Early September 27, 2010 4:15 AM

Hi everyone! I am awake simply because I can’t sleep anymore. I thought now would be a good time to finish my argument on why we have a great baby. He ate everything we gave him including the baby peas that I tasted and they were horrible. He took a nap without a fuss. He fussed a tiny bit about getting in the bathtub but it was hardly a fight, and he didn’t even protest the water on his head at all. He was exhausted last night and in keeping him on his previous schedule, we kept him up until 9 PM, and he did not fuss AT ALL!!! He was so adorable looking sitting in Rogers lap with his eyes about to close. He has slept all night without even a fuss. The poor little guy even had diarrhea when we got him, and he wasn’t fussy about it. He has had it all day as well, and I think finally it was getting to him at the end of the evening, but still, hardly a fuss at all.

Chinese babies are different then American babies. It is a weird thing, but the Chinese train their babies to void and defecate at an early age. Kai was not in diapers except for long trips, like to the hospital or for the train ride here. He also does not try to climb out of his crib.  Apparently, he was trained not to do that. He also puts nothing in his mouth but food. Most children his age and even older put things in their mouth. He nods his head when asked questions by our guide. He seems very mature for a 21 month old who was an orphan for most of his life. He is a great baby who just goes with the flow. (I hope I am not jinxing myself!!!) :)

As I sit here to reflect on this wonderful day that has changed my life, the emotions of joy and love come out in tears as I realize that my longing and dreams to become a mommy have come true. And now, this little boy who needed us and whom we needed have joined to create a forever family. Some people say they love their adopted child as much as their biological children, but I do feel it is different in its own special way. This adoption journey has taken me places physically, emotionally, and spiritually where I would not have journeyed had I had not reached out my hand to this little guy hand and opened my heart to a special needs orphan. My life will forever be changed…

 

GOTCHA DAY!!!

At 1030 AM we were waiting on our baby boy, and I was a bit anxious. They were a little bit late for our appointment, and our guide, Mamie, kept getting phone calls and speaking loudly on her phone. Even the rooms were all locked and it seemed like they didn’t know we were coming. Finally, the assistant director and Kai walk in! I was so excited to see him! The assistant director handed him to me first. He was so incredibly light. I could not believe he was in my arms. I knew I loved this child before I got him, but once they put him in my arms, I knew at that moment how much my love grew for him in that one instant. I knew at that time that there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him. He easily went to Roger and they got to bond. He never cried, but he did look at us with great curiosity. When the assistant director was leaving, Kai looked like he was going to be upset. We distracted him with Fruit Loops Cereal. Worked like a charm. As a matter of fact, we couldn’t get him to stop eating them. He ate the entire snack cup. He was acting like he was starving.

When we got to the room, he began to take in all that was handed to him. Finally we got to see some of the cute personality we had seen in some of the pictures. He easily laughed and smiled all the time. Roger got him to do a ‘high five’ and he blew kisses. He even said ‘mama’. He took a nap by himself without a fight. It really seems like we have the perfect baby. In fact, my husband said I did a good job picking this one out.

We had an appointment to return to the civil affairs office at 3PM to make sure we really wanted him. No question. Anyway, we had to wake him up from a nap and we were told by the nannies that he was easy going as long as you don’t wake him before he is ready. He was all smiles when he woke up and was playing with his “baba” (Roger), but as soon as we went to the lobby to meet Mamie, he turned all serious on us again. Once we got to the civil affairs office, Kai got slightly anxious. We could feel him breathing fast and using accessory muscles to breathe. He would not even touch the assistant director who was steadily trying to get his attention. I really think Kai thought we were going to send him back to the orphanage. Kai looked at this man so seriously it was kind of sad. I could sense the rejection the man must have felt.

I was prepared for tears, but he had already bonded to us. It was so fast. We are now wondering if an orphanage visit is worth some of the trauma he might feel. I don’t know what to do. I do know that I am the luckiest mom to be so connected with the most wonderful baby out there. I cannot wait for the world to meet our Baby Kai.

We love and miss you.

We have him!!! He is tiny! Sz 3 diapers are too small!!! He was starving when we got him. He only cried a little when we moved his food. He is so smart and answers the guide by nodding his head just like she asks him too!!! He is smiling at now because I'm typing this!!! They even say he is potty trained, so we will see. He is only walking a few steps by himself they say, I haven't seen it. I love him sooo much!!! I did not know the love would be sooo strong. This is my child. Oh yeah, everytime I take his pic, he points his finger! It's so cute!
　

