"Laura, I need you to bring your camera or camcorder down to the lobby right now!" This is what Michael (our guide) told me after calling me in my room about a hour ago. It didn't click as to why, so I asked, "Why is that?". "The babies are coming directly to the hotel. They are on their way and will be here very soon!!" was the response.
Talk about flying into action. After slamming down the phone, ringing my parents to wake them up and get them going, I tore around the room grabbing things that I had wanted to take with me. Of course I couldn't remember/find most of it, so I settled for a blankie, my camcorder & her picture. Ran over to Mom & Dad's room to get them and headed to the elevators. Meanwhile some folks were just returning from the store and didn't even know yet, so the ones that did were spreading the news. Turns out that Michael thought the five babies from the Xiu Shan orphanage were on their way over. Just picture five anxious families hovering in the lobby, watching every taxi, van and bus that approached the hotel. Many of the other families were there too, waiting with cameras in hand ready to help us video and photograph our moment.
Unfortunately...
It turned out to be a mistake. Not Michael's fault, rather the babies in question were going to another group at another hotel and somebody had confused the two groups and contacted Michael by mistake. After an anxious half hour of lobby pacing, they contacted our guide and informed him of the mistake. Poor Michael felt horrible, but everyone took it in stride (just another up/down in the adoption roller coaster). We are still on for tomorrow. One nice thing about this is one family's parents are not in yet (their flight was delayed.) Although we didn't get our babies tonight, at least everyone will be there tomorrow when we do.
PS - One quick note. When the "baby drill" went off, Mom was ready to go right when I went to their door. On the other hand, Dad was checking batteries and took a little longer. Hmmm....Mom & I are going to have to have a long talk with him tonight about being fully prepared at all times to make sure he is ready for tomorrow. :) He wasn't alone. On the elevator down, all the Moms were there, but no Dads. :))
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2 Days to Maeve
This morning we had a 5am wake-up call in order to get up and be ready for an early flight to Chongqing. Poor Mom & Dad received the 5am wake-up call and an earlier 1:30am wake-up call as well by mistake. So they definitely were ready to go! The flight to Chongqing was quick and uneventful. We left a slightly chilly and sunny Beijing to arrive in very warm, overcast and muggy Chongqing. After settling us into our hotel, Michael (our guide) walked us to the local TrustMart (sort of like a Walmart gone crazy). This place sold everything, from live fish and squid on ice to the latest "Hello Kitty" merchandise. It was wild. Mom says it was like what you see in the movies. When I go back I will take pictures. Walking there and back we attracted quite a bit of attention, as everyone stared at us, the foreigners. It was fine, as everyone was just curious, no harm intended.
Walking into the hotel room really put things into perspective today. They had already set up the crib and all families received the free loan of a stroller for their use during the stay. The hotel also put several other baby amenities in our rooms, such as a baby bath, for our use as well. It is so exciting!!
Later in the evening, several of the families met up for dinner in the hotel restaurant. Again, we ate family style with a big lazy susan in the middle of the table. Everything was delicious!
When I came back to my room, I discovered quite a view of Chongqing after dark. It is lit up with Neon everywhere.
Tomorrow we have a tour of a local park with a view of the entire city scheduled for the morning. Then nothing. I might try to go shopping in one of the downtown malls to check it out in the afternoon. Word is that our daughters will be arriving tomorrow, but the Civil Affair Office is all booked for adoption appointments tomorrow, so we will still have to wait for Tuesday, April 3rd, before we see them for the first time. Time will tell... 1 comments
Walking into the hotel room really put things into perspective today. They had already set up the crib and all families received the free loan of a stroller for their use during the stay. The hotel also put several other baby amenities in our rooms, such as a baby bath, for our use as well. It is so exciting!!
Later in the evening, several of the families met up for dinner in the hotel restaurant. Again, we ate family style with a big lazy susan in the middle of the table. Everything was delicious!
When I came back to my room, I discovered quite a view of Chongqing after dark. It is lit up with Neon everywhere.
Tomorrow we have a tour of a local park with a view of the entire city scheduled for the morning. Then nothing. I might try to go shopping in one of the downtown malls to check it out in the afternoon. Word is that our daughters will be arriving tomorrow, but the Civil Affair Office is all booked for adoption appointments tomorrow, so we will still have to wait for Tuesday, April 3rd, before we see them for the first time. Time will tell... 1 comments
3 Days to Maeve
Today was a busy day! We started early and joined our group for a tour of Tiananmen Square, then the Forbidden City and finally ended at the Great Wall. Of course we stopped off for a traditional Chinese meal for lunch and a little shopping at the Friendship store. :)
Overall the weather was really nice for the day, although the remnants of a dust storm on the Gobi desert really turned up the wind and dust this morning. Tiananmen Square was huge and very impressive. Here is a picture of Mom & Dad enjoying the sights of the square. Everyone was bundled up due to the wind!
