Feb 29, 2012

We made it!

The flight was long.  And the magic in my little magic sleepy pill must have worn off because not a wink was to be had... except for Patch who drooled on my arm as he slept adding insult to injury.

I fought a migraine headache the whole way and was trying hard not to get sick.  3 movies, 2 meals, lots of solitaire, walking... let's just say that when it was over we were all glad.  Not sure at all how it's going to happen in reverse with a toddler.  I will say the Korean Air ROCKS!  Awesome airline if anyone out there is trying to decide on airlines.

And as much as I'd love to have our girl in my arms now, I am SO thankful we are not getting Mimi for a few days.  Our bodies absolutely need time to adjust.

We arrived at night, and it's still dark outside this morning.

Today's plan is to visit The Forbidden City, stretch out our bodies, and have dinner with some friends of some friends.

Good golly we are really really here!!!

Itinerary

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?"  ~Luke 15:4


Tues.,Feb 28 6:55am  Travel to China (PHX to LAX to Seoul, to Beijing)

Wed. Feb 29th             Arrive in Beijing in the evening

Thurs., March 1           Sightseeing (Summer Palace and Forbidden City)

Fri., March 2                Sightseeing (Great Wall)

Sat., March 3               Adoption Agency's Orientation then take overnight train to Nanchang, Jiangxi

Sun., March 4              Arrive in Nanchang and get Mazie!!!

Mon., March 5              Sign official paperwork to adopt Mimi!!!

Tues., March 6            Sightseeing

Wed.,  March 7            Hopefully drive (3 hours away) to visit orphanage and meet her foster parents  

Thurs., March 8           Sightseeing. Papa, Grandpapa, Liv & Patch take overnight train to Guangzhou

Fri., March 9                Mama and Mimi fly to Guangzhou (location of US Consulate in China)

Sat., March 10             Papa flies home and Mazie's medical exam

Sun., March 11            Sightseeing

Mon., March 12            Sightseeing

Tues., March 13          Sightseeing

Wed. March 14            Visa appointment and Oath taking ceremony at U.S. Consulate

Thurs., March 15         Pick up Mimi's U.S. visa

Fri., March 16              Sightseeing and packing up

Sat., March 17             Travel home (Guangzhou to Seoul to LAX to PHX)

To answer a couple questions--


My mom (the best mom that ever existed on this planet) will be staying with the 3 youngest kiddos, Boo, Jude and Tess, and Sunny will be staying home too and lending a helpful hand.  Just can't miss any of her senior year, and I can't say I blame her.  


China is 13 hours ahead.  There's a clock over there on the side bar.  So if you're reading your today on the itinerary, it's already happened for us in China. 


Yes, Tess and Jude know they are getting a sister, and yes they "get it."  I'm not sure if they totally understand the depth of it all or how long we'll be away, but they do understand at a 4-year-old level.  


Yes, I'll be posting frequently during our trip, or at least that's the plan.  We'll have to see how the internet works.  They may just be cell phone pics but hopefully something will be posted daily.  Sunny, Boo, the littles and my mom are certainly counting on it. 

We'll be gone by the time they wake up.  Saying goodnight and goodbye to my little ones and one big one left behind was harder than I imagined.  Harder than last time.  


OK, see you on the flip side.  

Deep breath...  I'm going to get my girl!

Dearest little one,

Her referral picture.
The photo that started her journey to adoption.

I'm consumed with thoughts of you.  I'm so ready to have you in my arms and be the mama that you've never had.  These thoughts keeps running through my head over and over and over again.

---I am blessed.  Sometimes, ok most of the time, I am blown away that the Lord has chosen me to be your mama.  You are precious to Him.  Your are His beloved precious child, and now He is going to to entrust me with your care.  That concept is mind-blowing to me most of the time.

---I am beyond excited to finally meet you.  I'm giddy!  I'm  twitterpated!  I am thrilled and anxious and to take you in my arms and claim you our own.  To wrap my arms around you and call you my precious daughter forever and forever.  I want to feel your cheek beneath my kiss and stroke that sweet place on your temple as you fall asleep.  We'll meet in just a few days.  I'll try so hard not to scare you when we first meet.  I'll try to keep my tears at bay and greet you with a smile.  I'll try not to smother you in kisses or squeeze you too tightly in fear that you'll disappear like a dream.   I'll try not to scare you more that you already will be.

