Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
IS THIS THE SAME BABY?????
I'm going to make this entry short, but sweet. It doesn't seem possible when I think about it, that a week ago, our sweet, beautiful Molly Kate was a little orphan, living in an orphanage about four hours away from where we were in Nanchang, waiting for us to adopt her. Roger and I were talking tonight----we can't figure out what in the world we did without her. She has already brought SO much joy to our lives, and we know it's only going to get better. I may have mentioned this in a previous entry, but I will say it again---it is SO amazing that in God's plan for our lives that he included a trip half way around the world to adopt a beautiful daughter, to go with our three wonderful sons. We are SOOOOO blessed!!!!!
I am posting two pictures. The first one I received around the middle of January. It was an updated picture from the orphanage taken when Molly Kate was about 16 months old. The other is one (of the many) that we took today. Can you believe that the pictures are both of the same baby??? When I saw the picture in January, I thought she looked VERY sad, and it made me SO want to see my baby SMILE!!!! Now, we are blessed with MANY sweet dimpled smiles each and every day!!!!! God is SOOOOOO good!!!!!
I am posting two pictures. The first one I received around the middle of January. It was an updated picture from the orphanage taken when Molly Kate was about 16 months old. The other is one (of the many) that we took today. Can you believe that the pictures are both of the same baby??? When I saw the picture in January, I thought she looked VERY sad, and it made me SO want to see my baby SMILE!!!! Now, we are blessed with MANY sweet dimpled smiles each and every day!!!!! God is SOOOOOO good!!!!!
DAY 8----THE FIRST DAY IN GUANGZHOU
We arrived in Guangzhou last yesterday afternoon. What a BEAUTIFUL city it is!!! In fact, it's the most beautiful city I've ever been to!
This morning we took Molly Kate for her physical. Other than still being a little congested from bronchitis, everything checked out fine. At 18 months, she weighs 21.3 lbs. and is 30 inches tall----VERY small for her age. She is HEALTHY, though, and is an excellent eater!!!
After we were finished with Molly Kate's physical, we had the rest of the day to do whatever we wanted. Of course, for me, that meant SHOPPING!!!! We are staying at the White Swan Hotel---the final destination for all adopting families. It is quite a luxury hotel, and is located on Shamien Island, beside the Pearl River. We have the most beautiful view from our 9th story room of the the river. There are blocks and blocks of shops here on the island with lots of REALLY cute clothes and shoes for babies. I am in HOG HEAVEN!!!!!! We did a lot of walking today, checking out the shops to see which have the best deals. I did buy an authentic silk Chinese outfit for Molly Kate to wear for the RED COUCH picture of all the adopted girls in our travel group. There is a red couch in the lobby here at the hotel----actually, there are a BUNCH of red couches here and every travel group takes pictures on it before they leave. I also bought her three pairs of shoes. It's hard to believe that the stores have the CUTEST leather shoes for little girls for $5! Since all the shoes I've already bought for her are all too big, I have an excuse to buy MORE!!!! I'm also trying to buy something special to give her each year on her GOTCHA DAY until she is 18.