Next we headed to the Forbidden City and explored the area for awhile. I have some great video, but Dad has most of the actual pictures there. I will have to add at a later date. After the Forbidden City we stopped off for lunch. As you can see, Dad made a couple of new friends. :)
Later at the Great Wall, we hiked up part of it together, then I continued all the way to the top! I was the only one in my group to make it and was greeted with aoound of applause when I boarded the bus by the group! I think that covers my workout for the next two weeks. :) Again, I took some excellent footage, but forgot to take some photos. Here is a picture of Mom & Dad hiking part of the Great Wall of China!
On the bus ride back to the hotel, our wonderful guide, Michael, gave us some more information about the adoption process in Chongqing. Michael is great! We have an early wake-up tomorrow to catch our flight out to Chongqing. So far the schedule stills says - Babies on April 3rd, but many of us our hoping it will be a day sooner. Cross your fingers!!!! 0 comments
Overall the weather was really nice for the day, although the remnants of a dust storm on the Gobi desert really turned up the wind and dust this morning. Tiananmen Square was huge and very impressive. Here is a picture of Mom & Dad enjoying the sights of the square. Everyone was bundled up due to the wind!
Next we headed to the Forbidden City and explored the area for awhile. I have some great video, but Dad has most of the actual pictures there. I will have to add at a later date. After the Forbidden City we stopped off for lunch. As you can see, Dad made a couple of new friends. :)
Later at the Great Wall, we hiked up part of it together, then I continued all the way to the top! I was the only one in my group to make it and was greeted with aoound of applause when I boarded the bus by the group! I think that covers my workout for the next two weeks. :) Again, I took some excellent footage, but forgot to take some photos. Here is a picture of Mom & Dad hiking part of the Great Wall of China!
On the bus ride back to the hotel, our wonderful guide, Michael, gave us some more information about the adoption process in Chongqing. Michael is great! We have an early wake-up tomorrow to catch our flight out to Chongqing. So far the schedule stills says - Babies on April 3rd, but many of us our hoping it will be a day sooner. Cross your fingers!!!! 0 comments
We are in China!!
Sorry this post is late. When I logged onto Blogger in China it all came up in Chinese. Through memory I have been trying to hit the right buttons to publish the post and just now figured out how to switch the language back to English. :))
After a very long and uneventful flight, we have arrived safe and sound in China!!
We have met several other families that are adopting, including many from my adoption agency, GWCA. Everyone is excited about finally making it to China!! Personally, it is so nice to finally meet so many of the people that I have been talking to online for so long.
Today one of the guides, Kelly, picked us and several other families up at the airport and settled us into the hotel. She gave us a quick walking tour so we could get use to our surroundings and find the local grocery store. She was really nice and made sure we were completely settled in and answered all of our questions. During our walk we saw a Thai restaurant, so of course (you know Dad), we ate there for dinner. It was very good! Tomorrow is the tour of the Beijing including a walk on the Great Wall of China!
(I'm having trouble problems posting pictures, but will try again later.) 0 comments
After a very long and uneventful flight, we have arrived safe and sound in China!!
We have met several other families that are adopting, including many from my adoption agency, GWCA. Everyone is excited about finally making it to China!! Personally, it is so nice to finally meet so many of the people that I have been talking to online for so long.
Today one of the guides, Kelly, picked us and several other families up at the airport and settled us into the hotel. She gave us a quick walking tour so we could get use to our surroundings and find the local grocery store. She was really nice and made sure we were completely settled in and answered all of our questions. During our walk we saw a Thai restaurant, so of course (you know Dad), we ate there for dinner. It was very good! Tomorrow is the tour of the Beijing including a walk on the Great Wall of China!
(I'm having trouble problems posting pictures, but will try again later.) 0 comments
Flying off on a jet plane!! (6 Days to Maeve!)
We leave today for China!! Maeve will be with me soon!! Here's wishing for a nice, speedy and uneventful flight for my family and all the other familes flying to adopt as well. I'll finally be able to meet in person some of the wonderful people I've been "talking" to for months!!