---I am heart broken for what you are about to go through.  Sweet little Mimi Jade, I am so sorry that I have to take you away from all you hold dear and all you know.  I'm sorry I have to take you away from the country you were born in, from your heritage, your birth right.  I'm beyond sorry to take you from the very people who you have come to know as your father and mother.  I am so very sorry this process of uniting us requires so much pain and fear.

---I promise to love you just the same as if you were born to me.  I will kiss your boo boos, cherish your wildflower bouquets, and joyfully sop up your spilled milk, and there will be no difference in the love that I have for you and the children that were born from my womb.  I promise... that to the very very best of my ability, I, a pasty-white, middle-aged Caucasian soccer mom, will do my best to raise you be a strong and proud Chinese-American woman.

Soon, little one, we start our journey together,

Mama

The labor of adoption

My head is absolutely full.  Overflowing.
T-2 1/2 days.
Really, could I be leaving for China that soon? 
Oh yes you can.

Mimi's bed, in our bedroom and next to our bed, awaits, complete with chenille sheets and flannel pillows.
The toddler bed and mattress, both brand new, we found on Craig's List for a wonderful deal of $80.
Liv picked out the fabrics at the remnant store, and Granna and I made the bedding.   

I wake up each morning, look out on the floor, and wonder who in the world spilled my brains out all over the carpet.  Now how did those get there?


I told myself that this was not going to happen this time.  I have again been proven wrong.

I wish I had the serenity of a peaceful expectant mother, with a glow in her cheeks.
I don't.
My emotions are swinging all over the place.  At one moment I giddy, then the next I swing to stress.  Still much to do. There are lists everywhere.  I'm finally going to hold my daughter in just days!  Will she like me?  Is she ok?  Luggage is spewing from the closets.  So many things to keep track of, and I feel like I might be forgetting to do most of them.  If I can get an entree on the table at night, the family is in luck that day.

This is the labor of adoption.

Worry, fear, confusion, stress, and pain.  Coupled with joy, anticipation, longing, and love.
No different from a biological labor in hind-sight?
I've experienced 4 biological labors, 1 with an epidural, 2 without, (one of those resulted in a 10 lb baby) and 1 with an epidural on only the left side, which let me tell you sista' does not actually constitute an epidural at all in my opinion!  If I'm being honest, biological labor was easier.  Yes, there was more physical pain in child birth, but in international adoption the emotional upheaval lasts longer and can be far more destructive than the pain of child birth.
Top adoption off with some jet lag, a foreign language, 8,000+ miles, some heavy lifting, and a little traveler's bug and voilà!  You have all the makings of an expectant mama whose emotions are swinging faster than 14-year-old teenage girl.

A photo of me as a teenager with my grandmother, and Mazie's namesake sits next to her bed.
This Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus statue sat next to my grandmother's bed for decades.  
Now it sits next to our little Mimi's bed.  My grandmother would have liked that.  

I'm praying regularly for God to give me peace.  For me to be able to feel His hand on me as we start this journey.  To surrender.  I didn't do that very well last time.  I have no doubt that He has equipped me with all I need.  But I have some concern that I'll be able to access all the tools I've been given.  I feel like this beautiful child deserves at least this- a mother who is giddy with anticipation and love that she has longed for.  Maybe this is part of the myth of adoption.  And indeed I am this mother... under a whirlwind of emotions.

Processing a little bit at a time

We read this book...

Then Jude (who is often referred to as Mr. Sensitive) and I had this conversation-

Jude:  Mama, do you love Mimi?

Me: Yes.

Jude:  Mama, do you love Mimi and Jude?

Me:  Yes, I do.  I love both of you very much!

Jude:  Forever?

Me:  Yes, forever.

Jude:  And ever?

Me:  Yes. 

Jude:  Do you love Mimi and Jude to the moon and the stars and the sun and back?

Me:  Yes, Jude, I love you and Mimi to the moon and the stars and the sun and back.

Jude:  Mama, let's get on a plane and go get Mimi.

Me:  I will soon, Jude.  Will you wait for me at home with Grammy?

Jude:  Yes.

Jude:  And let's get on a plane and go to VietNam and find VietNam mama.  And tell her we love her.   And tell her my name.

Me:  Yes, Jude.  I would like to try do that some day.  

Jude:  Mama, may I play video games now?

Me:  Yes, Jude.

Just processing a little bit at a time.

