Day at Nicholas' Orphanage

Hi Everyone!
We are having computer trouble so we are not able to post pictures (hopefully we will figure this out soon!) but I will still try to keep you in the loop with words. We hired a car to take us the hour drive to Nicholas' group foster home, the House of Joy, in Langfang. He lived in this home from age 5 months until we adopted him at 22 months. There, he lived with about 30 other kids, nannies, and a family originally from the states who started this home. They coordinated his surgeries (repairing his cleft lip and palate) and took great care of him. We simply cannot be more grateful to them.

I was a bit worried about how Nicholas would respond to being back in his old home. We had talked a lot about it and he did not seem worried at all. But I thought maybe being there might trigger something -- some sight, sound, or smell would cause him to relive some old trauma. But, he was perfectly ok. More than that -- he was gleeful! We were greeted by Elisa, the American woman who ran his home, and he hugged her and then almost ran over her to get inside the home. We met a group of younger boys living there now who were playing with blocks at a table with some ayis. After saying hello, Nicholas ran up the stairs towards where his old room is held. I don't know if he remembered or not; perhaps he was just being his usual investigative self. I told Nicholas how I remember walking up those stairs and seeing him for the first time. His ayi was holding him and his eyes were wide open as she told him "mama, mama" while pointing at me. But Nicholas did not remember that -- he just looked into all the rooms and then asked if he could go downstairs again to be with the boys. He was amazingly comfortable and happy.

We spent a really nice morning with Elisa and her husband Mike and the boys in the foster home. Mike and Elisa are amazing people who have truly devoted their lives to helping orphans. They have 4 adult children and one 12 year old adopted from China. As we were talking one little 2 year old sat on my lap and played with my iPhone with incredible savvy. Nicholas helped me hand out lollipops and M&M's. One little boy really held my attention. Some of you have heard me talk about Elijah before. I had seen his picture in one of the newsletters sent from Mike and Elisa and just fell in love. Elijah is not only a beautiful 4 year old boy, but one whose gentle spirit comes across in photos. At one point, John and I tried to find out which agency was representing Elijah so we could adopt him (Mike and Elisa never get that information). But we could not find him to request his file. I believe that that did not work out because we were meant to find our Ellie, but at the same time, I felt a lot of strong emotions upon meeting Elijah face-to-face. I hope he finds a family soon.

Nicholas was so comfortable at the House of Joy that he even went off alone with Elisa for a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. Then, he went out to play in the yard with the older boys. I don't know for sure, but I got the feeling that Nicholas has good memories -- or at least good feelings -- about his former home. That makes me feel so relieved. And, even though a child can never get the love and care he or she needs from anything other than a family, he has done so well. He has had his share of hurdles to jump, but he never fails to surprise us in his strength and flexibility.

We're in Bejing!

Hi!
After a long trip we arrived in Beijing last night. Nicholas did so well on the trip (thank you, Apple, for inventing the iPad) and he is so excited. It is fun to watch his eager anticipation of "getting [his] baby." He really can't sit still -- right now he is looking out of our hotel window and declaring that "everyone here has black hair...like me and Daddy!" I am also so happy to be back in China. The minute we stepped into the airport (the new one built for the Olympics is impressive, by the way), I was just overwhelmed by memories. I have such love for China.

We are about to set off for a trip to Nicholas' orphanage. It is about an hour away from our hotel in a city called Langfang. We are going to visit with his ayis (nannies) and with the American couple who runs his former home. I am interested in seeing how he will react.

I will try to post pictures tonight -- having a little trouble right now.

Sam

Food and Adoption

As many of you know, I love food. I don't know if I am a foodie exactly, because I wouldn't say my love of food is refined. I like it all. From every part of the world. A few years ago, when I was contemplating adopting from a number of countries (China? India? Ethiopia?), a friend of mine joked that I was choosing my child's country of origin based on my food preferences. Maybe because my own heritage is English, she went on, I felt a desperate need create a family with at least some culinary proficiency. Although I still maintain that some English food is good (Shepherd's Pie is the best comfort food of all time), I admit that I fell in love with my husband partially for his family's Greek cooking. And, I guess I did not hate the idea of simply having to learn to cook Chinese food for my son who still prefers Chinese cuisine over anything else, and who has a huge appetite. Oh, the sacrifices.

So, I was very excited to go to China for the first time -- mostly because of meeting my son, but a distant second was the thrill of exploring the food. Would it be like the Chinese food we get here? How is it different in different parts of China? What would be my favorite meal? (I really spend a lot of time thinking about these kind of things...) But, alas, the irony: I was pregnant with Peter. In my first trimester. And very, very nauseous. I didn't want to eat anything except grilled cheese, the only thing that sounded good to me at the time. I became that American that walks around in a foreign country searching for grilled cheese! I hate those people!

So, watch out, China. I am not pregnant this time, and I am very very hungry. Nicholas and I are going to do some damage.

Packing and Paperwork

We are busy trying to get everything together for the big trip. This is harder than it sounds because we don't know what size Ellie is, nor do we know if she is drinking from a bottle or a cup, or eating solids, etc. We don't know what kinds of toys she likes to play with, or (the bigger question) at what developmental stage she is. We were so lucky with Nicholas' adoption, because he was living in a group foster home run by English-speaking American ex-pats. We were able to email this wonderful couple and get all of our questions answered. Ellie's adoption is more typical of Chinese adoptions: we are going into it a bit blind, and just have to make do. So...I have packed 6-12 months clothes, 12-18 months clothes, a couple of 18-24 months (just in case! she does look chubby from her pictures), bottles, sippy cups, a bunch of toys and books, regular formula and non-dairy-based formula, a bunch of assorted Gerber snacks and baby food, and the kitchen sink (as my mom would say).

And, still, the paperwork never ends. We are compiling all the documents needed for the adoption and the Visa paperwork while we were in China. Busy days, but so exciting!

Red Thread

U.S. Consulate Date

Things are moving quickly (after waiting or 2 years, it is about time!) We just got our U.S. consulate appointment in which Ellie will get her visa to enter the United States: December 6th. We will be coming home on December 9th or 10th, and she will become an American citizen the moment the airplane touches U.S. soil. So, we will be leaving for Beijing on Thanksgiving day. While we are sad to miss the Thanksgiving meal that we usually share with our family, we are glad to be celebrating the day on route to our daughter ... certainly something for which to be thankful!

TA!

We have our travel approval! We will find out tomorrow or Wednesday when we will be heading to China! We will be leaving on Thanksgiving day or the following Thursday! I can't believe this is finally happening!! We are busy buying diapers, formula, and starting to pack. This is unreal.