Fun in Wuhan

WARNING~ LOTS OF PICTURE IN THIS POST. I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF!!!

Well by day 2 with Katie, she was feeling much better and just as happy as could be. Dan could really make her laugh and smile. We really made the most of our time in China. We also had a wonderful travel group. Everyone in our group was GREAT. We enjoyed each other's company throughout the trip and we made life long friends that we consider our extended family. We shared such incredible experience that it bonded us for life.

Feb 9th we went shopping at the local dept store. Then back to the 6th floor conference to receive our adoption certificates.


Shopping


Receiving our adoption certificate


Katie and Daddy


I love this picture of Katie. Dan was playing with Katie on the bed and I captured this picture of her. I used it for our announcements when we got home.


This is how I would get Katie to sleep every night. She refused to go into the crib. I had to carry her around and rock her. She would stuck her thumb and take her other hand and rub her sleeve or rub my shirt. Looks like she even drooled on my shirt.

Feb 10th we visited the Guiyuan Temple. It was beautiful. Dan and some of the other families rang the bell for luck. We attracted the local people to us everywhere we went. Our guide made us a card to wear that read "We are Americans and we are adopting this baby and that we love her and we are taking her to American with us". Most of the local people would smile and give us the thumbs up. After the Temple we went out to lunch with our group. Our guide always ordered for us and we had the best food. My favorite in Wuhan was the lotus root. We had it several times. Sometimes fried and sometimes sauteed. It was delicious. After our tour for the day Dan and I took Katie for a walk in the stroller. It was about 50-55 degrees in Wuhan. We walked to the Carrefour and then to the park across from our Hotel. There were alot of people in the park feeding pigeons. Dan bought bird food and we decided to feed the pigeons. Well they landed right on you. This did not go over well with me. I freaked alittle. Katie slept through the whole thing. I had some stickers with me and I gave them out to some of the children in the park. They loved it.


Our travel group. This picture was taken in the lobby of the White Rose Hotel before we left for our tour of the Guiyuan Temple.




The local people were very interested in us every where we went. This picture I had a crowd around me looking at Katie. I gave one man the card our guide made to explain that we adopted her.


Katie all bundled up in the stroller


Dan ringing the bell for luck




Lunch


This restaurant had the best green beans!


I loved going to the park across the the Hotel and watching the people. I thought this little girl was so cute.


Dan is calm while feeding the birds


I FREAKED! That was the end of bird feeding for me.


Katie slept through it.


Back at the room. Look at that face!


Dinner at the White Rose. The sauteed vegetable dish has the lotus root in it. Yummy!


Our happy girl

Feb 11th we visited the Hubei Provincial Museum. On display were the relics from the Tomb of Marquis Yi. Dan loved the Museum. Katie was falling asleep in the stroller so I walked around with Sue while we pushed the girls in the stroller. The most famous treasure is the Chime Bells, which is the largest bronze musical instrument ever discovered. We went to see a performance in the music hall of musicians playing of replica of the Chime Bells. I purchased a small replica Chime Bell for Katie. After the Museum we went to lunch. There was a wedding reception going on at the restaurant.




Chime Bells


Wedding we saw at the restaurant


At lunch. See how Katie sucks her thumb and rubs the inside of her sleeve with the other hand. She stills does this. LOVES cotton.


Katie took to Dan immediately.


Another one of my favorite pictures of Katie from China

Feb 12th we visited a local market with some of the other families in our group. One of the families got the idea to visit a local market. We skipped the tour that was planned for us that day. We got directions written out from our guide and took several taxi's to the market. We went with 6 other families. Dan was not thrilled with this idea because we were not with our guide. We had a really good time shopping at the local market. Later that day we met up with most of the families in our travel group and played beer pong in the Hotel. The girls all played together while the adults played beer pong.


Local market in Wuhan


Shopping. Not sure how I missed that piece of hair in Katie ponytail. Poor Girl!


