Saturday, March 20, 2010
Brutal Insomnia and The Great Wall
Brutal Insomnia and The Great Wall
Two suggestions:
- Go visit The Great Wall
- Get more than 3 hours of sleep the night before. I have not been sleeping since we got here...I barely slept the 13 hour and 9 minute plane ride, then I slept 3 hours the first night and 3 hours last night. Oh plus 10 minutes in the van. So that makes 6 hours and 10 minutes plus cat naps on the plane in 3 days..or four days plus the time change. And I wasn't't sleeping for weeks before we so now I am a walking zombie, Christine of the Living Dead.
We went to a Kung Fu show tonight-it was cross between a Broadway show and a karate demonstration but in a good way. Too bad I did the nod off a million times- shouldn't keep my eyes open. We'll see what happens tonight.
So back to the Wall. I asked Lee to carry me and he just laughed. It was really cold and windy today. The Great Wall was everything I ever dreamed it would be. Absolutely amazing. How the heck did they build that? And it's 4,000 miles long...and built in 221 B.C......B.C.!!!!! Unbelievable, we were in awe. But nobody told me about The Great Steps. Seriously, the steepest steps I've ever seen. And on 3 hours of sleep. We did our best. I am so lucky to have been able to see that in person.
Lee is loving China. It's his first time out of the country and he is doing great. He fits right in here. It just suits him for some reason. And he'll try to say anything in Chinese. He is charming the Chinese girls. They all giggle at him when he tries to speak Chinese. It's very cute.
Lee climbed down to The Ming Tombs but I opted to practice "Chinese phrases for Adoptive Parents" on a bench. Nee sheer baow bay...precious baby. That's the one phrase I have memorized. It's very strange, we'll be out sight seeing and then I'll think to myself, "Holy Mama! In two days we are getting a little girl" I keep thinking we are just here on vacation. This whole process was so task oriented and involved so much waiting. Three and a half years of waiting and obtaining papers and notarizing and consulates and fingerprints and getting crisp American bills for the orphanage and buying Cheerios in little boxes and wrapping 17 presents for Anna and so on. And now all of the tasks are done and the waiting is almost over and in less than 48 hours we will be welcoming a tiny little toddler girl into our lives.
Friday, March 19, 2010
beijing
Beijing Day 1
Last night we were asleep by 10:00 all jet-lagged and what not and ready for a good nights sleep. But then by 3:30 AM we were both wide awake. So I tried watching my GGirls on the laptop and I dazed over for a while but then it was time for breakfast. A nice Western breakfast buffet- eggs, bacon, cereal, etc. Very nice.
We met our guide in the lobby at 9:00 AM after being up for 5 1/2 hours but we were ready to walk our way through Beijing. First stop was Tiannemen Square. We were surprised to see many, many tourists..and in typical American fashion we were surprised to see that we were the only Americans. From there we walked to the Forbidden City which houses the Imperial Palace which was built in 1406! Unbelievable. It 's amazing that they were able to build such a beautiful place so many years ago. Nine appears to be a lucky number. Nine dragon statues on the roof to protect it's inhabitants, nine floors in the Empresses house. It was about 45 degrees and pleasant for walking. A stop for lunch (in our own private room), and a fresh water pearl shop. Lee scooped up an oyster with 30 pearls in it. Then on to the Summer Palace- very beautiful. There were vendors outside selling snacks-roasted sweet potatoes which people ate out of hand, roasted corn, chestnuts and fresh pineapple. No cotton candy, no funnel cakes, no Good-Humor. Fascinating!
Lee and I passed out in the car on the way home. We have our own driver and tour guide. They are great and our guide speaks very good English. She told me that my Chinese pronunciation was perfect! After a rest in our hotel our guide took us to the DaDong restaurant for Beijing Duck. There were roasted ducks lined up and the server came to our table and sliced one up for us which we rolled up in little pancakes. Some more chicken and sauce, shrimp with peanuts, pickled radishes. Then watermelon and a warm almond soup dessert with floating fruit. Hmmm.
In our down time we rest, read, go on the Internet or watch TV. Here I am watching Raymond and emailing friends- just like home. We are taking advantage of this "no children" time. It's hard to believe in a few days we will have a little person running around our room.
Here is our schedule:
We are here in Beijing from Thursday - Sunday. On Sunday we fly to Chongqing, which is the province where SiWei lives. On Monday we will go to a government office and take 24 hour temporary custody of Siwei. Then we go back on Tuesday and sign the adoption papers. Then she is officially our daughter! Then we have more appointments and on Friday we fly to Guangzhou. We stay in Guangzhou until the next Friday. While in Guangzhou we will have more appointments and time for shopping!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Will they serve Guinness March 17 2010
Will they serve Guinness?
