Our first moments together - August 16, 2006

I am so thankful that Trish took so many photos. The first picture didn't turn out very well because something was wrong with the camera or film. The woman holding Ming Li is the orphanage director. She handed each of the girls to their new mother. I can't believe this moment finally happened. I can't describe the feelings that went through my head. She felt so light in my arms. Luckily I had to switch into "Mother" ASAP because someone had a REALLY bad diaper on! It didn't take Ming Li long before she was settled down. She is very curious about what is going on. She has such a warm heart that she would make little crying sounds when the other babies cried.

Gotcha Day - August 16, 2006

Group meeting in the play room at the White Swan Hotel. We were given rice and formula to make up bottles. (You wouldn't believe how fast this went and how often we had to buy more.) We are getting ready to board the bus!

Here I am getting on the bus to go get Olivia-Reh Ming Li. Do I look like a mom yet?

We have finally arrived at the Child Welfare office.

Here is our group walking in. No babies yet.

Here I am waiting at the elevator. Looks like we are going to the 5th floor.

We've landed! - August 15, 2006

What a long flight, but we are finally here!! All of the adopting families have come out of the woodwork. We took a bus to the White Swan Hotel while everyone started getting aquainted. We are actually two groups totalling 17 families. Our hosts are Maggie and Grace and they are different as night and day and yet very similar. We are so very tired as neither Trish (my cousin) or I could sleep on the planes. (I nearly froze to death sitting by the window.)

We ate our first authentic Chinese meal that night in a restaurant across from the hotel. Everyone was quite full trying all of the dishes. I think Maggie and Grace ordered everything on the menu for us. We had noodles, white rice, sweet & sour chicken, a tofu dish, a beef dish, brocolli, some kind of a root dish, celery with carrots & chicken & cashews and I think that was it. Everything was wonderful! The restaurant in the photo is where we ate but I don't know the name of it.

I can't wait for tomorrow - Gotcha Day!!

Leaving for China - August 13, 2006

I can't believe the day has finally arrived!! The day is exciting yet there is a shadow over the day because of the bomb threat in London. They arrested 24 people who were going to blow up 11 different planes in New York, Washington and California. The airlines have additional check in procedures and you can't take any liquids, powders or gels on the planes. I had to repack everything last night. I crammed baking soda down in my toothbrush so I can brush my teeth. I had some dry face cloths that lather up in water that my friend Stephanie gave me to wash my face so at least I can feel like a human when we land in China. China has also been hit with several typhoons in the last few weeks. They have hit north of Guangxou so hopefully they will stay away for the next three weeks.