Anna's Adoption

America World's Rwanda Program

2008-01-25T13:31:00.000-05:00

Our agency, America World Adoption Association, is opening a new adoption program in Rwanda. I was sent this information today because we volunteer for our agency as Associates. There should be additional information on their website any day now. Until then, here is a summary of the new program. It's wonderful that to see that more and more children are able to find adoptive families as countries begun to open their doors to the blessings of international adoption.

HISTORY
Rwanda is a verdant and beautiful country, often referred to as “the Land of a Thousand Hills” and the “Switzerland of Africa”. Rwanda is about the size of Vermont, but boasts a population of about ten million; its population density is the highest of any country in Africa and currently has one of the world’s highest birth rates. Unfortunately, UNICEF estimates that there are nearly one million orphans and vulnerable children; children are primarily orphaned due to poverty.

Originally, Rwanda was colonized by Germany in the 1880’s and fell to Belgian rule after World War 1. The primary educational force in the country was the Roman Catholic Church throughout Belgian rule, which came to a peaceful, but rather abrupt end when independence was declared in 1962. Landlocked and bordered by Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the majority of its inhabitants are subsistence farmers.

As with all African nations, Rwanda has diversity in languages and cultures, yet unlike its neighbors it is primarily home to only two ethnic groups (Tutsi and Hutu). The national language of Rwanda is Kinyarwanda.

Rwanda is well known to many Americans because of the tragic events that unfolded there in the spring of 1994. Much has been written about the genocide and resources are widely available on the web and elsewhere for those who wish to be informed about its history, probable causes and about the way forward. Rwandans today struggle to recover not just from that singular event, but from a legacy of 60 years of intermittent war.

PROCESS
Rwanda’s international adoption process is relatively inexpensive and can be completed in a relatively short period of time. International adoption is still fairly uncommon in Rwanda and the government has been re-writing many of the country’s adoption laws to formalize a consistent process. After filling out an application and receiving approval through America World’s intake process, prospective parents sign an Agreement with our agency and begin the “paper-chase”. During this stage of adoption, families assemble all the necessary paperwork for their dossier. America World assigns each family a Family Coordinator to help them compile their dossier, which includes a Home Study and approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Before a dossier is submitted to the Rwandan government’s Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, it is certified and authenticated in order for the documents to be used as a legal framework for adoption. This is a three step process in which a document is certified by a Secretary of State, the US Department of State and the Rwandan Embassy in D.C. Family Coordinators will assist families with this process and America World’s courier service obtains certifications in D.C.

Once the dossier is in Rwanda it is processed and examined by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion. Our staff works with government officials and orphanages to make a match between prospective parents and a child. Prospective parents can wait anywhere from 1 – 6 months before receiving a referral. When parents receive a referral it includes a picture, medical information, and socio-biographical sketch of the child’s life. All children are tested for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and other medical conditions. Prospective parents are given the option to accept or reject a referral.

The in-country portion of the adoption takes place in both Rwanda and in Nairobi, Kenya.

Never A Dull Moment!: Thoughts anyone?#links

2008-01-13T08:53:00.000-05:00

Never A Dull Moment!: Thoughts anyone?

What are your thoughts on searching for a sibling, DNA registration, etc? I'd love to know!

Never A Dull Moment!: Welcome Home#links

2008-01-12T10:01:00.000-05:00

Never A Dull Moment!: Welcome Home#links

This is a great video of a family coming home from Ethiopia with their three new children.

Orphans of Ukraine

2007-09-28T08:44:00.000-04:00

Great video that talks about the number of children in Ukraine who need a family.

Transracial Adoption

2007-09-27T10:42:00.000-04:00

http://www.carolinahopeadoption.org/blog/archives/63

This is a great article on what can be a difficult issue for many.

Missing

2007-06-14T00:54:00.001-04:00

Experts claim that there are 60 million missing girls in Asia due to abortion and infantcide. Want to know more? Check out this article by Fox News.

Ukraine Update

2007-06-05T08:44:00.000-04:00

I volunteer for our agency as an Associate. I'm basically a local rep who two times a year hosts seminars and helps families in my area.

I just got word this morning that Ukraine is officially no longer accepting singles. China has changed their policy to this as well.

Very unfortunate . . .

A New Family

2007-05-31T20:27:00.000-04:00

I love to see photos of families who have met their babies for the first time.

Our agency has recently started an Ethiopia program, and it's doing great. Things move quickly, the costs are doable, and unlike other countries, they will look at mental health meds on a case by case basis.

I think this country is going to take off!

Take a peek at this blog. The video clips are great!

http://www.scotthimes.com/index.php?id=10

Searching for a Sibling

2007-01-06T19:46:00.000-05:00

While reading my latest issue of Adoptive Families, I came across an article on genetic testing. Towards the end, they listed a site that peeked my interest, a DNA database for children adopted from China. I visited this evening and would encourage you to do so as well.