Well, here we are spending St Patricks Day on the flight to China...the very loooong flight. As is the custom it was quite a adventure getting to the airport. We flew out of Newark because we wanted nonstop and we wanted Continental. So I called the car services this weekend. Guess what it costs to have a car pick you up on Long Island and drive you to Newark? I'll tell you...for two people it will set you back $200...ONE WAY. So on top of the 4 zillion dollars we've already spent, add $400. So, once again our wonderful family came to the rescue. My brother John is picking us up on Good Friday and Lee's brother drove us this morning. Three hours in the car (NY rush hour) and one pull-over for making an illegal left hand turn.
I rolled down the window.
"Hi Officer...we're very nervous. We are on our way to China to adopt a little girl" I say.
"Congratulations" he says as he walks back to the patrol car with Paul's registration and license.
He made us sweat it out for about 10 minutes, then he came back and gave Paul a stern warning. God Bless the Summit, NJ Police !
Ok, so we get to the airport by 10, flight is at 12...no problem.
Well there is one problem. The flight is overbooked and apparently we don't exactly have seat assignments. Which means a painstaking wait through security and an even more painstaking wait at the gate. I was literally shaking and ready to burst into tears at any given moment. Then they called Lee's name. He has a seat. But I don't. Goodbye Lee! Enjoy China. Oh wait, they do have a seat for me but we are not together. Fourteen hours on a plane (actually 13 hours and 9 minutes) and we are 16 aisles apart unless that nice looking young lady will switch. Oh yes, she said YES.
Every seat has its own tv with a gazillion movies and tv shows to watch. But no Golden Girls or King of Queens! Good thing I can watch those on my laptop! I watched "Blind Side" which was really good but then I started crying because I miss Anna. I didn't write about that yet. We said good-bye to her this morning and she was fine and I wasn't hysterical. Weepy and sad and I didn't talk in the car but I wasn't hysterical.
Anna is home now with my sister Fran and my mom. I think she is going to be fine. They have so many things planned for her. She will be very busy.
Ok so I'm still on the plane. I'm not one to sit and do nothing so I'm starting to go batty. I wish we could get on the internet.
Friday, March 5, 2010
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I am sitting here watching House Hunters, drinking champagne and enjoying the fact that the PAPER WORK and most of the WAITING is OVER! Yes, it's true we are actually leaving on March 17th for China to get our little Siwei. Can it really be true? In 2 1/2 weeks we will have our daughter.
The waiting will be over.
The paperwork will be over.
Cannot believe it!
Also had a fun day at work. My principle asked me to do this, that and another thing and I did....then I headed back down to the self-contained room where I spend most of my time. It was all a ruse to keep me occupied.
Wait...why is the director of sped standing there? Why are my students mom's standing there?
Why are my colleagues standing in front of a cool fondant covered-polka dot cake (thanks Karen)?
It's a little baby shower for me! And Siwei! How did they pull that off without me knowing? I'm so nosy, I usually figure these things out. It was so nice, so sweet and so thoughtful. And even some presents for Anna. And a very cute and funny instruction manual, written by the kids on how to take care of a baby.
I loved it.
This was in a frame for me..
You Are Mine
by Denise A Johnson
I did not hear your first breath
Nor see your first step
But you are mine
From our hearts to our home
With God's love from above
You are mine
Once a thought in my mind
Only God knew the time
Now you are mine.
The waiting will be over.
The paperwork will be over.
Cannot believe it!
Also had a fun day at work. My principle asked me to do this, that and another thing and I did....then I headed back down to the self-contained room where I spend most of my time. It was all a ruse to keep me occupied.
Wait...why is the director of sped standing there? Why are my students mom's standing there?
Why are my colleagues standing in front of a cool fondant covered-polka dot cake (thanks Karen)?
It's a little baby shower for me! And Siwei! How did they pull that off without me knowing? I'm so nosy, I usually figure these things out. It was so nice, so sweet and so thoughtful. And even some presents for Anna. And a very cute and funny instruction manual, written by the kids on how to take care of a baby.
I loved it.
This was in a frame for me..
You Are Mine
by Denise A Johnson
I did not hear your first breath
Nor see your first step
But you are mine
From our hearts to our home
With God's love from above
You are mine
Once a thought in my mind
Only God knew the time
Now you are mine.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
test
This is a test...I think I can email information directly to the blog while we are in China. I know we won't be able to access the blog but I will be able to keep you all updated. So if this works, hurray! AOL does work so we can continue to receive emails!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
TATA
Well, we finally got our TA (Travel Approval). Soooo, the adoption agency can now make our appointments in China and we can book our flights, HOWEVER there is one problem. It's Chinese New Year and everything closes in China for 2 whole weeks. So we are "delayed" another two weeks Meanwhile I am busy shopping for Siwei, buying little snacks for her, buying diapers, etc and organizing everything for this very big trip. We are also practicing our "Skyping"
For the plane ride we now have a laptop (!), The Golden Girls DVD's and soon we will have The King of Queens. That should kill some time on the 14 hour plane ride. On top of that add cleaning the house for all of the family that will be staying here. Oh yes and finishing ALL of my reports and IEP's at work and cleaning out my room. How is it that I am finding time to watch Big Love and take Anna to see Blues Clues Live? Thank God I have this week off from work.