Happy to find a McDonald's


Back to the park


The girls playing together while the adults played Beer Pong


Playing Beer Pong

Feb 13th we finished our "Brown Envelope" paperwork and then went out to dinner with our group. We packed our bags because we left for Guangzhou the next morning.



Leaving for Guangzhou

We really enjoyed our time touring Katie's province.

Stay tuned for our time in Guangzhou.

The Official Adoption Day

On February 8, 2006 we went back to the conference room on the 6th floor of our Hotel for the official adoption of Katie. It was so fun to see all the families the next day with there new babies and hear about everyone's night.

Adoption Day Morning


Robert, Sue, and Alexa


Katie feel asleep while we waited. I love this picture except for my half painted nails. I guess taking the nail polish off of my nails was not a priority.


Putting our fingerprints on the documents


Picture with the Assistant Director of the orphanage

Later in the day we took a walk to the Carrefour to shop for snacks, water, etc. We came back to the Hotel room and set up our room since this was going to be our home for the week. We played with Katie in the room. She was starting to feel better and her little personality started to show. We could make her laugh and smile. We were told she was probably called Min Min. All the girls from her orphanage were named Qi Jia (fill in the blank). Katie was named Qi Jia Min. We named her Kathleen JiaMin. We started calling her Katie Min Min in China to put her Chinese name and American name together. This was not planned before we arrived in China. After calling her Katie Min Min we loved it and it stuck. The poor girl has so many names and she answers to them all......Kathleen, Katie, Kate, Katie Min Min, Min Min, Minnie, Boo Boo.....she calls herself Nin Nin. When she tried to say Min Min it came out Nin Nin. Well that stuck too and we will call her Nin Nin at times.


Ready for our trip to Carrefour

Gotcha Day

We arrived in Wuhan, Hubei about 12noon. We checked into the White Rose Hotel. The babies were being brought right to the Hotel in the conference room at 3pm. We went with our guide and some of the families to the Carrefore(like a Walmart) for water and snacks.

Dan and I got to the conference room early. We couldn't wait around in our Hotel room any longer. The two of us and Susan, Jim, and there daughter Emma were the first ones in the conference room. All of a sudden the babies started to arrive. The Nannies carried in 4 babies all bundled up and dressed alike. We soon realized these babies were from the other orphanage(we had 11 babies in our travel group from 2 different orphanages). Susan and Jim's baby was one of the babies that was brought in. We picked her out and started to take her picture. Slowly the rest of our travel group and guide arrived. Finally the other 7 babies arrived. Most of them were dressed alike in little duck suits. We were told to have a seat and they started to give us instructions. I didn't hear a word they said. I was trying to figure out which little baby dressed as a duck was Katie. At first I thought the baby right in front of me was Katie. She was the only one that really resembled Katie's referral picture. She was smiling at me and I thought she knows her Mother already. Well I was wrong it was Erika and Todd's daughter Madison. Dan did not think it was Katie. Then I realized there was a baby we couldn't see being held by the Director of the orphanage. I could only see the back of her. Finally the Director handed her to one of the Nannies. It was Katie. She was sweaty, had a running nose, but she was smiling. It was the longest wait of my life. The instructions were finally over and they called each family up one by one to sign the guardianship papers. Then it was finally the "Gotcha" moment. They started to call the families up one by one. We had the greatest travel group and there was so much excitement and energy in the room. We all passed each other our cameras and video cameras and helped capture this amazing moment for each other. Our name was finally called. The Director handed Katie to me and she just fell into my arms. No crying at all. She was fascinated with my necklace and the lanyard that I was wearing with her picture in it. I sat down at the conference table and just stared at this little sweaty, runny nosed, beautiful baby. She was so fascinated with my lanyard and I just stared at her and cried. I was overcome with emotion. I can't even explain how I was feeling. There was so much happiness and excitement around me but I was in my own world with Katie. I was so happy and grateful for this child. I had prayed for a baby and my prayers were answered. I had prayed for answers on why it was so hard for Dan and I to have a family. I got my answers right there in that moment. Dan was taking pictures and videotaping. I then let Dan hold Katie. We had no problems with Katie going to either one of us. We were told by the Director of the orphanage that Katie was sick and she had been started on cough medicine and antibiotics. They gave us the medicine that she was being given but I had brought medicine from home so I started her on that.

