Tennis!

Elli had a lot of fun yesterday when she got to go to the tennis courts to see Kaitlyn, Brady, and Jeff practice tennis!  Kaitlyn is a Junior this year and is starting her second year on the high school tennis team.  Brady is an 8th grader this year and is wanting to join the boys' tennis team next year.

China trip pic...Dress

Another picture of Elli in her dress made by Robin at www.redthreadstitches.com!  I love the Chinese print fabric!

Boy Scouts

Elli went to Brady's Boy Scout meeting this week!  Brady did a presentation about our China trip.  He narrated a picture slide show and brought some souvenirs to show.  He passed around his Mahjong game, mini sword, nunchucks, our Calabash flute, and panda hand exercise balls.

China trip pic...Loving Mei Mei

Awww...Brady and Kaitlyn sure do love their little sister!  They waited five years for her!!

Watermelon!

Elli loves watermelon!  Watermelon was served on our buffet dinners in China. 

China trip pic...Acrobats

This is another pic from the Chinese Acrobatics show we saw in Beijing.  They are simply amazing!

They don't have Cheerios in China!

Elli was having some Cheerios last Friday before we headed to the music festival where my piano students were performing!  They did awesome and brought home lots of trophies!  I'm so proud of them!  We celebrated with them afterwards at The Cheesecake Factory...yum!!!

China trip pic...White Swan Hotel

Here's a picture of Kaitlyn, Brady, and Elli inside the White Swan Hotel.  The White Swan Hotel is in Guangzhou, China located on the Shamian Island overlooking the Pearl River.  Many families who adopt from China stay at the White Swan while in Guangzhou for visa paperwork.  A souvenir Barbie holding a Chinese baby is specially made by Mattel Ltd. for adopting parents of Chinese orphan children staying at the White Swan Hotel.  This hotel is also where adoptive families take the famous red velvet couch photo of all the babies and families in their travel group.  The hotel has been considered a five-star, leading hotel of the world for many years.  This fall, the hotel will be going under a complete renovation and will be closed.  

Talking on the phone

Elli loves to "talk" on the phone!  She can turn any toy into a phone...just place object on ear and start chatting!  I think she might be saying some Chinese words!  I can hear some different Chinese tones in her speech.   She is so smart and speaks some Chinese words and is learning English words very quickly! I wish I could speak Chinese.  I only know a few words.  We plan on giving her resources so she can learn Chinese.  Right now, we are learning some Chinese words from reading books about Kai-lan, a little Chinese girl in a children's tv show.

Bath time

Bath time in China was no fun for Elli!  She cried so much and was scared, especially of having her hair washed (which was also noted in her paperwork).  I am trying to be careful not to let water run over her face when rinsing her hair. We haven't had her in a swimming pool yet, as some have suggested might help.  She is starting to come around the last couple of baths though.  She likes to pour water in and out of stacking cups and say "quack quack" for her rubber ducky.  I am going to order her a foam alphabet bath puzzle that I remember Brady and especially Kaitlyn absolutely loved to play with in the bath.  Oh, and it helps if Mommy's feet are in the bath with Elli too...no complaints from Mommy!

Potty training

Elliana is only 18 months old, but I think she had been working on potty training when in China!  When I got her up the first morning in China, her diaper was dry!  I took her to the bathroom to try, and she went potty!  We did not have a little potty for her though, and also the schedule was too busy in China for us to work on it.  I could tell sometimes she was trying to hold it when she was really wiggly and had a dry diaper...poor thing!  When we got home, we got a nice little girl potty, and she loves it!  She goes potty about twice a day in the potty chair!  I am so proud of her!  She is proud too!  She claps and we get her a sticker!

China trip pic...Congee

Elli enjoyed the warm rice congee for breakfast in China.  Congee is a type of rice porridge popular in many Asian countries.  To prepare the dish, rice is boiled in large amounts of water until it softens significantly.  I am looking for a good recipe so I can make her some! :)

Pediatrician Appointment

Elli had her first pediatrician appointment today.  The doctor was so impressed with her and said she is doing stupendous!!  She will have to repeat all of her immunizations as a precaution.  She will also be seeing the cardiologist soon.

Elli's home!!!!!

Elli is in America and is a U.S. Citizen!!!