I have to tell you about our BIG ADVENTURE of the day. I can't remember if I've mentioned it in any of my other entries, but Molly Kate is potty trained. In China, potty training is started at about age four days old. The information we received about Molly Kate said that she used a potty chair. The hotel in Nanchang provided potty chairs for the rooms. It was obvious when we first sat her on it, she knew exactly what she was supposed to do. Well, the White Swan Hotel DOESN'T provide potty chairs, so we knew last night we had a problem. Molly Kate woke up twice during the night because of a dirty diaper, and it was obvious she was really distressed about it. It was the first night she hadn't slept all night. We asked Maggie, our guide, where we might be able to buy a potty chair. She told us we would have to hire a taxi and she gave us directions written in Chinese to give to the driver to take us to a variety store that would have them. SO, we set off on our journey, in a taxi---a story in itself----to the variety store to buy a potty chair. We arrived at our destination. Maggie had told us to go DOWN the escalator when we got there. She just didn't tell us how FAR to go down. Let me tell you, it's NOT EASY to find a potty chair in a multi-level store full of people who don't speak English!!! Luckily for us, Maggie had written "potty chair" in Chinese on a piece of paper. Even with that, though, it took FOREVER to find one. Once we did, there were two choices---a small blue one that Molly Kate's little bottom would have fallen right in, or a nice pink and white one that looked like a minature chair. We decided the pink and white one would be the best. We picked up a few more items, and headed for the check out. Sounds simple, RIGHT? WELL, we couldn't find the checkout!!! We walked and walked, until we finally found someone who spoke enough English who told us we had to go down a level to check out, which was actually in the grocery store. (By the way, I'm leaving out the details of me trying to get on an off and escalator NUMEROUS times with a stroller and a baby!!!) We had already been there looking for the potty chair, and I had gotten Molly Kate's stroller stuck trying to go out of the store in one of the exit aisles. ANYWAY, Roger paid for the potty chair and the other items. However, in China, they don't use bags or sacks, so his option was to put all the additional items he had bought in the hole in the potty seat, and head out. Let me tell you, it takes a dedicated daddy to walk down the street carrying a pink and white potty chair!!!! I've included a picture, in case you can't visualize it!!!!
We rode in a taxi back to the hotel and went walking and shopping some more.
Then, tonight we ate dinnerwith three of the other families in our travel group, and Maggie, our guide, at a really nice Thai Restaurant. When we are with the other families, Molly Kate is usually VERY quiet and shy. Tonight, however, she came out of her shell. She smiled and laughed and babbled and beat her bowl with her spoon, just like all the other little girls were doing!!! THEN, she ate a FULL bowl of chicken and rice porridge! We went for a nice long walk after dinner, in search of a particular store that I never found. Molly Kate fell asleep in her stroller, so we took an extra long walk, and then came back to the room. She slept in her stroller for quite a while.
When she woke up, I stripped her down and sat her on her potty chair, in front of the TV. It was SO funny---she sat there for at least 30 minutes watching TV and never fussed. I told Roger today that I think we have about as many pictures of her sitting on her potty chair as we do off of it. She LOVES sitting on it!!! She really is such a good baby. I can't remember whether or not I told you this in my entry about our orphanage visit, but her nanny there told me (translated to me) that Molly Kate is beautiful, smart, and a very good baby. She was SOOOOO right!!!
This morning we took Molly Kate for her physical. Other than still being a little congested from bronchitis, everything checked out fine. At 18 months, she weighs 21.3 lbs. and is 30 inches tall----VERY small for her age. She is HEALTHY, though, and is an excellent eater!!!
After we were finished with Molly Kate's physical, we had the rest of the day to do whatever we wanted. Of course, for me, that meant SHOPPING!!!! We are staying at the White Swan Hotel---the final destination for all adopting families. It is quite a luxury hotel, and is located on Shamien Island, beside the Pearl River. We have the most beautiful view from our 9th story room of the the river. There are blocks and blocks of shops here on the island with lots of REALLY cute clothes and shoes for babies. I am in HOG HEAVEN!!!!!! We did a lot of walking today, checking out the shops to see which have the best deals. I did buy an authentic silk Chinese outfit for Molly Kate to wear for the RED COUCH picture of all the adopted girls in our travel group. There is a red couch in the lobby here at the hotel----actually, there are a BUNCH of red couches here and every travel group takes pictures on it before they leave. I also bought her three pairs of shoes. It's hard to believe that the stores have the CUTEST leather shoes for little girls for $5! Since all the shoes I've already bought for her are all too big, I have an excuse to buy MORE!!!! I'm also trying to buy something special to give her each year on her GOTCHA DAY until she is 18.