This group is in the beginning stages, and they are collecting surveys regarding interest in their project. Let them know if you are interested, want more information, or think it's a bad idea. Whatever your thoughts, you will be helping them along.

I don't know how I feel about the issue. Their FAQ site answered many of the moral issues I would struggle with. While I think identifying a sibling for Anna would be a blessing, it could also come with a lot of issues that have the possibility to be less than pleasant. Still, when I consider these drawbacks in light of giving her a biological connection, it pales in comparison.

I know we should be "enough" family for Anna, but there are many adoptees out there who struggle with lack of birth information, and they desperately want to find a biological connection. I have read things that break my heart as adopted children grieve, pine, and forever search for information on their biological family. Some are down right angry. Bastard Nation is a great example of that.

I would love to hear what you think about this. I'm still up in the air. I told them I would like more information. I'll let you know what I hear!

Never A Dull Moment!: China Has New Requirements for Adoption

2006-12-22T08:59:00.000-05:00

Never A Dull Moment!: China Has New Requirements for Adoption

Never A Dull Moment!: Neat Adoption Blog

2006-10-23T17:39:00.000-04:00

Never A Dull Moment!: Neat Adoption Blog

This is a great blog! Take a peek! A great trip down memory lane!

How You Can Help

2006-10-23T09:05:00.000-04:00

I love ways that I can continue to help the children who are waiting in China, especially those who are from Anna's SWI. Anna spent her first year in the Guigang SWI in Guangxi, and they took excellent care of her. I've always wanted to find a way to thank them, and I think I may have found the answer!

The LOOK Project mission is "to assist in providing older children growing up in Chinese orphanages (SWIs) with the health, skills and knowledge they will need to eventually function as independent, productive, and healthy adults when they leave the SWI. The LOOK Project provides support in three broad areas:

- Medical/Physical Needs

- Educational/Training Needs

- Social/Emotional Needs

Anna's SWI Director sent the LOOK Project a needs list, and I was happy to donate some money. I love knowing that it will go directly to Guigang! There are other SWIs that they are helping as well.

In addition to money, this project (run by CCAI which is well known) needs volunteers for all sorts of things. I'm hoping to get involved in their care package projects.

During the adoption process, the hardest thing for me to do was wait. I wanted to stay busy, and I wanted to stay involved in the lives of Chinese orphans. Maybe you do as well. Take a peek. You could make such an amazing difference!

"It's so cute!"

2006-10-22T10:53:00.000-04:00

After awhile, you forget that your family looks different. It takes you a second to remember why people are looking, sometimes staring. Most just smile and walk on. Sometimes we hear little comments as we walk by, and that is fine. My three are young enough that they don't realize people are talking about our family. Actually, they didn't realize this until yesterday.

We went up to the mountains, along with the rest of the East coast, and stopped to walk around an "old time" village.

"Oh my gosh. It's so cute!"

What? What I am missing? What's so cute? Let me get my camera! Oh you are talking about my daughter, not an "it". Sorry.

"Oh wow! One of my co-workers just came back with one too!"

"One" too. You mean their daughter.

The conversation continued, and for awhile, it was as though we were not there. "Oh look at her! You can tell she is attaching! Oh she is so cute. Now I could do it if I knew I could get one that cute!"

I know people mean well. Most are so nice and just curious about the whole process. It is still a mystery to many that you can take a "stranger" and make them a part of your family. Your son or daughter. A brother or sister. I enjoy showing people that "it works".

What is hard is when people ohh and ahh and forget the other children who are standing around you. "She is so cute!" On and on. Meanwhile my middle child is jumping up and down, trying to show the stranger his new trick. "That's neat! Now tell me how did you get started in this . . . " An after thought which I set out to fix as soon as we walk away. I don't ever want one child to feel "less important" than another.

I would encourage you to think about how you are going to react to situations such as these. Strangers mean well, and we enjoy talking to people about our experience. Just be prepared and remember that the "cute thing" may just be your child!

Getting Help

2006-10-13T20:59:00.000-04:00

We have finally reached the point where we are saying "I think we have a problem".

Anna's speech is delayed. Really delayed. She is two years old and has three or four words that she can say clearly. There are a few other words that we can understand, but they barely qualify as a word.

Last winter, we called in Early Intervention. It's a free service that comes to your home and assesses your child. Each state is different, but based on certain criteria your child can qualify for all sorts of therapy. We had someone come to the home once a month, and prior to moving, she told us "Good luck! I can tell she is going to start talking anyday!" Well, that was five months ago, and we have made little progress.

So we are starting again in Tennessee, and I'm looking forward to the help. If you come home and find yourself in a similar situation, do not hesitate to get involved with Early Intervention. Your MD may suggest it, and if not, don't be afraid to ask. They have been so easy to work with. One phone call and the ball gets rolling. No complicated referrals, forms, etc.