Home

After about 33 hours on the go, we made it home. Elli became a U.S. citizen when we touched down in Chicago about 5:30pm. We were late getting back to K.C. and didn't get in until about 11:15pm. We were still met at the airport by Karen and Linda and their mom and girls - a very nice gesture that we appreciated. Sorry we missed Michelle's girls because of the delay.

She's Coming to America...Today!

We picked up the last of Elli's paperwork last night (visa packet). It's just after 5:30am here and we're about to wake her up and head for the airport for the flights back to Beijing and then on to the U.S. She has no idea she's about to leave the land of her birth and travel half way around the world. Life may bring her back to China some day. But we just pray that wherever her path leads, God will bless her all the days of her life. This is probably our last post from China. We're due back home Wednesday evening.

Jason and Grace

Jason and Grace, our Guangzhou CCAI reps, did a great job taking care of us this week.

Jenny's Place

We got some nice souvenirs at Jenny's Place. Here Mark shows Jana how to play a Calabash flute (yes, we bought one).

Our Travel Group

These are the families in our travel group with their new babies. We've shared an amazing two weeks in China!

The Red Couch Photo

Here's our family photo on the red couch at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou. This is a tradition for adopting families.

On the Pearl River Cruise

Elli enjoying a dinner of noodles on the cruise.

U.S. Consulate

Today was the day the rest of our trip was planned around - our visit to the U.S. Consulate. This morning, a little after 10am, we took the oath of immigration and submitted our paperwork. Tomorrow we should have Elli's visa and be ready to head home. Also today we had lunch at Lucy's, visited the Pearl Market, and took a dinner cruise on the Pearl River.

Elli on the Tour Today

Guangzhou Tour

At the Old Chen House art museum on our Guangzhou tour.

Clean Bill of Health

Yesterday Elli had her Visa physical here in Guangzhou in preparation for our U.S. Consulate appointment tomorrow. She had a good, if somewhat cursory, check-up. After the doctor visit she also had an ears, nose, throat check. But today she has developed a bit of a sniffle. She is 22.7 pounds and 32 inches long.

World Traveler

"Why yes, I was up until after 1am last night. We world travelers have to be ready to handle anything and keep right on going. Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to my next appointment."

On to Guangzhou

Yesterday was a long day of traveling. Elli's maiden flight took longer than expected. The flight to Guangzhou was held up due to bad weather. After a delay at the terminal in Zhengzhou we sat on the runway for quite a while. But we finally made it in. We were greeted by Jason and Grace from CCAI and made it to the White Swan Hotel about 1am this morning (Saturday morning here).

Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting

This is the martial arts show at Shaolin Temple.

Shaolin Temple

Yesterday we went on an all-day trip to Shaolin Temple, a Buddhist Monastery famous for martial arts, especially Kung Fu. Here we are at the tombs of the monks known as the Pagoda Forest.

Ready for a New Day

Elli was bright-eyed first thing yesterday morning.

Playing with Toys

Elli and Her Panda

The Children's Hospital

It was here on January 14th, 2010 that a newborn baby girl with blue-tinged skin was found abandoned in the cardio-thoracic surgery ward on the 6th floor at the entrance to the staircase. We don't know if she was born here or just abandoned here as a safe haven.

Inside the Orphanage

Jana and Elli in the orphanage. We weren't able to see the exact room where Elli stayed (the New Day Foster Home room wasn't open for tour). But it was probably similar.

Elli's Past

Here's Elli with big brother and big sister at the Zhengzhou City Children's Welfare Institute. This is the orphanage where she spent most of the first two months of her life. After this she went to New Day Foster Home in Beijing who cared for her and funded her heart surgery.

Sweetest baby

Elliana is just the sweetest little thing. Everyone loves her cute little pigtails!

She's Officially Ours!!

Today we completed the paperwork at the registration office and the adoption is now considered final by the Chinese government!

So cute!!!

Elli thought it was funny when she was brushing her hair and then the brush got stuck!

Playing!

Sleeping Sweetie

Gotcha Day pics

Gotcha Day pics

Gotcha Day!!!