I have to tell you about our BIG ADVENTURE of the day. I can't remember if I've mentioned it in any of my other entries, but Molly Kate is potty trained. In China, potty training is started at about age four days old. The information we received about Molly Kate said that she used a potty chair. The hotel in Nanchang provided potty chairs for the rooms. It was obvious when we first sat her on it, she knew exactly what she was supposed to do. Well, the White Swan Hotel DOESN'T provide potty chairs, so we knew last night we had a problem. Molly Kate woke up twice during the night because of a dirty diaper, and it was obvious she was really distressed about it. It was the first night she hadn't slept all night. We asked Maggie, our guide, where we might be able to buy a potty chair. She told us we would have to hire a taxi and she gave us directions written in Chinese to give to the driver to take us to a variety store that would have them. SO, we set off on our journey, in a taxi---a story in itself----to the variety store to buy a potty chair. We arrived at our destination. Maggie had told us to go DOWN the escalator when we got there. She just didn't tell us how FAR to go down. Let me tell you, it's NOT EASY to find a potty chair in a multi-level store full of people who don't speak English!!! Luckily for us, Maggie had written "potty chair" in Chinese on a piece of paper. Even with that, though, it took FOREVER to find one. Once we did, there were two choices---a small blue one that Molly Kate's little bottom would have fallen right in, or a nice pink and white one that looked like a minature chair. We decided the pink and white one would be the best. We picked up a few more items, and headed for the check out. Sounds simple, RIGHT? WELL, we couldn't find the checkout!!! We walked and walked, until we finally found someone who spoke enough English who told us we had to go down a level to check out, which was actually in the grocery store. (By the way, I'm leaving out the details of me trying to get on an off and escalator NUMEROUS times with a stroller and a baby!!!) We had already been there looking for the potty chair, and I had gotten Molly Kate's stroller stuck trying to go out of the store in one of the exit aisles. ANYWAY, Roger paid for the potty chair and the other items. However, in China, they don't use bags or sacks, so his option was to put all the additional items he had bought in the hole in the potty seat, and head out. Let me tell you, it takes a dedicated daddy to walk down the street carrying a pink and white potty chair!!!! I've included a picture, in case you can't visualize it!!!!
We rode in a taxi back to the hotel and went walking and shopping some more.
Then, tonight we ate dinnerwith three of the other families in our travel group, and Maggie, our guide, at a really nice Thai Restaurant. When we are with the other families, Molly Kate is usually VERY quiet and shy. Tonight, however, she came out of her shell. She smiled and laughed and babbled and beat her bowl with her spoon, just like all the other little girls were doing!!! THEN, she ate a FULL bowl of chicken and rice porridge! We went for a nice long walk after dinner, in search of a particular store that I never found. Molly Kate fell asleep in her stroller, so we took an extra long walk, and then came back to the room. She slept in her stroller for quite a while.
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| Shop Til You Drop! |
When she woke up, I stripped her down and sat her on her potty chair, in front of the TV. It was SO funny---she sat there for at least 30 minutes watching TV and never fussed. I told Roger today that I think we have about as many pictures of her sitting on her potty chair as we do off of it. She LOVES sitting on it!!! She really is such a good baby. I can't remember whether or not I told you this in my entry about our orphanage visit, but her nanny there told me (translated to me) that Molly Kate is beautiful, smart, and a very good baby. She was SOOOOO right!!!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
DAY 6 - A DAY OF CLOSURE
I know God is always in control of every day in my life, but today it was SO VERY OBVIOUS. We left this morning around 8:30 to visit the orphanage where Molly Kate spent most of her first 17 months of life. Evelyn, our guide, had arranged the trip for us---about a three hour drive one way to Ji'an City, with one of her friends, Coby as our guide, and Mr. Wong as our driver. Evelyn had talked to the director of the orphanage on Monday when we were completing paperwork for the adoption about us visiting. Normally there are some formalities that have to be taken care of before someone is allowed to go inside ANY Social Welfare Institute, but arrangements had been made to take care of these for us. The plan was for us to spend two hours at the orphanage, once we arrived, and have lunch there.
