4 days to go....WHAT!

Christmas was great! I am exhausted from all the dinners, visits, late nights and totally amazing meals.  We are blessed and Kyla was spoiled to have so much play time with her cousins, lots of new toys to play with and pj's to sleep in.  Did I mention that Santa came too!

We got Lucy's room ready today and now we will get serious on the packing. I somehow have 4 lists going of all the things we should bring. One list for suggested baby requirements (I learned my lessons with Vietnam to pack light and don't go over board with all the suggestions), next list for medical items just in case (feels like we are a mini pharmacy), the list of suggested gifts for officials (lots of good things out there for after xmas shopping), and the important list of paperwork you must have (we can not afford to mess up here).  We need to hit a few stores in the next few days.  Here are some holiday pics of Kyla.

3 more sleeps to Xmas and 10 more sleeps till we board a plane

We have received the official travel invitation to go to China for Adoption and our full detailed itinerary complete with hotels, contacts and list of required steps to complete the adoption, Chinese passport, and Canadian visa.  Good to know that we have 2 days each in Shanghai, Nanchang and 3 days in Beijing to discover China and have down time with Lucy.  I have been getting great advice from a couple of yahoo groups of families that recently travelled to Nanchang.

We also met with our adoption agency yesterday to receive the travel orientation and it was good to be able to ask a few questions.  What a contrast to our orientation in 2009 when we were preparing for Vietnam.  First off we were the only family this time instead of 5 other nervous families (I am trying to find the best words to describe a set of people who had no idea what was a head of them, including us).  The program in China is pretty straight forward with a set agenda and with China contacts that have done this many times before.  Requirements are spelled out.  Maybe because we have experience under our belts, we are not as 'freaky unsure' this time.  Of course I know that we should be prepared for the unexpected, still.....

The packing and buying of travel items is what we need to focus on in the next week.  That and preparing 3 dinners and a brunch, hosting in laws for a few nights, and finishing the xmas shopping list in the next 2 days.  We can do it!

Getting ready for Christmas and a BIG TRIP

We are really excited about a few things this year.  Christmas at home for the first time with family and friends where we don't have to fly in, have a full packed 2 weeks scheduled trying to see everyone and 5 different places to stay.  The schlepping around of luggage, baby stuff, and gifts nearly killed us last time.  We have lights up outside, a tree decorated,  baked and decorated gingerbread cookies and house, 2/3 of the gifts are purchased, I get to see some of my favourite people and the festivities over the holidays are booked.  One thing I have not done, no Christmas cards sent...... Oh well, if I have your email address you will get a Christmas email.

It will be a great Christmas as Kyla really gets it this year and expects that we will be baking chocolate chip cookies for Santa on Christmas eve.  She is not too sure about sitting on Santa'a lap this year, which is totally ok with me.  When I first arrived in Canada when I was 7, I was not sure what to take of the big guy in the red suit.  We just get to see Santa at the mall and Kyla waves and walks the other way.  Kyla is also learning Christmas songs and enjoying the claymations of Rudolph and Frosty!









The best Christmas present of all is our trip to China when we get to hold Lucy.  By January 6th we will get to meet Lucy for the first time.  As much as I want things to speed along, we have lots to do in the next few weeks to get ready for the trip. This is when I get freaky and paranoid that I have forgotten something and I get Troy to check 2 or 3 times after I have.

• Get medical prescriptions filled for Lucy
• Get medical insurance for Lucy
• Buy travel must haves
• Prepare documents needed to complete adoption and immigration requirements
• Pack 4 suitcases for colder weather
• Buy presents for the officials and orphanage reps (I will be out after xmas to get this stuff)
• Pay the "in china" cost for accommodation and flights (this will be booked for us)
• Get through Christmas, pack it up by the 30th, and don't forget wedding anniversary

Kyla and I have started praying together at night before bed.  It warms my heart as she lists off all the important people in her life, with a very special mention of her sister.  We are so blessed!

First time for Kyla to be in charge of the art work on the house.  I had to muffle my control tendencies, it was fun!

Flights booked!

