It's Wednesday night here and the last couple of days have been very busy. We are packing...or attempting to pack. I really hate this task because I have to try to fit everything back in all the suitcases and carry-ons and hope nothing is overweight. Well, I am sure we will get it all done. Anyone want to help???? (smile)
Yesterday, we had the medical exam for Esther Marie that is required before we can leave China. It's not a big deal but the kids are always scared and there is crying. Esther Marie weighs 23 lbs. but we didn't catch her length before they whisked the paperwork away. We'll get that at her next doctor visit. On July 7th, she will be 27 months old. After the medical exam, we boarded our bus and headed for the Guangdong Social Welfare Institute...about 1-1/2 hours away. It was raining...again. The drive was interesting but the kids got bored. When we got there, we were greeted warmly and shown some areas of the institute. Rebecca told us that this orphanage is a more wealthy one and has good facilities. The parts we were allowed to see were very hot..no air conditioning. Most of the children are special needs and are very young. Older children are in foster homes. I was struck by the starkness and the babies are in cribs with boards for mattresses. There is no cushioning. They all had on little pink PJs and had a small blanket. Even newborns are in beds with boards. It broke my heart and I cried. I wish I could bring more of them home. In each section where we were allowed to go, we were greeted with people calling out...Hai Mei, Hai Mei. She seemed to be well-known and loved. I was glad to learn this. Her caretakers seemed to genuinely care about and like her. She didn't seem to be bonded to any of them in particular though. It was an interesting eye-opener about orphanages in China and this is one of the nicest ones.
After we left there, we had lunch at a local restaurant. We had a private dining room and ate at a very large round table again. The wait-staff are always so gracious and polite and will help you in any way that they can. Big contrast to many restaurants in the states!
After lunch, on we traveled to our babies' "finding spots". Just two families made this trip to the orphanage...Esther Marie's and Lizzie's. We actually found the spots where our babies had been left and found by someone. Esther Marie was found in an industrial area and Lizzie was found in a city near a bakery. This was such an emotional time for me and again I cried. I am SO glad that someone found my baby girl and that she survived! Since she was found outdoors, she actually had been attacked by ants and has some scarring because of the bad bites she received.
I am glad that we made the trip but it was a long day and around 5:00 pm when we returned to the hotel...exhausted, both physically and emotionally.
Today....Wednesday, we had a more relaxed breakfast because we were not meeting to go somewhere. After 9:30, we had to stay close to the room in case the consulate had any questions about our paperwork. We got the call from Rebecca around 10:30 that everything had gone well. That is a good call to receive because it means everything is in order and we can get the baby's visa so she can enter the United States. When we touch down at home, she will actually become a U.S. Citizen!
At 11:30, we had group photos at the "red couch" area in the hotel. This is a tradition for adopting families. Then it was on to the zoo at 2:30....in the rain....ugh! I wish we had skipped this but the kids really wanted to go. We made it back to the hotel by 5:00 and had to meet at 5:45 to go on the dinner cruise on the Pearl River. This is a good way to enjoy all the lights along the waterway, on the bridges, and on the buildings. All of these activities are scheduled for us by our facilitators...I guess they don't want us to get "bored." (haha)
Tomorrow, we are free to pack until we leave for the consulate for our appointment at 3:00. Then we will catch a train to Hong Kong, spend the night and get up early to catch the 10:30 a.m. flight home on Friday. We will arrive home on Friday night around 10:00 p.m. after about 24 hours of traveling. Please pray for us that the trip goes smoothly and safely and that all the babies and children on the plane won't cry all the time!
God bless you all...we look forward to seeing you soon!
Love from Sarah
Yesterday, we had the medical exam for Esther Marie that is required before we can leave China. It's not a big deal but the kids are always scared and there is crying. Esther Marie weighs 23 lbs. but we didn't catch her length before they whisked the paperwork away. We'll get that at her next doctor visit. On July 7th, she will be 27 months old. After the medical exam, we boarded our bus and headed for the Guangdong Social Welfare Institute...about 1-1/2 hours away. It was raining...again. The drive was interesting but the kids got bored. When we got there, we were greeted warmly and shown some areas of the institute. Rebecca told us that this orphanage is a more wealthy one and has good facilities. The parts we were allowed to see were very hot..no air conditioning. Most of the children are special needs and are very young. Older children are in foster homes. I was struck by the starkness and the babies are in cribs with boards for mattresses. There is no cushioning. They all had on little pink PJs and had a small blanket. Even newborns are in beds with boards. It broke my heart and I cried. I wish I could bring more of them home. In each section where we were allowed to go, we were greeted with people calling out...Hai Mei, Hai Mei. She seemed to be well-known and loved. I was glad to learn this. Her caretakers seemed to genuinely care about and like her. She didn't seem to be bonded to any of them in particular though. It was an interesting eye-opener about orphanages in China and this is one of the nicest ones.
After we left there, we had lunch at a local restaurant. We had a private dining room and ate at a very large round table again. The wait-staff are always so gracious and polite and will help you in any way that they can. Big contrast to many restaurants in the states!
After lunch, on we traveled to our babies' "finding spots". Just two families made this trip to the orphanage...Esther Marie's and Lizzie's. We actually found the spots where our babies had been left and found by someone. Esther Marie was found in an industrial area and Lizzie was found in a city near a bakery. This was such an emotional time for me and again I cried. I am SO glad that someone found my baby girl and that she survived! Since she was found outdoors, she actually had been attacked by ants and has some scarring because of the bad bites she received.
I am glad that we made the trip but it was a long day and around 5:00 pm when we returned to the hotel...exhausted, both physically and emotionally.
Today....Wednesday, we had a more relaxed breakfast because we were not meeting to go somewhere. After 9:30, we had to stay close to the room in case the consulate had any questions about our paperwork. We got the call from Rebecca around 10:30 that everything had gone well. That is a good call to receive because it means everything is in order and we can get the baby's visa so she can enter the United States. When we touch down at home, she will actually become a U.S. Citizen!
At 11:30, we had group photos at the "red couch" area in the hotel. This is a tradition for adopting families. Then it was on to the zoo at 2:30....in the rain....ugh! I wish we had skipped this but the kids really wanted to go. We made it back to the hotel by 5:00 and had to meet at 5:45 to go on the dinner cruise on the Pearl River. This is a good way to enjoy all the lights along the waterway, on the bridges, and on the buildings. All of these activities are scheduled for us by our facilitators...I guess they don't want us to get "bored." (haha)
Tomorrow, we are free to pack until we leave for the consulate for our appointment at 3:00. Then we will catch a train to Hong Kong, spend the night and get up early to catch the 10:30 a.m. flight home on Friday. We will arrive home on Friday night around 10:00 p.m. after about 24 hours of traveling. Please pray for us that the trip goes smoothly and safely and that all the babies and children on the plane won't cry all the time!
God bless you all...we look forward to seeing you soon!
Love from Sarah
2 comments:
Welcome home.... another great blog and wonderful pics.... now get some rest ... b
Thanks for all the news! We look forward to talking to you soon. Would be fun to see E.M. by webcam.
Daniel & Co
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