I also need to share that this is very frustrating for not only Anna, but for me as well. We do the point and scream/whine dance everyday . I find myself wanting to scream "JUST SAY IT! PLEASE! FOR THE LOVE OF PETE! JUST SAY SOMETHING!" Ahhh . . . It felt better just typing that!

Delays were something I read about prior to our adoption, but I figured reading, talking with her, etc., would be all that we would need. Wrong. I'm not saying this to depress or discourage you, but rather to encourage you to keep an open mind. If you think you could use some assistance, go for it. What can it hurt!?!?

Never A Dull Moment!: Mission Trip Blog

2006-09-08T09:34:00.000-04:00

Never A Dull Moment!: Mission Trip Blog

While You Wait . . .

2006-09-05T12:20:00.000-04:00

While we were enduring the wait for our referral, I wanted to read everything I could about adoption. I went through all the books related to adoption from China, and then branched out to other countries. Not only did it pass the time, but I learned a lot in the process.

The other day I was reading my People magazine (My husband calls it my newspaper because of course it's all true!), and I came across their book reviews. The book reviews are, of course, why I read the magazine! Ha! There is a new book out which is the Critic's Choice, and it received a four star rating. I think I have to buy it!

There Is No Me Without You is the story of one woman's journey to rescue Africa's children. By 2010, the UN estimates that Africa could have 50 million orphans because their parents died of AIDS. The author has opened her home to four children from Ethiopia and one from Bulgaria. These are in addition to her four biological children. People like this amaze me!

So pop on over to Amazon and treat yourself. According to People/My Newspaper, you won't be disappointed!

Our Friends Are in Guatemala!

2006-08-26T08:18:00.000-04:00

Our friends are in Guatemala visiting their son, Oliver. Take a peek at their blog!
http://www.gretajourney.blogspot.com/

It Still Amazes Me . . .

2006-08-24T19:51:00.000-04:00

It still amazes me that a year and two days ago, a little girl was waiting here, in Guigang, China, totally clueless as to how her life was going to change.
Life was busy with little friends all around!
She shared one of these cribs with a friend. I often wonder who that was!

And then, on August 22, they packed Jiang Xiao Lei, and eight of her friends, on to a bus to make the journey to their families. What an amazing feeling to hear "Jiang Xiao Lei . . . The Bashaw Family" and see this little one come in for US! She was handed over to US! I was no longing watching a video, the internet, etc., but experiencing what I had been dreaming about for years. Happy One Year Home, Miss Anna Bannana! We love you and thank God for bringing you into our family.

Flying the Friendly Skies

2006-08-20T18:05:00.000-04:00

My dad promised that he would get us to China using his frequent flyer points. So when I went to make our reservation and only first class was left, there was little he could say except "Shoot . . . Won't promise that again! "

We flew over on Asiana Air, and went from Chicago to Seoul to Beijing. The flight will forever be one of my favorite memories for the following reasons:
1. I will NEVER be able to fly first class again and
2. We were treated like royalty.

We left Chicago at 1 AM, had a huge dinner, took a little Benadryl, and slept for 8 hours. We woke up less than two hours from Korea which was amazing! We got up, washed up in this amazing bathroom on the plane, had breakfast, and landed in Korea. After another 1.5 hour flight, we were in Beijing. Piece of cake! Sort of like a mini vacation!

Coming home we flew business class. It was a rough flight home for one main reason; we did not give ourselves enough time to make our connecting flight in Beijing. We made our own flight reservations because we used our FF points. We allowed 1.5 hours in between flights, and we still missed our connection due to a delayed flight from Guangzhou. If you choose to do your own arrangements, give yourself plenty of time to make your connection. Domestic flights are on the opposite end of the airport as the international flights! Little known fact at the time we were making our reservations! The Beijing airport is HUGE, and we were quite the sight racing, sweating, and practically dying from the cigarette smoke as we ran from one side of the airport to another.

We bought tickets to Korea at the gate which was pricey. I'm glad we bumped up our Visa limit for emergency situations such as these.

While in China, I feed Anna off of our plates. On the flight home, there was little that she could eat. Bring baby friendly food for the flight home, and be prepared for emergencies that could have you spending extra hours overseas. An Oatmeal on the Go, Raman Noodles, etc. would have been great to have for Anna as well as us! We flew an early morning flight from Guangzhou to Beijing, and breakfast on the plane was a square of fish. I just could not stomach it. I would have given anything for an Oatmenal on the Go!

If you can afford it, fly something other than coach. If you do fly coach, buy the extra seat for the flight home. What I loved most about the seats in first class was the ability to lay flat. In business they recline a fair amount which is still great. Anna rode with me most of the ride home so I was very glad for the extra space.