Elli's here!!!!!! She was delivered to the Registration Office this morning after 10:00 a.m. Three babies came together from Elli's orphanage and 14 babies total were delivered to their "Forever Families" today!
Elli seems to be getting used to us very quickly and is doing really great! She seems healthy and is eating good. She took a nice long nap and then was playing and giggling. We are all very much smitten with her.

Chinese Acrobatics Show

This is a pic from day 2 in Beijing of the Chinese Acrobatics Show.

Forbidden City

This is a pic from Day 1 in Beijing of the Forbidden City.

'Twas the Night Before Elli

'Twas the night before Elli
And all through the halls
Jana was seen
Bouncing off the walls.

The bag had been packed
With diapers and wipes
And snacks and toys
Of all different types.

The crib was brought in
The stage was complete
To welcome a girl
We'd been longing to meet.

We see visions of pigtails
and little girl charms.
At 10 in the morning
she'll be in our arms!

Zhengzhou!

Today, we flew to Zhengzhou, the capital city of the Henan Province and Elli's hometown. We checked into the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and this evening the bell boys delivered cribs to all the adoptive families' rooms!! "Gotcha Day" is tomorrow (July 11)!!!!!!! :D

More Great Wall!

More Great Wall

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPad]

George

Here we are saying goodbye to George, our Beijing rep and tour guide. George met us at the Beijing airport and has escorted us around Beijing for the last 2 days.

George's nickname for our large group was "sticky rice" (and he was "sticky chopsticks"). He would use this when he wanted us to stay together and close to him.

George said 3 free things were included: free scenery, free sauna (it's hot), free massage (it's crowded).

At the Great Wall

At the Great Wall

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPad]

2nd Day in Beijing

We went first today to the Jade Factory. We bought a few souvenirs including small zodiac animals made of jade for each of the kids: Kaitlyn - year of the pig, Brady - year of the ox, and Elliana - year of the tiger.

Then we went to The Great Wall of China! After walking to the 2nd watch tower, it got pretty steep, so I stopped there to enjoy the pretty scenery. :) Kaitlyn went on to the 3rd watch tower, and Brady and Jeff went to the 4th! The Chinese say you cannot be a hero unless you climb the Great Wall...I hope the 2nd tower is far enough!

We ate another authentic Chinese lunch, then went to an amazing Chinese Acrobatic show.

We also went to the site of the 2008 Beijing Olympics "Bird's Nest" and "Water Cube" to take pictures.

We are all tired, but it was another wonderful day!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPad]

Great 1st Day in Beijing

This morning we toured the Hutong area where we rode in rickshaws. Later we went to the Silk Factory. We got a nice demonstration of how the silk is made and picked out a couple of nice dresses for Elli. We had an authentic Chinese lunch. From there we walked to Tiananmen Square and on to the Forbidden City. The scenery was spectacular. We'll post some pictures if we can work out a few more technical difficulties.

We're in Beijing!!!

Our long flight to Beijing went smoothly. We are all tired, but we're doing great. We will do a Beijing tour tomorrow. Beijing is 13 hours ahead of the time back home.

Thank you...

I want to thank everyone so much for their prayers and support of our adoption journey over the last five years.  When we began the process in June 2006, the projected waiting time for a child match was 15 months.  As the time continued to lengthen, we were very sad, but we never gave up hope.  We prayed for patience and for God to give us a revelation to know what to do.  Our faith grew stronger.  Our love for our little baby girl grew deeper...love for a little girl halfway across the world.  It has been a journey of faith...a journey of love...

Travel Group 1750

Our travel group with CCAI has 14 families adopting 15 babies!  What a large group!!  I can't wait to see all the babies lined up for a picture on the famous red velvet couch at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou!

Elliana in April

Here is the updated pic of Elliana sent to us in April.  At that time, she was 15 months old, 21 lbs., 29 in. tall, and had 11 teeth!  Her health status was marked "healthy"!  We are so thankful that her heart surgery last Sept. went well.  We thank God for his love and healing hand on little Elli.

Pretty pink and Precious pandas!

Here's a pic of Elli's room waiting for her!

Our Red Thread Journey

Flying to China in 5 days!!

We have our travel itinerary!  We are flying United Airlines to China on July 6!  One hour to Chicago...then 13 hours to Beijing!!  I am really, really nervous about the flight...