We took her back to the room and just looked at her. We were in awe. She was so sweaty and had a runny nose. I took her temp and it was 102.8. She was congested and wheezy. I started her on the antibiotic that I brought. Dan had to go back to the conference room and fill out paperwork. He was gone for an hour. Katie fell asleep but I could not put her down. She would cry the minute I tried. Dan got back to the room about 6pm and I had to sign the paperwork and then deliver it to our guides room. Then we went downstairs for dinner. I was starving because I didn't eat all day. We met up with a few families from our group. We got back to our room about 8pm. It was 7am at home and everyone was anxiously awaiting to hear from us. We tried to get Katie to go to sleep in the crib. She would scream when I put her in the crib. I had to hold her. She would not take a bottle for me. I could not put her down and she finally fell asleep on me. I didn't sleep well at all. My Mom and Karen were at home waiting for news from us. I didn't call them until the next day. It was the middle of the night in the USA when we got her and when we could finally call that is when we were trying to get her to sleep. We finally talked to them the next day. They were ready to hop on the next flight to China to find out what was going on. Katie woke up at 4am and finally took a bottle for me. She still had a fever but as the day went on the fever broke and she started to look happier and her little personality started to show.

I can't even describe how amazing our Gotcha Day was. It was perfect. Enjoy the picturess below and I am going to continue to post about the rest of our trip this week.


Shopping at Carrefour


The crib that Katie never sleep in


Ready to be a Mommy. I had my ladybug pants on for the occasion.


The Nannies bringing the babies in


My first look at Katie. She is the baby on the right.


Signing the guardianship papers


The MOMENT I had been waiting for


Finally in my arms


Proud Mama! You can see Katie eyeing up my necklace and lanyard.


Our first family photo


Katie and Daddy


One happy family. Well at least Dan and I look happy.


This picture was taken right when we got back to the room. Katie looks sad. She was probably in shock by us. We were too thrilled with her to see it in her face until we looked back on this picture.


Katie at dinner that night. She wouldn't let go of my lanyard.


Finally taking a bottle for me at 4am

China

We arrived in Beijing on Feb 4th and were greeted by our GWCA guide at the airport. We met up with a few other families in the airport. I belonged to our adoption agency's online DTC yahoo group and our travel group was from all over the United States. I corresponded with some of these woman for months online and considered them friends. To finally met them in China at the airport, at the hotel, in line at the breakfast buffet was another exciting part of our trip. It is amazing to me how many new friendships that I have formed just from adopting one amazing child. Anyway, we checked into The Plaza Hotel and relaxed the first night. We arrived a day earlier then most of our travel group.


One of the GWCA guides waiting for us at the airport in Beijing


Susan, Emma, and Jim at the airport. After months of chatting with Susan we were finally in China. There daughter was from the same province as Katie so we spent the whole trip together.

The next day(Feb 5th) we met up with a few other families that also arrived a day early and went on our own tour around Beijing. We went to an indoor flea market area and did some shopping. Then we went to the Temple of Heaven. We were not able to go into the Temple because they were getting it ready for the 2008 Olympics. That night we went to see the Peking Acrobats show. It was amazing. When we arrived at the show we were sitting behind a Chinese woman and she seemed excited to see Americans. She said to Dan in English "How are you?" and Dan said "fine". Well the lady said something in Mandarin and all of her friends got hysterical. She kept turning around and looking at Dan and laughing. Dan said maybe someday he will find out what the woman was laughing at. I think she was just happy to try her English on an Amercian. The rest of our travel group also arrived on this day. We were so excited to see Kate and Jim when they arrived in China.