Today we took Anna for a walk in the Sit and Stand stroller. She sat in the little back part reserving the front seat for Siwei. How cute is she? She also drew a picture of our family- four of us standing there holding hands. It's hard to believe that she's almost here!
For the plane ride we now have a laptop (!), The Golden Girls DVD's and soon we will have The King of Queens. That should kill some time on the 14 hour plane ride. On top of that add cleaning the house for all of the family that will be staying here. Oh yes and finishing ALL of my reports and IEP's at work and cleaning out my room. How is it that I am finding time to watch Big Love and take Anna to see Blues Clues Live? Thank God I have this week off from work.
Today we took Anna for a walk in the Sit and Stand stroller. She sat in the little back part reserving the front seat for Siwei. How cute is she? She also drew a picture of our family- four of us standing there holding hands. It's hard to believe that she's almost here!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
When one door opens another closes..and middle names
It's been a roller coaster these past two weeks. The joy and relief of finally receiving our LOSC then sadly the loss of Lee's mom, Sylvia. He was very close to her. She was a fantastic woman- smart, stylish, kind, fun, funny and sophisticated. Everyone loved her. She was the most fantastic grandma to Anna- she called her Bubba. They had a very close relationship and that makes me so sad- to think of all of the years they will not have together. Bubba loved to buy Anna funky clothes and chocolate kisses..and she loved to pinch her tiny little butt! I'm happy they had these years together. Sylvia was the best mother-in-law anyone could want. When I was pregnant with Anna, my father-in-law passed away. Now we are expecting SiWei and Sylvia passed away.
So we are now decided on a middle name...we were back and forth about keeping SiWei as her middle name. But my husband is Jewish and they have a custom of naming a baby after a deceased relative- using the name itself or a first initial. So it's settled...SiWei will become her middle name- as a way of remembering Sylvia and a way to keep a part of her given name.
So we are now decided on a middle name...we were back and forth about keeping SiWei as her middle name. But my husband is Jewish and they have a custom of naming a baby after a deceased relative- using the name itself or a first initial. So it's settled...SiWei will become her middle name- as a way of remembering Sylvia and a way to keep a part of her given name.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Why China?
Many people ask, why China? why adoption? I don't know. I don't know. All I can say is that there has been a pull to go there for a very long time and a feeling that our family was just not complete. My 22 year old niece is adopted from Korea so I think I've been thinking about adoption for 22 years! It's been a long road too. We started this process when Anna was 6 months old (she's four now). So for 3 1/2 years we have been on the adoption roller coaster. First the mountain of paperwork (MOUNTAIN), then the SLOW down in Chinese adoptions. We were eventually drawn to the Special Medical Needs program which led us along the path to SiWei, who has a cleft lip/palate. Then another MOUNTAIN of paperwork and more waiting. So here we are..about 6 weeks away and we can hardly believe it.
Anna is so excited. We only told her last week when we were confirmed. I hope this enthusiasm lasts when they are sharing a room. I am superstitious about telling her American name until I actually have SiWei in my arms. So not even Anna knows her name because after all she is a blabbermouth. So I told Anna that we have to give her an "American" name. Somehow she heard, "New York" name so she refers to SiWei as "New York". Isn't there already a reality show about a chick named New York?!
Anna is so excited. We only told her last week when we were confirmed. I hope this enthusiasm lasts when they are sharing a room. I am superstitious about telling her American name until I actually have SiWei in my arms. So not even Anna knows her name because after all she is a blabbermouth. So I told Anna that we have to give her an "American" name. Somehow she heard, "New York" name so she refers to SiWei as "New York". Isn't there already a reality show about a chick named New York?!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Happy Birthday SiWei!
Another sign! We were expecting our LOSC (Letter of Seeking Confirmation) in early January. This is the letter saying that we will officially be SiWei's parents. Well, Christmas came and went, New Years came and went and we waited once again for word from China. I had it in my head that I wanted to hear before her second birthday (January 15). Don't you know that I came home on Thursday January 14 after a crazy day at work and a shopping trip to Costco with Anna and there it was- a new message on my answering machine. We rarely get messages anyomore because everyone uses our cell. But it happened! It is now official!
We were waiting to tell Anna until we got our LOSC..I read her a book called "Maya's Journey Home" about 2 panda bears in an orphanage waiting to be adopted. I started crying and Lee video taped the whole thing. She is so excited! More on that later but for now I wanted to Thank God for signs and say HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY SI WEI! Next year we will have a big party for you on your Bd with your whole family......
We were waiting to tell Anna until we got our LOSC..I read her a book called "Maya's Journey Home" about 2 panda bears in an orphanage waiting to be adopted. I started crying and Lee video taped the whole thing. She is so excited! More on that later but for now I wanted to Thank God for signs and say HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY SI WEI! Next year we will have a big party for you on your Bd with your whole family......
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