September 24, 2010 Saturday, 0900 (Beijing to Changsha)

Right now we are in the airport in Beijing. We are in a different part of the airport then we first flew into. The international part was so BIG and unbelievable! This part, not so much. I know one thing; I would not want to do this by myself at all!!! It is a different world for sure.
Our Beijing guide Cindy warned us that we would get a lot of stares. She said they do not see a lot of Caucasians in Changsha. Apparently, it's not a big touristy spot. Cindy was very interesting. She gave us quite the history lesson on the way to the Great Wall. I got a vast insight of why she thinks things are the way they are.
According to Cindy, Hunan is one of the top three provinces that adopt out children. I personally know 2 people that have adopted from Hunan. Recently, I have been in contact with another family who adopted a Hunan baby from Kai's orphanage, and following a blog of another family that adopted from Kai's orphanage.
We are so ready to see our little boy! Tomorrow is our GOTCHA DAY at 3 pm! I was admiring a little boy in the hotel in Beijing. The grandmother (I assume) was tending to him. She saw me smiling at him and she told him in Chinese to say "hello". He did!!!! Loud and clear! "HELLO!!! HELLO!!!!" Then I waved at him and he waved back! It was the cutest thing!!! I turned to Roger and said, "Soon we will get our little boy." He turned and smiled and gave me a long warm hug and simply whispered, "Soon".
1:30 PM
We land in Changsha and meet our guide, Mamie. She checks us into to our 5 star hotel, and I am happy for that because I don't think they speak very much English at all. So far, I have not noticed anyone staring, although I am not looking for it. Mamie informs me that we will be holding our son at 10:30 in the morning!!! We are excited for that. I can't wait to hear the sound of his voice, touch his hair, and watch him play.
We prepared our gifts as she suggested. It is 5:30 PM and we are exhausted and decide to take a nap!

September 24, 2010 Friday

Last night we got in Beijing around 11:15 PM. We did not get to our hotel and settled in until around 1:00 AM.
Early this morning, we met our guide, Cindy. We went to the Great Wall of China and it was Great, let me tell you. All kidding aside it would be a really awesome accomplishment to build that wall today much less in the time before Christ up until the 14 century. The section that we went to was at Mutianyu. This was about 1 hour and a half drive from our hotel and is not as crowded as the section in Badaling which is closer to Beijing. Once we got out of the city the landscape was very interesting. The way of life for Chinese farmers is much different than in the US. We got to the site of the Great Wall and took a tram to the top of the mountain (saved us from climbing a thousand stairs according to our guide). From the top of the mountain it is really breathtaking to see just how high up the wall is on the mountain and that it stretches as far as the eye can see. It does not take a lot of walking up and down the wall to let you know what kind of shape you are in. Jill says if she never sees another step it will be too soon. During our trek up the mountain to get to the tram we saw a little boy with the split pants which evidently takes some of the stress out of "Mommy I gotta go" from the parents. Fortunately we did not have to see them in action. We saw a lot of kids at the wall and it will really be great to bring Kai back here when he is older so that he can see it and really take it in.

After we got back from this adventure Jill and I walked TWO BLOCKS (read as 10 miles) to Tiananmen Square. It is really tough to breath here and that made it even more of an adventure. Well, we are now back in our room after soaking our feet in rusty mineral water we are starting to chill out and get ready for our flight tomorrow morning. That should really be an adventure as we are told that it is much easier to communicate in Beijing than it will be in Changsha and that we will definitely be persons of interest in a city that does not see many Caucasians. We are having a great time and experiencing sights, sounds, and smells that just aren't available back in the states.

Countdown until we see Rory Kai is in 2 days. We cannot wait to hold our baby boy.

Wall of Clouds!

This picture was taken from the plane. It is so amazing to me that we will be seeing our son in 4 more days!!! I can’t wait to show him a brand new world. J

September 22, 2010 Today we travel!!!!

This is real. I have butterflies. As much as Kai needs a mommy, I need him. I wish this child knew how many hearts he has touched with just his picture. I hope he knows we are coming for him.

An orphan (especially a young child) may be the most helpless of all of us here on earth. He has no father and mother to protect him. One night, I came across this little boy’s picture on Rainbowkids.com. I was not going to get attached because I really thought he would already be taken. He was on the list of orphans for several months, and was on the third page of kids that met my criteria.