149 simple steps

Google map directions from our local airport to our hotel in Beijing.

First we have to go through Vancouver to reach the Pacific.  Not the most direct route from Arizona.  

#34 is quite shocking but nice to see that it's the scenic route through Hawaii.  Maybe Google thinks your arms will be tired after 2,756 miles, and we'll need a little break. 

Patch is thinking #50 will be quite fun.

Starting at #51 I can't read any of the signs anyway.

#100 - #102 are leave much to the imagination, but maybe when we get there be obvious. 
Papa really needs to bring a lot more money for all those toll roads!

I'm thinking... just maybe... I should have allowed for a little more time to make this journey!

We leave in 4 1/2 days!

Directions to Wangfujing, Beijing

This route has tolls.

This route includes a ferry.

Sky Harbor Airport Terminal 4 North Curb United States

	1. Head east on E Sky Harbor Blvd
		0.3 mi
	2. Slight right toward E Sky Harbor Blvd
		0.2 mi
	3. Slight right toward E Sky Harbor Blvd
		0.2 mi
	4. Continue straight onto E Sky Harbor Blvd
		1.5 mi
	5. Slight right to stay on E Sky Harbor Blvd
		0.3 mi
	6. Slight right to stay on E Sky Harbor Blvd
		0.2 mi
	7. Continue straight to stay on E Sky Harbor Blvd
		0.1 mi
	8. Merge onto I-10 W via the ramp toDowntown/AZ-51/Phoenix
		5.7 mi
	9. Take exit 143A to merge onto I-17 Ntoward Flagstaff
		140 mi
	10. Take exit 340A to merge onto I-40 Etoward Albuquerque
		5.5 mi
	11. Take exit 201 toward US-89 N/Page
		0.3 mi
	12. Turn left onto Country Club Dr
		0.5 mi
	13. Take the 2nd right onto US-89 N
		202 mi
	14. Turn right onto S 100 E
		0.3 mi
	15. Continue onto E Center St
		0.4 mi
	16. Continue onto US-89 N/N 300 W Continue to follow US-89 N
		66.7 mi
	17. Turn right onto US-89 N/N Main St Continue to follow US-89 N
		10.1 mi
	18. Turn left onto UT-20 W
		20.4 mi
	19. Turn right to merge onto I-15 N towardBeaver
		230 mi
	20. Slight left to stay on I-15 N
		55.3 mi
	21. Continue straight onto I-84 W (signs forBoise)
		515 mi
	22. Take exit 179 to merge onto I-82 Wtoward Umatilla/Kennewick
		142 mi
	23. Continue onto US-97 N
		1.3 mi
	24. Merge onto I-90 W
		107 mi
	25. Take exit 2C to merge onto I-5 N towardVancouver B.C
		2.1 mi
	26. Take exit 167 on the left toward Mercer Street
		0.7 mi
	27. Keep right at the fork, follow signs forMercer St/Seattle Center and merge ontoFairview Ave N
		499 ft
	28. Turn left onto Valley St
		0.2 mi
	29. Turn right onto Westlake Ave N
		1.6 mi
	30. Slight right onto Fremont Ave N
		0.2 mi
	31. Turn right onto N 34th St
		0.3 mi
	32. Turn right onto Stone Way N
		125 ft
	33. Slight left onto N Northlake Way
		0.2 mi
	34. Kayak across the Pacific Ocean
		2,756 mi
	35. Continue straight
		0.1 mi
	36. Turn left onto Kuilima Dr
		0.5 mi
	37. Take the 3rd right onto HI-83 W
		12.4 mi
	38. Continue straight onto HI-99 S/Kamehameha Hwy
		6.5 mi