PS - My Dad reminded me the other day that the last international trip he had been on had been to visit me in Europe with my Mom & Grandma. Now, he told me he is taking another international trip with a Mom, Grandma and daughter. I hadn't even thought of it that way...leave it to my sweetie Dad to say the nicest thing! 0 comments
PS - My Dad reminded me the other day that the last international trip he had been on had been to visit me in Europe with my Mom & Grandma. Now, he told me he is taking another international trip with a Mom, Grandma and daughter. I hadn't even thought of it that way...leave it to my sweetie Dad to say the nicest thing! 0 comments
8 Days to Maeve (2 days to Travel)
Everything is ready to go! I drop off the dogs tomorrow to be royally spoiled for two weeks (they might not want to come back) and plan on running a couple of last minute errands and that is it. I can hardly believe that after all of this time Maeve will be in my arms in less than 8 days!
I spoke with my parents again today and we are all ready to go. Dad has been studying the user manual for my camcorder and has informed me that "he is one with the camcorder". :) So no worries there. Mom was a little stressed this weekend when she was doublechecking the flight information and thought she found a mistake. I had an urgent message waiting for me, informing me to call her right away because she "was freaking out over here". I have never heard my calm, collected Mom ever freak out before, but it turned out everything was fine. :)
So all mindmelds with the camcorders and minor freakouts (for Mom & I) aside, we are all set to go. We leave late Wednesday night and arrive in Beijing, Friday, late morning. We lose almost a day because of the time change and travel, but I've never been happier to lose a day in my life. :) Besides we gain it all back when we fly back home and that means we will have that many more hours to spend with Maeve. 1 comments
I spoke with my parents again today and we are all ready to go. Dad has been studying the user manual for my camcorder and has informed me that "he is one with the camcorder". :) So no worries there. Mom was a little stressed this weekend when she was doublechecking the flight information and thought she found a mistake. I had an urgent message waiting for me, informing me to call her right away because she "was freaking out over here". I have never heard my calm, collected Mom ever freak out before, but it turned out everything was fine. :)
So all mindmelds with the camcorders and minor freakouts (for Mom & I) aside, we are all set to go. We leave late Wednesday night and arrive in Beijing, Friday, late morning. We lose almost a day because of the time change and travel, but I've never been happier to lose a day in my life. :) Besides we gain it all back when we fly back home and that means we will have that many more hours to spend with Maeve. 1 comments
9 Days to Maeve (3 days to Travel)
For those of you who know my normal extreme last minute packing habits (what the plane is leaving in two hours, no problem), please read this post sitting down as you might faint. :)
Three days out and packed and ready to go. Because of luggage constraints on flights within China, I have to keep it down to 1 checked piece (no more than 44 lbs) and 1 carryon only. Currently, I'm right about 39lbs for my checked piece so I should be good to go on Wednesday! Coming home, I'll be allowed to bring back more, because I will have Maeve with me then. This is a good thing, because I plan on doing some SHOPPING!!
PS - Love those Packmates, they really save space in the suitcase. 0 comments
Three days out and packed and ready to go. Because of luggage constraints on flights within China, I have to keep it down to 1 checked piece (no more than 44 lbs) and 1 carryon only. Currently, I'm right about 39lbs for my checked piece so I should be good to go on Wednesday! Coming home, I'll be allowed to bring back more, because I will have Maeve with me then. This is a good thing, because I plan on doing some SHOPPING!!
PS - Love those Packmates, they really save space in the suitcase. 0 comments
10 Days to Maeve (4 days until Travel)
This is Maeve's "Finding Ad" published in a local paper on May 10, 2006. This picture was most likely taken very shortly after she was abandoned on March 23, 2006. The ad states when and where she was found. It also says that she was found in a basket wrapped in small quilts.A "finding ad" is placed in a local paper for all abandoned babies. It is the first step in the process for their eventual adoption.
Here is Maeve at about 4 months old. This picture was taken when she had been approved for adoption. Her smiling face looks like it is saying, "Mommy, you can come and get me now...and bring Grandma & Grandpa too!!"
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Happy Birthday Maeve!
Today my daughter, Maeve, is 1 year old. I wish I was there with her now, but I will just have to be patient a little while longer.
Happy Birthday my sweet girl. Mommy is coming soon to bring you home! 1 comments
12 days to Maeve (5 days until I leave for China)
My travel group received our intraChina itineraries yesterday. I thought I would have Maeve on Monday, April 2nd, but it turns out it will be the afternoon of the 3rd afterall. One more day to wait, still the end is in sight and she will be home with me soon!