We had a good trip to Ji'an City. Molly Kate slept most of the way, and was in a good mood once she woke up. About the time we got to Ji'an City, though, Coby received a phone call from Evelyn. It seems that a NEW director had been hired, and there were some complications and miscommunications about the arrangements for our visit, and we were no longer going to be allowed to go into the orphanage. Evelyn said it was okay to take pictures outside the gates, but we couldn't go in. When I asked if Molly Kate's nanny could come out, she said they had told her she couldn't. I was disappointed that I couldn't meet her, because I wanted to thank her personally for taking such good care of Molly Kate. It was just one of those things, though, that we had no control over.
We arrived at the orphanage, and Roger and Shea got out of the van to take pictures for me. A guard walked up to the gate and told Coby that we couldn't take pictures. Once Coby told him we had made prior arrangements, it was okay. A few minutes later a representative from the orphanage, who we had met with on Monday to complete paperwork, came out to see Molly Kate. We were standing there talking to him, when I looked up and saw a woman running toward us. It was Molly Kate's nanny!!!! What a sweet lady she was!!! Of course, I couldn't understand a word she was saying, but Coby told me she said that Molly Kate was beautiful, smart, and very well behaved. She reached out her arms for Molly Kate, but she wouldn't go to her. (WE HAVE BONDED!!!)
I was just SO glad to be able to hug her nanny and thank her for loving and taking care of my daughter. It's obvious that she WAS well taken care of. More of the nannies and children began to come out to talk to us. There were three other nannies who helped take care of Molly Kate, and they came to see her, too. The children were precious, in their split bottom pants. Even though I would have liked to have gone into the orphanage, I had already seen pictures of the inside, including Molly Kate's room, and and actual video of her in her bed. I think God knew if I DID go into the orphanage, I would want to take every child in there home with me.
Before we left the orphanage, we got directions for how to get to the place where Molly Kate was abandoned. She was found by a police officer at the gate of the Guangrong Old Folk's Home in Ji'an County on August 31, 2009. There was a note left with her that had that date on it. We had been previously been told that Molly Kate entered the orphanage on the day she was born. However, we found out on Monday that she actually spent the first five months of her life in this home for the elderly, and was cared for my one of the ladies who lived there.As we pulled up to the gates, a flood of emotions passed over me. Here was where our sweet baby was left by someone----a mother, a grandmother----no one knows. I got out and took pictures. One of the gates was open, and Coby said it was okay to go in and walk around. It was a BEAUTIFUL place. There were all kinds of flowers and trees planted, and the Old Folk's Home was HUGE. It didn't matter who left my sweet Molly Kate there----it was obvious, though, that whoever did, loved her and cared about her very much, because he/she left her in a beautiful place, where it was known she would be cared for. We walked on through the garden, and came upon an old man. Coby explained to him why we were there. The old man was very interested in Molly Kate. We asked to take his picture, and I think it must have made his day. We walked on to the back of the garden area where there was a huge fish pond, and then we decided we needed to be leaving. I really wanted to go inside the Old Folk's Home----I wanted to know if anyone remembered Molly Kate. I didn't ask, though. It was such a BIG place, that I didn't really expect to find anyone who would remember her. As we reached the gate, Coby looked back and saw the old man we had talked to coming our way, with an old woman almost running beside him. We waited for them. The woman was babbling something to Coby. She told him she was the person who cared for Molly Kate for the 5 1/2 months when she lived at the Old Folk's Home!!!!! She was Molly Kate's nanny there!!!! She also said she was the one who sent her to the orphanage. I had been told on Monday that children living in the homes for the elderly are not eligible to be adopted. They had to first enter an orphange, before they could be made paper ready to adopt. The old lady reached out and took Molly Kate out of my arms and hugged her close. Again, Molly Kate cried and reached for me. She was a sweet old lady, though, and I left knowing that not only was Molly Kate cared for her last 12 months, but she was also loved the first 5 1/2 months of her life, too. That's all I needed to know....