	39. Slight left onto HI-80 S/Kamehameha Hwy Continue to follow Kamehameha Hwy
		2.1 mi
	40. Take the Interstate H-2 S ramp toHonolulu
		0.2 mi
	41. Merge onto I-H-2 S
		7.9 mi
	42. Merge onto I-H-1 E
		4.7 mi
	43. Take exit 13B toward Halawa Hts. Stadium
		0.3 mi
	44. Merge onto I-H-201 E
		4.1 mi
	45. Merge onto I-H-1 E
		4.1 mi
	46. Take exit 23 for Punahou St towardWaikiki/Manoa
		0.2 mi
	47. Turn right onto Punahou St
		0.1 mi
	48. Take the 1st right onto S Beretania St
		0.1 mi
	49. Take the 1st left onto Kalakaua Ave
		1.9 mi
	50. Jet ski across Pacific Ocean
		3,879 mi
	51. Turn left toward 県道275号線
		0.4 mi
	52. Turn left toward 県道275号線
		358 ft
	53. Turn left toward 県道275号線
		0.2 mi
	54. Turn right onto 県道275号線
		0.1 mi
	55. Turn left onto 国道125号線
		0.1 mi
	56. Turn right onto 県道24号線
		0.6 mi
	57. Turn left at 千束町（交差点） onto 国道354号線
		2.0 mi
	58. Turn right at 中村陸橋下（交差点） to stay on 国道354号線
		1.0 mi
	59. Take the ramp to 常磐自動車道 Toll road
		0.3 mi
	60. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for 東京 and merge onto 常磐自動車道 Toll road
		23.8 mi
	61. Take exit 三郷ＪＣＴ on the right toward 首都高・銀座・湾岸線 Toll road
		0.7 mi
	62. Merge onto 首都高速6号三郷線 Toll road
		5.8 mi
	63. Take exit 小菅ＪＣＴ toward 湾岸線・銀座 Toll road
		0.3 mi
	64. Merge onto 首都高速中央環状線 Toll road
		0.4 mi
	65. Take exit 堀切ＪＣＴ on the right toward 銀座 Toll road
		0.3 mi
	66. Merge onto 首都高速6号向島線 Toll road
		5.4 mi
	67. Take exit 江戸橋ＪＣＴ on the right toward 神田橋・北池袋 Toll road
		0.4 mi
	68. Merge onto 首都高速都心環状線 Toll road
		3.8 mi
	69. Take exit 谷町ＪＣＴ on the right toward 東名・渋谷 Toll road
		0.3 mi
	70. Merge onto 首都高速3号渋谷線 Toll road
		6.9 mi
	71. Continue onto 東名高速道路 Toll road
		189 mi
	72. Take exit 豊田ＪＣＴ toward 東海環状・伊勢湾岸道・豊田東出口・土岐ＪＣＴ・四日市・新名神 Toll road
		0.3 mi
	73. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 伊勢湾岸道・四日市・新名神 and merge onto伊勢湾岸自動車道 Toll road
		19.8 mi
	74. Take the ramp onto 伊勢湾岸自動車道 Toll road
		12.1 mi
	75. Take exit 四日市ＪＣＴ on the right toward 東名阪道・大阪・伊勢道 Toll road
		0.6 mi
	76. Merge onto 東名阪自動車道 Toll road
		13.8 mi
	77. Take exit 亀山ＪＣＴ toward 新名神・京都・大阪 Toll road
		0.6 mi
	78. Merge onto 新名神高速道路 Toll road
		30.9 mi
	79. Take exit 草津ＪＣＴ toward 草津ＰＡ・名神・京滋・京都・大阪 Toll road
		0.2 mi
	80. Take exit 草津ＰＡ on the right toward名神 Toll road
		0.5 mi
	81. Merge onto 名神高速道路 Toll road
		30.1 mi
	82. Take exit 吹田ＪＣＴ toward 中国道・山陽道・宝塚・岡山 Toll road
		1.1 mi
	83. Merge onto 中国自動車道 Toll road
		18.8 mi
	84. Take exit 神戸ＪＣＴ toward 山陽道・岡山・徳島 Toll road
		0.9 mi
	85. Merge onto 山陽自動車道 Toll road
		192 mi
	86. Take exit 廿日市ＪＣＴ on the right toward 山陽道・岩国・北九州 Toll road
		0.9 mi
	87. Merge onto 広島岩国道路 Toll road
		7.3 mi
	88. Take the ramp onto 山陽自動車道 Toll road
		59.2 mi
	89. Take exit 山口ＪＣＴ on the right toward 中国道・下関・北九州 Toll road
		0.8 mi
	90. Merge onto 中国自動車道 Toll road
		39.9 mi
	91. Continue onto 関門橋 Toll road
		5.9 mi
	92. Continue onto 九州自動車道 (signs for九州道・福岡・熊本) Toll road
		215 mi
	93. Take exit 高速鹿児島ＩＣ toward 鹿児島出口・南九州道・川内・伊集院 Toll road