I was all gung-ho to get the baby bassinet for the flight home, and we were lucky enough to get one. They are wonderful and Anna slept in one for a few hours until we hit turbulence. Then she had to come out and sit with us. It doesn't matter if they are sleeping. It doesn't matter if you are sleeping. It doesn't matter if the sanity of the plane depends on it. They need to come out as soon as the fasten seatbelt sign comes on! I would have slipped the stewardess as much yuan as she wanted to let our daughter continue to sleep (how much safer can they be in your arms vs zipped into a bassinet!?!?) but there was no way around it. So I held a tired, disoriented, and all around confused little girl for the remaining 10 hours of the flight. I don't know who was more miserable, Anna or myself!!

In all honesty, the flight was not the bad. I was prepared for the worst and was pleasantly surprised! By the end of the trip I was so excited to get home, show Anna to her brothers, etc that little bothered me. We were going home! Anna was finally going HOME!

AWAA Has New Programs!

2006-07-24T11:26:00.000-04:00

We used America World Adoption Agency to adopt Anna, and prior to a few weeks ago, they were only working with China, Russia, and Ukraine. They have now added two new programs, El Salvador and Kazakhstan. El Salvador is a great option for those who would like to adopt from Central America, but find the costs of other CA countries out of their price range. AWAA is estimating an adoption from El Salvador to be around $15,500, which is cheaper than mostly all international adoptions programs.

Kazakhstan is pricey, topping Russia. A large portion of the cost of related to the price of airline tickets and a 3-4 week stay in the country. Keep that in mind when you look at the costs. The price is bound to flucuate depending on the time of year you travel. It may not be so pricey after all!

So take a peek and consider the possibilites! http://awaa.org/programs/

Inside the CCAA

2006-07-14T15:07:00.000-04:00

I have pics of the CCAA which will be great for Anna's lifebook. It's neat to take a peek inside this mysterious place! Enjoy!

http://www.faithadopt.org/home/ccaa/

Do You Speak English?

2006-07-07T22:12:00.000-04:00

Like many adoptive parents, we wondered if it would be beneficial to learn a few phrases in "Chinese" before we left. Not knowing where our daughter was living, I picked up a "Chinese Made Easy" book and started to work on a few basic phrases. "Hello" and "thank you" was all that I used while in China. First of all, our guides warned us that certain basic words - likes shoes - could be offensive if we did not say it with the right intonation. The last thing I wanted to do was offend someone, most likely a government official while going through customs, in a Communist country. Second, whenever we were out on our own, we would run into people who wanted to practice their English. For the most part, this was fun and appreciated by the locals. One little vendor was working very hard on her English in hopes of coming to the US one day.

We had one encounter where I wish we spoke anything but English! We met this group during a walk in the park, and the gentleman in the white shirt knew English but did not have our "tact" so to speak. Our conversat ion went something along the lines of this:

Man - "Is that a boy or a girl?"
Me - "It's a girl!"
Man - "Well, it looks like a boy".
Me - "Well, it's a girl".
Man - Pointing to my friend's daughter "Now that looks like a girl! Your's looks like a boy!"
Me - "Well, she is a girl!"
Man - "But she looks like a boy!"

At that point my friend's husband taught him a new phrase, "Later Dude", and we walked off; I was rubbing my daughter's short, uneven hair and my hubby was muttering "This is all I am going to hear about for the rest of the night! Thanks Man! "

Still Smokin'

2006-06-25T21:31:00.000-04:00

There was one thing I was not prepared for before we traveled; the constant cloud of cigarette smoke. I think statistics show that 50-75% of Chinese men smoke. I'm not one who is truly bothered by smoking, but after a few days the smell started to really bother me.

We had a non-smoking room throughout our stay, but when the people in the rooms around you are chain smoking, you might as well light up too. This really bothered me after we had gotten Anna. If smoking bothers you, I would ask for a room on a non-smoking floor. All of our hotels had one, and we did not know to ask until we got to Guangzhou. It made a huge difference in the way that we felt, smelled, etc.

If you have medical issues that are effected by smoking, come prepared! Bring your inhaler, allergy tabs, eye drops, etc. Depending on the day, the smog, mostly in Beijing, could be nasty as well, and you could really be uncomfortable.

A Year Ago Today . . .

2006-06-24T19:43:00.000-04:00

Anna's Referral Photo

A Year Later . . . Part of a Family!

A year ago today, at 4:00 PM to be exact, I received THE phone call from our agency. You can dream about it, prepare your list of questions, get the camera set up, etc., but nothing will come close to that moment when your agency calls and says "You have a daughter! Let me tell you about her . . . "

Tell me about our daughter . . . OUR daughter. The little one we've been dreaming about, praying for, and longing to know for over a year. She now has a name, a face, and a story to share with us. We want to know it all. How does she look in her photo? Is she crying? Smiling? Does she look well cared for? The parental instinct to love and protect rushes in, and even though she is on the other side of the world, we want to do all that we can to care for her. So we read about her village, look up photos of her SWI on the internet, send a care package, and frantically wait for our TA.