We had a good trip to Ji'an City. Molly Kate slept most of the way, and was in a good mood once she woke up. About the time we got to Ji'an City, though, Coby received a phone call from Evelyn. It seems that a NEW director had been hired, and there were some complications and miscommunications about the arrangements for our visit, and we were no longer going to be allowed to go into the orphanage. Evelyn said it was okay to take pictures outside the gates, but we couldn't go in. When I asked if Molly Kate's nanny could come out, she said they had told her she couldn't. I was disappointed that I couldn't meet her, because I wanted to thank her personally for taking such good care of Molly Kate. It was just one of those things, though, that we had no control over.
We arrived at the orphanage, and Roger and Shea got out of the van to take pictures for me. A guard walked up to the gate and told Coby that we couldn't take pictures. Once Coby told him we had made prior arrangements, it was okay. A few minutes later a representative from the orphanage, who we had met with on Monday to complete paperwork, came out to see Molly Kate. We were standing there talking to him, when I looked up and saw a woman running toward us. It was Molly Kate's nanny!!!! What a sweet lady she was!!! Of course, I couldn't understand a word she was saying, but Coby told me she said that Molly Kate was beautiful, smart, and very well behaved. She reached out her arms for Molly Kate, but she wouldn't go to her. (WE HAVE BONDED!!!)
 |
| The Orphanage Gates |
 |
| The Orphanage |
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| Molly Kate's Nanny |
Before we left the orphanage, we got directions for how to get to the place where Molly Kate was abandoned. She was found by a police officer at the gate of the Guangrong Old Folk's Home in Ji'an County on August 31, 2009. There was a note left with her that had that date on it. We had been previously been told that Molly Kate entered the orphanage on the day she was born. However, we found out on Monday that she actually spent the first five months of her life in this home for the elderly, and was cared for my one of the ladies who lived there.As we pulled up to the gates, a flood of emotions passed over me. Here was where our sweet baby was left by someone----a mother, a grandmother----no one knows. I got out and took pictures. One of the gates was open, and Coby said it was okay to go in and walk around. It was a BEAUTIFUL place. There were all kinds of flowers and trees planted, and the Old Folk's Home was HUGE. It didn't matter who left my sweet Molly Kate there----it was obvious, though, that whoever did, loved her and cared about her very much, because he/she left her in a beautiful place, where it was known she would be cared for. We walked on through the garden, and came upon an old man. Coby explained to him why we were there. The old man was very interested in Molly Kate. We asked to take his picture, and I think it must have made his day. We walked on to the back of the garden area where there was a huge fish pond, and then we decided we needed to be leaving. I really wanted to go inside the Old Folk's Home----I wanted to know if anyone remembered Molly Kate. I didn't ask, though. It was such a BIG place, that I didn't really expect to find anyone who would remember her. As we reached the gate, Coby looked back and saw the old man we had talked to coming our way, with an old woman almost running beside him. We waited for them. The woman was babbling something to Coby. She told him she was the person who cared for Molly Kate for the 5 1/2 months when she lived at the Old Folk's Home!!!!! She was Molly Kate's nanny there!!!! She also said she was the one who sent her to the orphanage. I had been told on Monday that children living in the homes for the elderly are not eligible to be adopted. They had to first enter an orphange, before they could be made paper ready to adopt. The old lady reached out and took Molly Kate out of my arms and hugged her close. Again, Molly Kate cried and reached for me. She was a sweet old lady, though, and I left knowing that not only was Molly Kate cared for her last 12 months, but she was also loved the first 5 1/2 months of her life, too. That's all I needed to know....
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| The gate at the Old Folks Home |
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| The Old Folks Home |
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| Molly Kate's Nanny |
As you look at the pictures of these women who raised Molly Kate, you can see that adoption has changed her life greatly. Even though I know she came from a good orphanage, I can't stand the thoughts of this beautiful little girl who is now ours, growing up in the places like she lived. She deserved a family, and we are SO blessed to be the one God chose for her. Little girls who grow up in orphanages literally have no hope..... We are going to be able to give our little Molly Kate hope and a chance in life. Roger and I are truly the lucky ones, though, to be given the great blessing of becoming parents again!!!
I will try to backtrack and share the happenings of Days 3 - 5 sometime.
I will try to backtrack and share the happenings of Days 3 - 5 sometime.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
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