We got the call to book the flights!  and that I did!  The question our adoption agency asked me was, can you be there by January 5th?  Oh absolutely!

We leave January 1, 2013 on Lucy's birthday.

• January 2 arrive in Shanghai
• January 5 arrive in Nanchang, Jiangxi (stay for one week)
• January 13 arrive in Beijing (stay for one week)
• January 19 back in Vancouver

So excited!  We travel in 3 weeks!  I like the fact that we get into Shanghai a few days earlier to shake off a bit of the jet lag and deal with the time difference, we get to see Shanghai, and we get to spend time with my cousin Chantelle.  Just knowing that we are in China sooner is fantastic, it brings us closer to Lucy.

Crazy thing is that I was about to send a small care package for Chantelle to take back to Shanghai for her to mail to Lucy.  Package was complete with photo book of the family, a new sleeper, two stuffed toys that Kyla picked out and some sweeties to share with her friends at the orphanage.  I was ready to deliver to Chantelle tonight, but once the flights were booked, it really did not make sense.  So we get to hand deliver these items.

We are so happy and now everything steps into high gear!

Lucy Madeleine

We have been pondering on a name for a long time.  Kyla was convinced that she wanted to name her sister Sabie, it all started with a song....."I have a baby, and her name is Sabie".

After much debate.......we chose Lucy.  The more we look at her picture the more we are sure that Lucy fits.  We will always honour Lucy's Chinese name.  Fu Qing Chuan (family name, first and middle name) This is the name our daughter was given at the orphanage when she was found.  I think the meaning is beautiful.  My friend Tina translated......Fu by itself may mean a residence or place.  Qing means sunny and bright. e.g. qing tian means sunny day.  Chuan means stream.

We have made progress in a few areas.  Vaccinations done, Kyla received her citizenship and passport over the past few weeks, Chinese visa will be ready for pick up this week.  We now just wait to hear about the travel dates so that we can book flights and plan every thing else.

Doctor says...

Our call went very well.  He had hoped that there was more information on when Mei Mei was found, but everything else was great.  It's too bad that the information is from July 2012, but he stated that this was normal.

Last Friday I went in to the agency to drop off the required documents to formally accept the proposal to adopt Qing Chuan.  This was the checklist:

• Sign the original acceptance form, Letter of Seeking Confirmation from Adopter
• Sign the Adoptive Parents’ Acknowledgement of Information and Release
• Sign the Summary of Birth Family Information
• Complete a Visa Application Form for each person traveling, attach a passport picture with a paper clip and send us your passports

The Adoption Agency basically said that all we do now is wait and prepare for the trip.  We should travel within the next 2 months.  Fingers crossed we get our travel dates by Christmas.  What you want me to WAIT!  Geez.  Out of the blue, Kyla says today I JUST WANT TO GO TO CHINA NOW TO GET MY SISTER!  She must sense my impatience.

Things to do:

1. Prepare Mei Mei's room
2. Gather clothes, shoes, and other items for a 2 year old
3. Get vaccinations
4. Read a lot on China and adoption
5. Learn basic Mandarin
6. Get Kyla's Canadian passport
7. Decide on Mei Mei's name, we are close
8. Pray for Mei Mei that she is safe, happy and healthy

She is very lovely.....

Yesterday we finally received the translated proposal and this is how Mei Mei was described by the orphanage in July 2012:

• She was found on March 17, 2011 at the entrance of the orphanage, Yingtan Social Welfare Institute
• The doctors determined her birth date January 1, 2011
• She spent one year with a foster family to get one on one care and is now back at the institute 
• She is very timid, she still needs to hold the caregiver’s hand when she walks and she is very cautious to strangers
• She likes to be close to her caregiver
• Her life is very routine. She gets up at 5:00 has breakfast at 7:00, (a bowl of rice congee, a dumpling, and an egg are her breakfast). She has lunch at 11:00 (rice and other dishes), and 12:00-14:30 is nap time. After nap, she will have a bottle of formula about 300ml. She has dinner at 17:00 and goes to bed at 20:30-21:00。
• She is very lovely, everyone who see her will like her and will not forget her. 

