä...), ja ehkä sitten menemme hakemaan Mei Meitä...??

Kävimme syömässä illalla hotellin lähellä, ja takaisin tullessa oli kova ukkosmyrsky. Mr A sai otettua yhden salamakuvan hotellihuoneemme ikkunasta.

Nyt nukkumaan. Huomenna on tärkeä päivä. Kiitos esirukouksistanne!! Laitamme päivitystä, heti kun vaan pystymme.

To the Great Wall

After Summer Palace yesterday we had a delicious lunch (the food here is incredible!!!) at the Farmers' restaurant, and then drove to the Great Wall. It was the same spot we had visited nine years ago in December, but looked very different in the summer time, and was way more crowded. And hot.



Mr A was the rock star and climber high and far, with my camera. I quickly edited these three pics, there might be more later. Little Miss climber higher than mama, too! My trouble was not climbing up, it was coming down - I felt so dizzy I didn't dare to go high. Little Miss complained about her head as she went higher up.



We have to leave for the airport, but the last pictures are from our visit to the Tea Room. Very special!

Saturday Morning at Summer Palace

We spent a wonderful morning at Summer Palace. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and we loved our every moment there walking around, and taking a boat across Kunming Lake. There were a lot of older people performing and singing, playing instruments, and families enjoying the day together. The lake brought in a welcome breeze from the heat. The old buildings were magnificent, and all the paintings so gorgeous.

After Summer Palace we had lunch and went to Great Wall, which will be another post, when I get a chance. Little Miss and Mr A enjoyed the day a lot, too, Mr A climbed way higher than the rest of us. Tomorrow morning we fly to Wuhan (major flooding there), and on Monday we meet Mei Mei!

In Beijing/Pekingissä

Our flight from US was delayed two hours, but since it was a direct flight, we were fine. It did make a long day, though.

 

We watched movies, read books, ate, and slept during our almost 14 hour flight.




Almost there! After immigration, luggage and customs, I got all choked up when I saw a lady holding a sign with my name.



At Beijing airport we spotted one of many squat potties we were going to encounter.

We were picked up by our Beijing driver (who doesn't speak English, and whose name I can't pronounce), and our guide Linda helped us to get checked into our hotel and brought us all the way to our room. She is great.



On Friday we met Linda in the lobby at 9:40 am (after some sleep and a breakfast buffet), and she had us run all day:) We saw Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City, had a great old Beijing style lunch, and then visited New Day Foster Home. We delivered the goodies, got a tour, and visited with the children, staff and volunteers. What a wonderful place!

We are our own group here, but at the same hotel are three other adoptive families with a different agency, so we've been able to visit a little at breakfast time.

Just a quick recap, we are off to Summer Palace and Great Wall today. Wifi has been very spotty. All is well and we are having a grand time!! Thanks for praying for us!!!

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Yritän lisätä suomennuksen myöhemmin, nyt meidän pitää mennä! Mutta kaikki hyvin, mutta netti on surkea, eikä luppoaikaa ole:) Kiitos rukouksista!!

Time to Go/Aika lähteä!!!!!

If there are no delays, when this publishes, we should be up in the air..... traveling to China!!!! Watch for updates here, and on our facebook page...




Last family photo without Mei Mei:)

PS. Missy, Mr D, Mr T and Capt'n - we miss you already.....

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Jos ei ole ollut viivästyksiä, kun tämä blogipostaus ilmestyy, meidän pitäisi olla jo lentokoneessa kohti Kiinaa........! Yritän päivittää täällä, ja myös facebook-sivuilla...