At the Temple of Heaven


Dan and Kevin played "hacky sack" with some of the locals.


I was so happy when Katie and Jim arrived!


Acrobat Show


I was able to take a picture of the lady who was laughing at Dan. She was happy to let me take her picture.


Feb 6th was the day we toured with all the families that were in Beijing for GWCA. We split up into province groups for our tour. It was snowing in Beijing. We toured Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, and then climbed The Great Wall. The Wall was very steep and very slippery because of the snow. Dan went off with another couple from our group and climbed to the top. He left me in the dust. I stayed with a few girls that I had FINALLY met in person after months of chatting online.


Our guide Cindy. This woman was amazing. I didn't want to leave her after 2 weeks. I can't say enough wonderful things about Cindy.


Tiananmen Square


The Forbidden City


On The Great Wall with Susan and Gina



We had a wonderful time touring Beijing but we were ready to move on and travel to Hubei Province to adopt our daughter. We were so close. I couldn't believe the day finally arrived.

On Feb 7, 2006 all the families with GWCA met in the lobby. We split into province groups and headed to the airport to fly to the province of our daughters. I said goodbye to all of my friends that were flying to other provinces to adopt there daughters. We would met up again in Guangzhou.


Gotcha Day morning...leaving for Hubei


Jim and Katie leaving for Lia's province


Saying goodbye to Kevin and Carol. They were leaving for Mia's province.


We arrived in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Stay tuned for Gotcha Day moments....

I didn't have alot of pictures of the 11 families we traveled with at this point in the trip. We REALLY got to know our travel group after we arrived in Wuhan. We had the most amazing travel group. I will tell you all about our travel group over the next week during my walk down memory lane.

Three years ago today.........

We left to fly half way around the world to adopt a beautiful little baby named Qi Jia Min. It was the day we waited for so long. We traveled about 8 weeks after our referral. I carried her picture with me everywhere I went and showed it to anyone who would look at it. I packed us up using all the information and packing lists that I had gathered online. We were so well prepared that we did not want for anything in China. I did have to pay an overweight fee on my suitcase but it was worth it.

After waiting ONLY 9 months for our referral and then waiting 8 weeks to travel the day finally arrived. We left from Newark, NJ and flew direct to Beijing. We traveled with our friend Kevin and his Mom. Karen stayed at home with there daughter Maddie who was born premature at 26 weeks the Oct before. We met Karen and Kevin at our homestudy agency adoption class. There were a total of 4 couples in the class including Dan and I and Karen and Kevin. The other 2 couples were adopting domestically. Not only were Karen and Kevin also adopting from China but they were using the same adoption agency as us. Great Wall of China Adoption in Austin, Texas. Since we were both PA residents we needed a local agency to do our homestudy. Karen and I exchanged phone numbers and became fast friends. We got our paperwork in at the same time and had the same LID(log in date). We were so excited to travel together to adopt our daughters. Karen's sister(Carolyn) was also adopting from China again and had our same LID. She lives in Georgia(remember the road trip Karen and I took with the 4 kids to Georgia) and we were going to meet up with her in China. A few months into our wait I also met my friend Kate online. She lived only 20 minutes from me and she was using the same agency GWCA and her LID was 2 days after mine. I was so excited another local family that I would travel with. We had 60 families total that traveled with GWCA that month but then we split into province groups. We had 11 families that traveled with us to adopt our daughters from Hubei.

Since I started blogging 2 years after adopting Katie, over the next 2 weeks I am going to post pictures and blog about our trip to China.


Dan and I outside of our house getting ready to leave for the airport. We are holding our passports.


Kevin and his Mom Carol on the plane. As you can see the plane wasn't crowded at all. After take off we all spread out into our on rows. I took a sleeping pill and sleep most of the flight.


Dan sleep too.