More Wuhan

Pictures do not do justice to the streets of China. You really have to have been there to understand what it really is like. I loved roaming the streets, but Little Miss not so much. She had a hard time with the heat, dirt (that's putting it nicely), smells and stares. Mr A was very adventurous and willing to explore with me. So we compromised, and only did some.

People congregated the streets, especially in the evenings after work. Grills and chairs were brought out, music would play, men wore their shirts rolled up into their armpits (so hot) and played board games, and kids played on the street. Occasionally you'd hear a honk as a car tried to weave through people, but mostly people drove on their scooters and motorcycles.

Everyone would stop to stare at us walking by. Some ladies would try to speak Chinese to Little Miss. We'd reply 'ni hao', and move on. Elderly men or children would sometimes say 'hello' to us, tickled at their foreign language skills. On the streets of Wuhan people didn't ask to have our picture taken with them, but I did spy some cell phone (cameras) pointed at us.




A few times we walked to the riverside park near our hotel. There Mei Mei started walking a bit for us. So far she wanted me to hold her everywhere, all the time, but she enjoyed her freedom from the carrier in the park.



The park was another place people gathered. A lot of families, and a lot of older men. We heard karaoke, and when I clapped, the man signing was so happy:) We were able to buy drinks, ice cream and tissues with the help of money and universal pointing and acting. Such fun!

Wuhan will always hold a special place in my heart. It is not where Mei Mei was from, but it is where we met her, and it is in her home province. I hope we can go back one day!

Thursday in Wuhan

The night after our orphanage visit was difficult. Mei Mei woke up many times whimpering, and pointing to the door. I felt like somehow she was understanding this monumental change in her life, and was grieving her losses. Maybe I am wrong, but in any case I am thankful she let me comfort her in her sadness and/or sleepless night. Grieving is normal, and healthy, and needed.




We were scheduled to visit a museum in Wuhan (hopefully another blog post!). While there, it was like Mei Mei woke up! She showed us an incredibly playful and silly side of her, making us laugh and laugh. It seemed that she had accepted us and was feeling safe and happy, at least for the moment.



In the afternoon we learned she was comfortable enough with us to throw a temper tantrum! Any time she didn't get her way, she would pucker up her cute little face, and get mad. Anything nearby would fly, and she would be furious!

The picture above is actually her offended face, not really her mad face. She can be a little faker, lol!!



After the museum Mr A and Little Miss went swimming. Mei Mei and I were just going to hang out, until from her pointing I started realizing she wants to get in, too!



She LOVES the water!! We'll make a good little Florida girlie out of this one:)



She also loves to eat, and she loves her big sis Little Miss and big bro Mr A! She calls me mama, and is learning signs. It is amazing to watch as she is starting to understand us. We are so blessed!

Orphanage Visit

On Wednesday morning we left our hotel early to visit Mei Mei's orphanage almost five hours away by car in Xiangyang City. I had asked if we could visit, and had first been told yes, then our guide came back, and told me the assistant director felt the trip would be too difficult emotionally for Mei Mei, and maybe we shouldn't. Our guide knew how much I had wanted to go, so she persisted, and was able to get us permission to go. Which I really appreciated, as it was a very long day for her, too.




Highway most of the way, pretty scenery whizzing by fast. Rice paddies, water buffaloes, fields, some mountains, farms, then into another big city... City, where Mei Mei was found.




We first met with the orphanage director and the assistant director at a restaurant for lunch. Such yummy local food (I don't think I could get tired of the Chinese Chinese food (compared to American Chinese).

A lot of Chinese conversations and smiles, some translated, most not.

Then we followed the director's car into the orphanage, which was tucked in a neighborhood, gated. Bright, painted buildings, landscaped yard. Parking under the orphanage. We sat in a steaming hot receiving hall for a while, and the director told me about the orphanage. I was able to ask some questions.

Theirs is the second largest orphanage in Hubei, with about 200 children. Mostly disabled. The orphanage has a program for local disabled children also, and they can get therapy there (we met some of the families). They also help their older orphans get education, jobs and apartments. Very impressive.