I can't believe it's been a year since we received our referral, the day we were told that we had a daughter. There are some of you out there who were on this journey with me, and I want you to know that I'm thinking about you today. I'll never forget the frantic emails, the wonderful posts that announced "We Got the Call!", and the phone calls that shared tears of joy. What a blessing to have shared this journey with you! Happy Referral Day!

A Random Thought . . .

2006-06-24T18:17:00.000-04:00

My oldest took this picture!

Don't forget to pack something that can keep documents "safe". When we were in China, we received a packet of information that contained her birth certificate, abandoment statement, etc. We had to give this packet of information to Immigration once we landed in the States. That ment we needed to carry it on with us along with all sorts of "dangerous" things; formula, toiletries, food, etc. We were also told that it needed to remain in "clean" condition; no rips, tears, folds, baby drool, shampoo, etc. If it looks altered or gets lost, guess what? You get to go back to your baby's provenice and start over! Wow. That sounds like fun!!

Luckily, we had packed a document protector that was plastic and latched closed. We stuffed this into our carry on and it worked out great. Don't forget to bring something to store these valuables while you travel home!

It's So Easy (Not!) To Fall in Love!

2006-05-19T12:07:00.000-04:00

What a difference four months makes!

Believe it or not, I had a hard time falling in love with this little girl! Before Gotcha Day, I had spent months reading books, blogs, and anything else I could get my hands on about adoption. People gushed about their adoption day, and how they instantly feel in love with their child. Someone mentioned how God was more real to them on their adoption day than at any other time in their life. Wow. That was not me, and it racked me with guilt.

I felt more like a caregiver than anything else. Having had two biological children, I was not prepared for the differences I would feel. They were not bad differences, but they were things I was not prepared for. As a result, our first 24 hours as a family were filled with tears and guilt. I wondered if this little girl deserved better, and would someone else be a better mother for her. My husband was a rock, and reminded me that "we were not brought this far to fail! She's the one God saved for us!" What a great man and pillar of strength.

The only thing that "saved" me was a talk with a friend prior to leaving. She shared her feelings about how things had been different for her as well. "I spent our first 24 hours in shock!" As I became more honest with my feelings, others in our group opened up as well. "I was just going through the proper emotions on Gotcha Day" lamented one of our travel mates. "She looked little like her referral photo and I was not prepared for that", she continued. As we started to share, I began to realize I was not the only one with mixed emotions.

Emotions continued to pour out once we got home. People in our DTC group discussed difficult emotions as bonding and attachment issues arose. Most of the issues revolved around just getting used to having a baby in the house. She may be from China, but by golly she tears up the house just like any ol' kid!

Anna would reach for strangers and cry when I held her back. It broke my heart to think that she preferred a stranger over me! What was I doing wrong!?! This continued for a month or two after we got home.

I spoke with another friend last week who mentioned celebrating Gotcha Day. She said she never wants to remember that day as it was awful! Her 20 month daughter had been in foster care, and was grieving for most of the trip. She cried, screamed, and wanted nothing to do with them. "No one in our group wanted to be with us as well as she was always crying and screaming. I just wanted to come home. I was not prepared for this at all!" What she said, and others have mentioned it as well, is I just wish someone had told me!

Please understand that I am not trying to scare anyone, but rather prepare you. It's hard to imagine anything but love and relief after months/years of waiting for your Gotcha Moment. But, I wish others had shared with me so I had an idea about how different things could be. Not bad, but different. People I've talked with regarding bonding issues have all said the same thing; I wish someone had told me it's not always peaches and cream! I hope this knowledge will allow you to enjoy and treasure your Adoption Day no matter how you may feel! In the end, it will be one of the best days of your life!

Medical stuff

2006-05-14T14:18:00.000-04:00

I was surprised to get such a nice vaccine record for Anna. There is one other page that I did not scan that listed her Mumps, Measles, and DPT. We had her titres checked when we got home to check her immune levels. I was hoping this would save her an extra stick. It actually would have caused more because they would have to recheck the levels after additional vaccines to make sure they go up to the new appropriate levels.

Awful picture of me, but this was taken after we had been home for about 8 hours after 30 hours of traveling. I made an appointment for us before we left for China. The apt was for the day we got home, and I'm so thankful we had this! Anna developed a rash on the flight home called impetigo. Not a big deal but very contagious. With two other kids running around I was glad to get it treated as soon as possible! Anna had a bunch of blood drawn to check for everything under the sun. The only issue she had was low iron so she took a supplement for four weeks. Besides this she had a clean bill of health and was 40% for weight and 50% for height on US charts!

Send me an Email!

2006-05-12T22:00:00.000-04:00

I've got a handful of friends who are getting ready to travel and would love some more help with travel prep! If you are a BTDT and have a minute, drop me an email with some "I'm so glad we did or did not do this" advice and a picture. I'll post it and I know people will be glad to read it! Thanks so much!

Don't Be Afraid To Hit the Road!