Here is my itinerary for China.
3/28/07 - Leave for China
3/30/07 - Arrive in Beijing (after a stopover in Guangzhou)
3/31/07 - All Day Tour of Beijing
4/1/07 - Travel to Chongqing
4/2/07 - Tour in the morning, the rest free time
4/3/07 - Baby Day!! - Go to Civil Affairs Office at 2:30pm. Also stop at other govt offices as needed for paperwork, etc.
4/4/07 - Shopping for Babies!!
4/5/07 - Sightseeing tour
4/6/07 - Pick up Babies Passports and Travel to Guangzhou
4/7/07 - Medical Exam scheduled for Maeve for Visa
4/8/07 - Sightseeing tour (Easter)
4/9/07 - American Consulate Appointment!
4/10/07 - Pick up Visa and leave for home.
4/10/07 - Arrive home with Maeve 0 comments
Here is my itinerary for China.
3/28/07 - Leave for China
3/30/07 - Arrive in Beijing (after a stopover in Guangzhou)
3/31/07 - All Day Tour of Beijing
4/1/07 - Travel to Chongqing
4/2/07 - Tour in the morning, the rest free time
4/3/07 - Baby Day!! - Go to Civil Affairs Office at 2:30pm. Also stop at other govt offices as needed for paperwork, etc.
4/4/07 - Shopping for Babies!!
4/5/07 - Sightseeing tour
4/6/07 - Pick up Babies Passports and Travel to Guangzhou
4/7/07 - Medical Exam scheduled for Maeve for Visa
4/8/07 - Sightseeing tour (Easter)
4/9/07 - American Consulate Appointment!
4/10/07 - Pick up Visa and leave for home.
4/10/07 - Arrive home with Maeve 0 comments
16 Days to Maeve
Here is Maeve Fu Dai's new room. I had so much fun putting this room together and it all pulled together so easily. Many of my baby shower gifts matched and fit in perfectly. The funnest part were the painted added touches, one smaller table that I had painted years ago matched everything perfectly. The rest I painted or added touches too during the last few weeks.
Please note the crib mobile is taken down as Maeve will be old enough to stand up in her crib and reach it (safety hazard). It all came as a matching set, so I put it up for the pictures.
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Please note the crib mobile is taken down as Maeve will be old enough to stand up in her crib and reach it (safety hazard). It all came as a matching set, so I put it up for the pictures.
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17 Days to Maeve
The countdown continues...
Here are some pictures from my wonderful babyshower! Laura asked if she could throw me a shower and the next thing I knew, several more of my cousins (Mary Kay, Marty, Peggy, Karen & Deby) joined in and helped out. A big THANK YOU to all of them for helping make it such a special day! Martha even designed and crafted the invitations herself. Take a look.
I thought the little insert was so adorable and thoughtful...
Martha also designed these little "Words of Wisdom" cards for everyone to fill out with helpful advice. Here are Emily's, another one of my cousins, thoughts. Beautiful words for such a young girl.
Here everybody is playing a game trying to guess my weight. (Thanks alot cuz!) Luckily, I was allowed to pick the winner and determine my own weight. :))
Here is Laura's daughter, Megan, and my niece, Alyssa, helping out. Megan was a very take charge kind of gal and made sure we stayed on track with the gift opening. No lolly gagging around for her. :)
Kim was my "surprise" guest. Yeah!! One of my best friends from high school days when we all worked together at Wendy's. It was so much fun to see her again and catch up!!
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Here are some pictures from my wonderful babyshower! Laura asked if she could throw me a shower and the next thing I knew, several more of my cousins (Mary Kay, Marty, Peggy, Karen & Deby) joined in and helped out. A big THANK YOU to all of them for helping make it such a special day! Martha even designed and crafted the invitations herself. Take a look.
I thought the little insert was so adorable and thoughtful...
Martha also designed these little "Words of Wisdom" cards for everyone to fill out with helpful advice. Here are Emily's, another one of my cousins, thoughts. Beautiful words for such a young girl.
Here everybody is playing a game trying to guess my weight. (Thanks alot cuz!) Luckily, I was allowed to pick the winner and determine my own weight. :))
Here is Laura's daughter, Megan, and my niece, Alyssa, helping out. Megan was a very take charge kind of gal and made sure we stayed on track with the gift opening. No lolly gagging around for her. :)
Kim was my "surprise" guest. Yeah!! One of my best friends from high school days when we all worked together at Wendy's. It was so much fun to see her again and catch up!!