We have sent Mei Mei's medical information to the doctor at the University of Washington Center for Adoption Medicine.  We decided to use this resource because they have better customer service and this is what their business is.  I was impressed that they are available to us while we are in China and when we get back.  The consultation is tomorrow night.

Somewhere Between

One thing that I have learned and want to share with you is that adoption is a journey for our children and for us.  This documentary beautifully covers some very complex points on adoption.  I encourage you to take the time to watch this film.  I am so moved by the journeys of these young women.

http://ww3.tvo.org/video/183287/somewhere-between

Tell me what you think.

What's next, CIC, and Yingtan

We should receive the translated version of the Proposal by early next week.  We will get a medical report and forms to sign.  Our next step would be to get the medical information reviewed by a pediatrician and we have chosen one that our adoption agency has recommended. We used the same doctor in 2009 to review Kyla's information.

It's been great timing for the Citizenship and Immigration work that we have to complete.  The Proposal obtains information that we need to send off Part 2 of the steps to get Mei Mei her citizenship before she comes to Canada.

I have found some information on the city where Mei Mei is:

Location: Yingtan City lies in the northeast of Jiangxi Province, in the middle and lower reaches of Xinjiang River. It is bordered by Shangrao within the province and neighbors Fujian Province in the southeast.

History: According to archeological discovery, this area became a vital center of ceramic production as early as the middle and late Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC). It was called Yingtan Fang in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), just the eponymy of the city. In the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was only a town and ascended to be a city though more than a hundred years of development.

Physical Features: Yingtan belongs to the low mountainous and hilly area of northeast Jiangxi, having typical Danxia Landform. Within the city, over ninety percent of the plantation is paddy field.

Climatic Features: Enjoying a subtropical temperate and humid monsoon climate, the city is characterized by clear four seasons, moderate weather, abundant rainfall and long frost-free season. The weather in spring is inconstant and winter is relatively warmer. 

Here is the other picture that we have of Mei Mei.

I was informed by the agency that travel will most likely happen in January.  I am counting the days and Kyla can't understand why we can't just go now!

Kyla has a little sister!

Mei Mei translates to "younger sister".

Amazing to learn that our daughter was born on January 1, 2011.  We are so blessed.  She is from Yingtan in Jiangxi Province.  In 10 days we will receive the fully translated Proposal with more information.  Right now, knowing her gender, age, where she lives and having pictures is plenty enough to keep us going.

Kyla is already singing a song....I have a little sister, I have a little sister!

There will be lots to do in the next 2 months in preparation for our travels.  I will definitely be adding my to - do list in the coming weeks.  It sure would be nice to be with our daughter aka Mei Mei (until we have a name) for her 2nd birthday.

Featuring Mei Mei....

Waiting ........

So as I sit here waiting, I am trying my best to control myself from screaming or calling the Ministry of Children and Families.

With the experience we have gained in adoption over the last 7 years you would think that I would be so much more in control, cool, calm and all those zen like emotions.  These characteristics are do not come naturally to me, SO HERE I AM, trying to pretend to be cool.  If anything, I am more cautious of all the unexpected things that could occur.

How did we get here.  We decided 7.5 years ago to build our family through adoption.  Our agency guided us to go through the China Program as it was a SURE thing and it would not take more than 1.5 years. Fast forward to 2012 we have a lovely daughter from Vietnam who has given us with so much joy and laughter.  We are so blessed.  You would think that we would be done....well when we were notified last fall that we were next (translation - anytime in the next year) there was no way we could just say, "ya, no thanks".  A sibling for K and an amazing chance to grow our family.  We are ALL IN!  We had to adjust a few things in our lives, but here we are, so ready again.

Are you wondering why I want to call the Ministry Office? Well they have our Referral Package, Proposal, a photo and brief description of our child from China. Another blog confirmed that they have them, I just have no idea when the Ministry will call my adoption agency with the news, who will then call me.

This time it's different.  I have been following a blog....http://chinaadopttalk.com/category/referral-rumors/.  This has given me a lot more to be informed and connected with the China adoption community world wide. Amazing what RQ does!

Ok so there, my first Rant.  Now I wait some more.