2006-05-11T17:01:00.000-04:00

I know the idea of heading out on your own can seem a little frightening, but it was one of the best things that we did. With another couple, we would often get a taxi and cruise around town. It gave us the chance to see many other sights, get something to eat besides hotel food, and get a better feel for Chinese culture. Taxis are CHEAP - around 2 dollars round trip.

Ask the hotel front desk to help you out. They will give you a card like this with the name of where you want to go. Show your taxi driver this card on the way home to get back to the hotel. Always make sure you have a few spares with the hotel address. We had a few close calls where we weren't sure what happened to our life line!
You have to love the Chinese way of driving. I don't believe we ever saw a traffic light, and it's pretty much a free for all.
Scooters are everywhere as well. Many of the parents would ride with their babies in front. There's no age limit. Babies would go for rides in front carriers!
It was great to get out and get a feel for Chinese life and culture. We have great photos to share with our daughter.
We stepped out on our own and went to the Guangzhou Zoo. It was neat, and worth the trip if you have some downtime. Bring a stroller as it is large and you'll do plenty of walking.

Splish Splash! Anna's Takin' a Bath!

2006-05-10T08:57:00.000-04:00

Anna did great in the bathtub from day one. I know a few in our group had some issues for the first few days, but after that all the babies were lovin' the water! People talked about bringing a blow up bath tub to make things easier, but no one in our group used one. It seems like a lot to bring, dry, and repack. If they are scared, I'd jump in there with them. We brought some toys from home, but she was more into the bubbles I would blow with soap on the washcloth.

Someone in our group mentioned that they bathed their baby in the sink. I tried this once, and as you can see, Anna loved it. She loved it so much that we did not do it again because it was so messy! She splashed and water was over the counter, floor, our toiletries, etc by the time we were done. But she had a ball! This may be a good option is your baby is not keen on the bath tub.
Before I forget, you may want to bring something for motion sickness. I have never had much of a problem with this, but for some reason China did me in. Riding on the bus, looking at Anna rather than out the window, and the constant smell of diesel had me feeling sick. Our guide was able to get some medication for me, but non-drowsy did not translate very well! This medication made me so tired that I chose to be nauseated rather than knocked out. Just a little something to think about!

Gettin' Around Town

2006-05-07T17:02:00.000-04:00

The other thing we talked about often on our DTC group was how to carry our babies. Most people in our group rented strollers. A few had front carriers and wraps. I think the time of year you travel plays a part as well. We traveled in August and it was so hot. We were all happier with some space. Ummm . . . I also have no idea why this is underlined.

We brought a Hip Hammock that I won on Ebay. I hate paying full price for something that I don't know if I'll like, baby will like, etc. As you can see, Anna had no problem getting comfortable. My hubby, on the other hand, was so hot. You can see that his shirt is all wet and sweaty. Sorry. I know it's gross. We did not use it much after our first few days.

We finally sucked it up and rented a stroller for five dollars from the hotel. They were really nice - most had shades. We took this out to go shopping and walking around town. Much more comfortable for all than the hip hammock. She could see better and use her hands to eat, drink, etc.

Formula Please, Shaken not Stirred!

2006-05-07T08:13:00.000-04:00

One of the frequent topics of discussion on my DTC board was formula, what type of bottles to bring, fast or slow nipples, soy or cow's milk, etc. Let me share what we, along with other members of our group, found out!

We did have to "eat on the go" most days. We premeasured formula in the bottles, and brought two with us during the day. We did bring a thermos, and my only word of warning would be to not put in HOT water. We did this, thinking that it would cool off throughout the day. It truly did not which was a fun discovery the first day out. I think my hubby suffered second degree burns on his leg as we poured water on a bouncing bus!

We were so worried about what type of formula to bring, and it was never an issue during the trip. I brought all these nice, Enfamil, single serving, and we left them all in China. We were given two bags of formula on Gotcha Day, and we purchased more at Walmart. The formula comes in nonresealable bags so we purchased a Rubbermaid for storage. We tried Ziplocs but they were just too messy.

There was a lot of talk about fast versus slow nipples. We brought the fastest we could find, and it was too much for her. I had to borrow a medium flow nipple from a travel mate. Keep this is mind when you are purchasing and packing.

We brought a bottle brush which was great. When it was time to clean them, I would mix a few drops of dish washing liquid in a hotel cup with water from the hot plate. All three of our rooms had "heat up water things" that produced boiling water in a few minutes. I would soak our nipples in the hot water, pull them out with the bottle brush, and rinse them with bottled water. We used our bottle brush instead of bringing tongs.

We bought Playtex Bottles with the clear silicone nipples. These worked great. We also brought sippy cups with handles. We used these for water and juice. Not only did they make traveling easier, but it was another source of entertainment for her!

Hey, This Does Not Look Like Chinese Food!!

2006-05-04T17:15:00.000-04:00

There is a lot of talk about food, what to bring in terms of snacks, etc. I can say that we never had problems with the food in China. Yes, there were things that we did not want to eat, but you find that everywhere. Almost every group meal was a buffet type setting where we could pick and choose. Many times you could visit your meal before you sat down!