		0.2 mi
	94. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 川内・伊集院・南九州道 and merge onto 国道3号線 Partial toll road
		0.4 mi
	95. Take exit 鹿児島西Ｉ．Ｃ on the right toward 南九州道 Toll road
		0.4 mi
	96. Merge onto 南九州西回り自動車道(市来~鹿児島西)/鹿児島道路 Toll road
		12.7 mi
	97. Take the ramp to 国道3号線 Partial toll road
		0.9 mi
	98. Turn left at 市来Ｉ．Ｃ入口（交差点）onto 国道3号線 (signs for 川内・串木野)
		4.5 mi
	99. Turn left at 串木野駅（交差点） onto県道38号線
		1.0 mi
	100. Turn right
		0.2 mi
	101. Turn left
		0.1 mi
	102. Turn left
		351 ft
	103. Take the 串木野~里~中甑~鹿島~長浜ferry Partial toll road
		40.3 mi
	104. Turn left toward 県道349号線
		174 ft
	105. Turn right toward 県道349号線
		187 ft
	106. Turn left onto 県道349号線
		5.4 mi
	107. Turn right to stay on 県道349号線
		1.2 mi
	108. Turn left onto 県道350号線
		2.1 mi
	109. Jet ski across the Pacific Ocean
		486 mi
	110. Continue straight onto 塘后支路
		0.2 mi
	111. Turn right onto 塘后路
		0.3 mi
	112. Turn left onto 双城路
		0.7 mi
	113. Turn right onto 永清路
		0.7 mi
	114. Turn left onto 宝杨路
		0.3 mi
	115. Slight right to stay on 宝杨路
		0.4 mi
	116. Take the 2nd right onto 同济路
		1.1 mi
	117. Turn left onto 富锦路
		0.3 mi
	118. Take the ramp on the left onto G1501上海绕城高速 Partial toll road
		14.4 mi
	119. Take exit G15/宁波/南通 toward G15沈海高速 Toll road
		0.2 mi
	120. Keep right at the fork and merge ontoG15沈海高速 Toll road
		286 mi
	121. Take exit G25/临沂/连云港港口toward G25长深高速 Toll road
		0.2 mi
	122. Take exit 临沂 on the left to merge onto G25长深高速 Toll road
		15.0 mi
	123. Take exit 班庄/黑林/临沂 on the left Partial toll road
		0.7 mi
	124. Turn left toward 327国道
		0.9 mi
	125. Take the 1st right toward 327国道
		0.1 mi
	126. Continue straight onto 327国道 Partial toll road
		19.8 mi
	127. Slight left to stay on 327国道
		0.8 mi
	128. Slight right to stay on 327国道 Partial toll road
		14.4 mi
	129. Continue onto 沂河路
		5.3 mi
	130. Take the ramp to G2京沪高速 Partial toll road
		0.3 mi
	131. Keep right at the fork and merge ontoG2京沪高速 Toll road
		99.7 mi
	132. Take the exit on the left onto S29滨莱高速 Toll road
		82.0 mi
	133. Continue onto G25长深高速 Toll road
		27.0 mi
	134. Merge onto G18荣乌高速 Toll road
		116 mi
	135. Merge onto G3京台高速 Toll road
		30.3 mi
	136. Take the exit onto S30京津高速 Toll road
		5.6 mi
	137. Continue onto 京津高速 Partial toll road
		24.4 mi
	138. Take exit 东五环/G1 to merge ontoS50东五环
		2.0 mi
	139. Take exit G1/东四环 to merge onto G1京哈高速
		3.1 mi
	140. Take exit 东四环/十八里店桥/四惠桥toward 东四环南路
		0.2 mi
	141. Take exit 东四环北/四惠桥 to merge onto 东四环南路
		0.9 mi
	142. Continue onto 东四环中路
		1.3 mi
	143. Take exit 国贸桥/京通快速/东三环/东五环/通州 toward 103国道/京通快速路
		0.1 mi
	144. Keep left at the fork and merge onto103国道/京通快速路 Continue to follow 103国道
		2.5 mi
	145. At 祁家园, continue onto 建国门外大街
		0.7 mi
	146. Continue onto 建国门内大街
		1.0 mi
	147. At 东单, continue onto 东长安街
		0.8 mi
	148. Turn right at 南池子大街南口 onto 南池子大街
		0.2 mi
	149. Take the 2nd right onto 缎库胡同 Destination will be on the right
		0.2 mi

Wangfujing Jinyu Hutong Beijing, China