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18 Days to Maeve!!
It's official! I purchased my tickets to China today. We (my parents are travelling with me) are arriving in Beijing on Friday, March 30th. After a couple days we will go on to Chongqing and I should have Maeve in my arms on Monday, April 2nd.
The final countdown has begun!! 1 comments
The final countdown has begun!! 1 comments
Happy Days!
I'm so excited!! My new I171-H is here! I picked it up from the USCIS (immigration) office yesterday.
For those of you that don't know what I am talking about here is the scoop. In order to adopt internationally, the USCIS office (new name for the Immigration or INS department) must approve the adoptive parents application. Once they do this, they send the approval form, I171-H which allows the parent to complete the adoption. This is completed at the very start of the adoption process and my original form was completed in the summer of 2005. Unfortunately they expire after 18 months and sometimes the adoption process, like mine, can drag on. So right as I received my referral for Maeve, my permission from the US government to bring her to the States expired. I have been working closely with my Homestudy agency, the USCIS and everyone esle involved to get meet all requirements and obtain a new I171-H.
Now it's here and my adoption agency is in the process of requesting my CA (US Consulate Appointment) in Ghuangzhou where my adoption will be finalized. The tentative Travel date to China is March 29, 2007 and tentative Family Day (when I get Maeve) is April 2, 2007.
Less than three weeks!! 0 comments
For those of you that don't know what I am talking about here is the scoop. In order to adopt internationally, the USCIS office (new name for the Immigration or INS department) must approve the adoptive parents application. Once they do this, they send the approval form, I171-H which allows the parent to complete the adoption. This is completed at the very start of the adoption process and my original form was completed in the summer of 2005. Unfortunately they expire after 18 months and sometimes the adoption process, like mine, can drag on. So right as I received my referral for Maeve, my permission from the US government to bring her to the States expired. I have been working closely with my Homestudy agency, the USCIS and everyone esle involved to get meet all requirements and obtain a new I171-H.
Now it's here and my adoption agency is in the process of requesting my CA (US Consulate Appointment) in Ghuangzhou where my adoption will be finalized. The tentative Travel date to China is March 29, 2007 and tentative Family Day (when I get Maeve) is April 2, 2007.
Less than three weeks!! 0 comments
My Referral Pictures
I just wanted to share my referral pictures with everyone. These pictures were taken when Fu Dai was approximately four months old.
Xiu Fu Dai was born on March 23, 2006. She is currently in the Xiushan SWI orphanage approximately 10 hours away from Chongqing. Her orphanage is in a very poor area, but it is very rich in love and attention that they shower on the children in their care. LWB (Love Without Boundaries) sponsors their nutritional program and supplies much of the orphanage's formula. This is very good news to me and reassuring that while I'm not there others are doing their best to take care of my little girl. 0 comments
Waiting for Travel Day!
Hi Everyone,
I've started this blog to keep everyone informed on my trip to China to adopt my little girl, Xiu Fu Dai (soon to be Maeve Fu Dai). To bring you up to speed, it has been a very long process, but my daughter is well worth the wait. I started the adoption in February of 2005 with GWCA (Great Wall of China Adoption). Completed and sent my paperwork to China in September 2005. It was officially logged in (my LID date) on October 11, 2005. Then I waited, and waited and waited and waited some more.
Finally on February 1st of 2007 the referrals arrived for my LID date and I saw my beautiful baby's face for the first time. She is absolutely gorgeous!! Now I'm waiting to travel to China to get my Maeve, along with the rest of the families in my group. The good news is our adoption agency has set a tentative travel date of March 29, 2007. That means I will have Maeve by April 2nd!
Laura 0 comments
I've started this blog to keep everyone informed on my trip to China to adopt my little girl, Xiu Fu Dai (soon to be Maeve Fu Dai). To bring you up to speed, it has been a very long process, but my daughter is well worth the wait. I started the adoption in February of 2005 with GWCA (Great Wall of China Adoption). Completed and sent my paperwork to China in September 2005. It was officially logged in (my LID date) on October 11, 2005. Then I waited, and waited and waited and waited some more.
Finally on February 1st of 2007 the referrals arrived for my LID date and I saw my beautiful baby's face for the first time. She is absolutely gorgeous!! Now I'm waiting to travel to China to get my Maeve, along with the rest of the families in my group. The good news is our adoption agency has set a tentative travel date of March 29, 2007. That means I will have Maeve by April 2nd!
Laura 0 comments
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