The hotel food was always good. A friend took pictures of a more "exotic" buffet, something that would scare most people! That is octopus in the background!

Many of our meals were like this, a "spinning" circle with all sorts of yummy dishes. There was always rice, a good filler for anyone.

A little more of the exotic buffet. Can you guess what this is!?!?

This is another one of my favorite photos. It was very Griswald of me to take it, but I could not believe this was a "salad"! The Great Wall of Cucumbers! We found a Pizza Hut in Guangzhou, and there was a great salad bar. You paid per trip so people really got their monies worth! I would encourage you to eat here one night. It was great and the cab ride was cheap (two dollars).

We did not bring a suitcase full of snacks, and we were never hungry! We did bring a few things, and I would suggest something along these lines. There is a good chance that you will catch an early morning flight to your baby's province, Guangzhou, and the day that you fly home. I'm a breakfast person, and we did not have time to eat at the hotel before the bus pulled away. I had Oatmeal on the Go containers, and they were great. Not only did I like them, but Anna enjoyed them as well. You can tell an adult that breakfast will be served on the plane, but a baby could care less! They want to eat NOW!

I brought a couple Cup O' Noodles, and we ate them when we were too tired to go out. This was our first meal in Beijing!

We had cheese filled crackers that were great snacks for the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. After we got Anna, I mostly ate Cheerios and Rice Puffs. I have developed quite a taste for Gerber Banana Rice Puffs!

There are little vendors all over that sell ice cream bars. I had an excellent chococlate and almond dipped vanilla ice cream bar at the Summer Palace. Yum. It was so hot and it tasted sooo good.

There is coffee in the mornings at the hotel breakfast buffet. I was told to bring coffee on one of the lists, and I'm glad we did not.

Yes, soda does not taste the same in China. I loooove Diet Coke, and it's different in China. Oh well. I had the child I'd been dreaming about for years. I could handle it. Sprite was served at our buffets and it tasted great. Water was everywhere and as we all know, it's the best thing for you! :)

The breakfast buffets in the hotels were great. Plenty of everything you could ever want: fruit, cereal, juice,eggs, pastries, etc. I was plesantly surprised.

We ordered room service a few times and it was typical of what you would get in the US. It was good, but a little cold. We were able to get things that we "missed"; a turkey sandwich and a hamburger.

We often had dinner in the hotel. Sometimes it's easier to stick "close to home" when you have a baby. The food was fine, and in Nanning, I developed quite a craving for what they call a hamburger. In the US, it would be called Black Pepper With Some Ground Beef. Speaking of black pepper, don't forget your Pepto!

In Guangzhou, there is a place called Danny's Bagels that serves "American" food. They deliver, to your hotel room, pizza, hogies, spaghetti, soups, etc. It tasted great, and it was nice to not go out for every meal. We ordered the potato soup for Anna, and she loved it!

Food- wise for baby, we brought little. If I had to do it again, I would add rice cereal with formula to our list. A friend let us borrow some, and Anna loved it. She gave it to us because her daughter would not eat it. So it's really a guessing game until you actually get your baby. We brought Bitter Bisquits because my boys loved them. Anna would not touch them so we let them in China. The Cheerios and Rice Puffs are a must. Think about what you want to feed them on the plane ride home. Oatmeal would be a great option. Add some hot water and you have a great meal.

So relax and enjoy the dining in China! Bring your camera because you never know what you may see!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

2006-05-04T16:26:00.000-04:00

One of the my concerns was "How do I entertain this child in a hotel room, on an airplane, etc!?!?" So we brought all these wonderful things and guess what? She was mostly interested in the liners we had for her bottles. So we would hide them in our suitcase and play a game of "hide and seek". I know it sounds rather lame, but she loved it!

I love this picture. Notice the toys around her and what does she have? The wonderful bottle liners. I bought that purple ball at Walmart in the pet section, which is rather tiny. There is actually a dog in the zoo in Guangzhou!

Ok, back to the subject! Anna loved those DK Touch and Feel books. The farm animals is still a favorite. Most of these children have never felt varying textures so this sort of activity is not only fun, but excellent for them developmentally. Some families brought stacking cups which went over well. A blow up beach ball is a good toy and easy to pack. You can buy lucky drums in China and those were fun for the babies. Bubbles are neat and easy to pack. Anna did like the toy cell phone we had for her. I think she was more into the fact that she could open and close it rather than push the buttons. Enjoy! Shopping for baby toys is so much fun!