I believe that even at that point a plan was already made and I just needed to fall into it. I inquired about this child with the adoption agency that had his file, and it turned out he was still available! Despite the pleas to not fall in love, I fell in LOVE. I wanted nothing more than to be “Wyatt’s” mommy. Everything about this situation felt right.

All I knew when I accepted him was that he had an unrepaired congenital heart defect. The nurse in me saw a baby that was thin with patchy hair and had a helpless look in his eyes. I was hooked. I knew then we were destined to be together as a family and I was going to have sell it to my husband. After reading his story and seeing his picture, it was not a hard sell.

So here we are, at the airport just waiting for our plane to take off. I said my tearful goodbyes to my family and friends. I will miss my twin sister the most. At one time, she was coming with me on this adventurous journey. When we parted, we were both crying. Taking this trip without her is like not being all here. We are so close. I will miss you Julie, so much. Roger and I were taken to the airport by Michael and Juliette. We are so lucky to have them in our life. They have also been there every step of the way. I don’t know how I could have kept it together without them. We love you both.

Travel Plans

Travel Plans



Travel plans are set! We will be in China for 28 days!!! We leave in 11 days! I am starting to get anxious now. I am feeling the pressure to get things done at home and work.


Here’s the itinerary…


Sept 22: Leave Dallas around 4:00 PM -fly to Chicago- then to Beijing via American Airlines First Class and Business class


Sept 23: Land in Beijing after a 15.5 hour flight at 11:00 PM Beijing time Staying at The Novotel Xinqiao Beijing Hotel


Sept 24: Tiananmen Square and sightseeing with the possibility of seeing The Forbidden City


Sept 25: Morning shopping and sightseeing, afternoon flight to Changsha, Hunan. Staying at the Dolton Resort Hotel


Sept 26: Forever Family Day: Meet Rory Kai Adams!!!!!


Sept 27: Go to the Civil Affairs for adoption registration, notarization and the Rory’s passport


Sept 28: Go to local department store (Wal-Mart) to buy some daily necessities for him


Sept 29: Visit the Hengyang City Orphanage and abandonment site


Sept 30: Visit Xiang Embroidery, Mount Yuelu, and Martyr’s Park, then pick up the his passport in the afternoon. Then take the fast train from Changsha to Guangzhou, Guangdong. We are staying at the Victory Hotel.


Oct 1: This is National Day in China; they will celebrate it until October 7th. We will do some sightseeing around our hotel.


Oct 2: Day of rest


Oct 3: Shopping f0r the day


Oct 4: Xiangjian Safari Park in Guangzhou


Oct 5: Orchid Garden (Lampu), Chimelong Paradise Amusement Park


Oct 6: White Cloud Mountain, Shamian Island


Oct 7: Day of rest


Oct 8: Shang Xia Jiu Walk Street for shopping, Guangzhou Museum of Art


Oct 9: Visit some architectural and historical buildings example: Bright Filial Piety Temple (Guangxiao Si)

Oct 10: More of the same…


Oct 11: Take visa photo for Rory and then his medical exam


Oct 12: Consulate Appointment


Oct 13: Oath-taking ceremony at the Consulate


Oct 14: Pick up Rory Kai's visa in the afternoon, fly to Chengdu and staying at a 4 star hotel


Oct 15: Chengdu Research Base Of Giant Panda Breeding, Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Xiongmao Jidi)


Oct 16: Mount Qincheng in the morning, fly to Beijing around noon and settling into The Novotel Xinqiao Beijing Hotel


Oct 17: The Great Wall Badaling


Oct 18: Hutong Tour, Temple of the Heaven


Oct 19: Leave Beijing around 6:00 AM -fly to Chicago- then to St Louis- then to Dallas via American Airlines First Class and arrive home in the early afternoon to meet the family!

The beginning of our new life...

This is my first post so I thought I would talk about how we got to where we are today.

On Sunday, November 8, 2009, my twin sister had a birthday party for her youngest son Zach who was turning 5. My husband and I attended this party and as usual, I was playing with the kids in the bounce house. As we were all playing, this beautiful little Chinese girl, Sara Grace, asked for my help climbing up one of the slides. She was so adorable and sweet. We slid down the slide together and she popped up and ran to her mommy. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw her mommy was not Chinese! Immediately I was intrigued. Her mommy, Brenda and I became fast friends!

Since I was 15 years old, I wanted to adopt a child. This was the beginning of our journey to fulfill one of my life long dreams. Our journey begins.

Sleepy Sara Grace! Also from Hunan.