Then we got a tour of the orphanage. I am still processing it all... I wasn't allowed to take photos of the children (although I got two exceptions - the little boy James I had posted about this summer was the very first child we saw at the orphanage, and I was able to take his photo, and I have two photos of a girl in a wheelchair, who is being adopted into US this month).

Three things were so clear after our tour: 1) These children are loved and well taken care of. 2) Director Joe is doing an amazing job running this orphanage, and 3) Mei Mei loved her nannies.

I still get all choked up about our visit. God really gave us a miracle that day. Mei Mei wanted her nannies, went to them, was held and loved on by them, and then she wanted mama. Yes. She held her arms out to me, and came to me. I carried her in the carrier for the rest of the visit. I am so thankful for everyone's prayers - and before we left the hotel in the morning we bowed our heads, held hands and asked God to give us extra wisdom and grace in caring for Mei Mei that day, knowing how emotional it was going to be. And God really answered our prayers.

This one nanny had a very special relationship with Mei Mei, I know it. She was all teary-eyed again, and so was I.



After we left the orphanage we visited the park where Mei Mei was found. We don't know exactly where, but we did find out more details, which are part of Mei Mei's story. Personal, private.

Looking at the local people I couldn't help but wonder if we saw anyone who is related to her...



We all have our stories. Mei Mei has hers. There is pain and loss in her story, but in our Heavenly Father's hands her story can bring glory to His name. I am in awe of what He already is doing.



At the end of our long day we chatted with daddy on the other side of the world. All is well.

------------------------------

We start our travel back to the east coast of USA early tomorrow morning (Thursday afternoon at home). Please pray for smooth travel. We have a very short layover in Beijing, Mei Mei is all two years old, and has a strong will of her own, and Mr A and I have been having stomach trouble for the past two days.

Adoption Day

Our first morning with Mei Mei was wondrous - here she is...! Finally!

She fell asleep on me, then I was able to put her down into the crib where she slept through the whole night. (Thank You, God!!!)




We had to head out early to finish the adoption procedures. She officially became a part of the Mothership Crew on July 28th!




Paperwork was signed, my fingerprint and Mei Mei's footprint taken with red ink, and an adoption photo taken for the certificate. It is official - she is our little girl now, and there is one orphan less in this world..




As difficult as it was for Mei Mei and her nannies to be together again, then separated, it was so good. She was sooo happy to go back to her nanny. When it was time for us to leave, and her nanny gave her back to me, and Mei Mei threw a fit. She was not happy. After the initial rage was over, she was sad, and let me comfort her. I was not able to put her down, at all.
(In fact for a few days I had to sneak showers and quiet time around 5 am because the rest of the time I was holding her.)

We fully believe our Heavenly Father answered our prayers and had been preparing little Mei Mei's heart for us. While she was so sad, she was accepting us (first mama), and connected with us. We got our first smile on adoption day at the bank! Thanks to my iPhone:)

Before returning to the hotel our guide took us to a supermarket to get formula, diapers, and ointment for Mei Mei's bug bites. She said mosquito bites, but we think black flies, as they bothered us a little, too.

Little Miss wanted to swim again, so we went to the pool. It was pretty cute, Mei Mei was so worried about Little Miss and Mr A in the water! She kept pointing at them and looking concerned. She tried to tell me something, but I couldn't understand. I answered back, and she would look at me with big eyes:)





We had dinner out together, then walked in the park by the river next to our hotel. Little Miss brought bubbles, but Mei Mei was not too impressed.

So hot. We heard from many people Wuhan is one the three hottest cities in China, and we believe it. I am choosing to carry Mei Mei to help with attachment and bonding, but it does make us both dripping wet.



Our hearts are so full. Mei Mei is so beautiful, and doing so well considering what she is going through. We know God has been preparing the road for us, and it is amazing to walk in it. Thank you all for praying for us - we feel God's presence so clearly.

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...

---------------------------------------------------

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.