A Safety Issue

2006-05-04T15:26:00.000-04:00

Being third time parents, we saw the cribs and were a little uncomfortable. I'm not real anal about crib slat widths, but this was a little much. So we asked for more blankets and draped them over the sides. Kept her arms, legs, head, etc. in and was also nice padding. I would think about bringing a few extra baby blankets as well. When we got to Guangzhou, we could not get two extra blankets so we used our bath towels (did I ever tell you that my hubby likes to call us the Grizwalds?). The blankets were also nice for propping her on her side to help with the flat head issue. Not only was it flat, but she had a "lump" from laying on her back with her head to one side. Rather unflattering for a little lady! So packmate a few extra blankets for the trip!

Never Fear - There is Always Walmart!

2006-05-04T15:04:00.000-04:00

When we were packing, I was so worried about forgetting something that would make our trip miserable. Well, despite printing off every packing list on APC, DTC yahoo groups, etc., I forgot things. We got to China and realized there were things that we needed. So we went to Walmart! I really liked the place! Some people shun the store, saying it's not the "true cultural experience". Well, the place was always packed so we had quite the cultural experience. Just walking up and down the aisles and seeing the foods they sell is an experience itself! I was able to snap some pics and was later told "NO PICTURE!"

Nanning, Guangxi

The meat department

Isn't he great? They sell so many foods that we have never heard of!

Walmart is two stories with an escalator to go up and down.

What amazed me the most is how picky we are as Americans. Walmart sells it all - I'm talking aisle freezers of bulk meat parts. Take the tongs and get ears, feet, etc. There is no waste which I don't think is a bad thing. I'm a "no white meat? Ok than I'll have something else" kind of girl. Not something to be proud of!

On a more important note, you can get all sorts of baby things here. They sell formula, baby food, cereal, and juice. I would recommend bringing Cheerios or those Gerber rice puff things. We did not see those in China, and the kids loved them. If you bring the whole Gerber canister, it also serves as a neat shake toy. Anything to keep them happy on a 15 hour flight home.

PACKMATES - Could Not Have Traveled Without Them!

2006-05-04T11:01:00.000-04:00

The other piece of advice I would have to give you soon to be travelers, is to buy packmates. Yes, you can get them at Kohl's, Walmart, Target, etc., but this is by far the best deal. You will get 15 medium bags for $30.00. You can't find a better deal than that!
We "packmated" our clothes in outfits. We put into one packmate what we would need in Beijing, and that was all we needed to take out during our first stop. You thinking packing the first time is tough! Remember that you have to unpack and then repack at least two other times!
We packmated diapers and that shrunk them up perfectly. You can get diapers in China, but we had the space so we purchased them here.
We packmated all of our stinky clothes for the trip home. It was summer and we were hot and sweaty. Not the prettiest picture but I'm just being honest. The packmates seem to seal in the smell as well. :)
There are not many things I would swear by, but even my hubby was sold by the end of our trip. Soooo . . . .
Call Linda at 1-800-432-7517 and ask for the adoption special. Happy packing!

A little about us!: A Great Idea!

2006-05-04T10:56:00.000-04:00

A little about us!: A Great Idea!

A little about us!: The Radison in Beijing

2006-05-04T10:53:00.000-04:00

A little about us!: The Radison in Beijing

Medical Exam

2006-04-15T19:30:00.000-04:00

We had three stations to visit. This was the one where they did her temperature, height, and weight.
Here they did an "overall" general exam. They measured her head, listened to her heart and lungs, and did an all over peek at her skin.
The last station was hearing which we did not her a photo of. They made a few loud noises next to each of her ears and noted when she turned her head. As you can see from the photo, it was very busy and crowded the day of our exam. I wish we had brought more snacks and drinks.

Guigang

2006-04-12T12:46:00.000-04:00

Lake across from the SWI
Market in Guigang
The SWI
Entrance to the SWI
Baby Room

Gotcha Day

2006-04-11T21:38:00.000-04:00

Before we got our babies, we had to complete, certify, verify, etc all sorts of paperwork. You make things official with a red thumbprint seal.
It's rather sureal walking into your hotel room and seeing a crib. It finally hits home that you are going to be bringing home your baby!
Our friends, the Aberles, were the first family to receive their daughter, Greta.
Here is my baby! Poor Anna was so tired. All of the babies were wearing matching outfits and were very clean and healthy. We could not have asked for more!
We had a LID of 11/26 and our Gotcha Day was 8/22/05.
You are given "temporary custody" of your child for the first night. You will return the next to confirm that you still desire to adopt your child. This gave us another opportunity to meet the orphanage workers and ask questions. They gave each family a special gift, photos of the girls and a wall hanging. Sealing our adoption confirmation with a red footprint!
We also visited Cival Affairs the next day where we promised to love, never abandon, and provide an education for Anna.

Anna's Referral Photos

2006-04-09T07:56:00.000-04:00

We received Anna's referral on June 24, 2005. We have a daughter! We waited to see her face until the next day when the FedEx man delivered our referral packet from AWAA. Thanks goodness for Saturday delivery!

Go David! Go! David beat me to the FedEx truck!

Here she is! Jiang Xiao Lei! She was living in the Guigang Social Welfare Institute in Guangxi, China.