Born in the Heart - The Journey to Rachel

July 24 - Sorry about the 5 day break. It was over 31 hours from Guangzhou to home Wednesday-Thursday. The travel was interesting, to say the least. We ended up not getting an upgrade on the 14+ hour flight home (real disappointment) but when the stewardess asked us "would the baby prefer STEAK or SALMON?" I just about lost it. No baby food on the plane? We (ignorantly) assumed that by buying a FULL FARE seat for an infant under 2, we would not have to place an advance order for baby food... the stewardess made us feel appropriately stupid and handed us the steak... yeah, Continental will be hearing about this.

Other than the food issue, Rachel actually was better than expected on the trip home. No problems with cabin pressure, and really enjoyed throwing her food to the floor, as well as her (very hard) rattle at the poor couple behind us.

Once we arrived in Newark, we tried to get an earlier connection home. We were told that we could trade in our tickets for a flight that would get into Dulles three hours earlier for a mere $750!!!!! Decided that waiting 5 and 1/2 would be easier on our packetbook. Thanks again Continental!!!!

The flight was delayed, but we finally got in to BWI around 10pm (I think). We were met by Tim's mom, dad, brother Chris, girlfriend Moria (brother's girlfriend, not Tim's) Aunt Maureen, Uncle Jim and Cousin Katie. There was a huge "Welcome Home" banner, signs, balloons, and flags. Rachel seemed to understand the attention was for her and hammed it up for the family.

All that was left to do was to gather up the luggage and head for home...not quite as easy as it sounds. When we tried to get on the earlier flight, we had to re-check our luggage in Newark. So when we went to retrieve it, we were missing the piece that had our camera and all the adoption documents (I know, those things are supposed to be placed in a carry on, and they were until Newark, but with the 5+ hour layover, I decided to just go ahead and check them, silly me). We waited and waited, but no bag... Turns out that our very alert Homeland Security Department saw our items as a risk and decided to hold them for a while. It all turned out fine as the bag was delivered to us by courier at 2am Friday morning.

So now we are home. Rachel is slowly warming up the the dogs, she really wants to pet them, but they start snorting and wiggling, and the deal is off. Her sleep schedule is totally out of whack. Our excellent sleeper/napper has decided, that those 2 words are in neither her Chinese nor English vocabulary at this point. Mom and Dad (and the dogs) are getting sleep deprived, but we feel that if this is her only adjustment issue, we are doing pretty well.

Thanks so much for following our journey. I will be posting periodically until school starts. It has been one heck of a ride!!!!!

July 19 - Last day in China. Rachel had to get another shot this morning. It took 6 adults to hold her down. The doctor said she is very strong. We went for our consulate appointment and it was rather disappointing. We all just stood around the lobby of this run down building and swore that everything we stated in all our paperwork was true and that was it....no pledge, no flag, no nothing. Oh well, I guess they thought that we had had enough excitement for the past two weeks.

After the appointment, we met some friends for lunch (in our room). They were leaving today, and we were sad to see them go. We found a couple who actually understood our sense of humor and saw people and things the way we did. They live in Florida, but we are certain to keep in touch, especially since they live one block from the beach:)

OK, Tim is gloating big time. He got Rae to use the potty TWICE tonight before bed, telling me "you just have to be aware of these things..." yeah I had 2 words for him (which I cannot even type now that I am a mother of an impressionable tot...). We'll see how long this lasts, Mr. Awareness.

We leave to catch our flight at 5:50pm Maryland time on Tuesday, but actually Wednesday morning here. We'll get in around 10pm Maryland time Wednesday night, and cannot wait. I may be able to update along the way, but we want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, and good wishes. Can't wait to see everyone and have them meet our little Rae of sunshine. Signing off for now... Love t.

July 18 - Survival of first trip to the emergency clinic. Relax, everyone is fine. Rachel developed an allergy to something (doctor believes it was to tylenol) and was covered in a rash after dinner. We took her to Veronica who decided we needed the doctor to check her out before we did anything else. Poor baby got a shot, prescription benedryl, calcium/viatmin mixture, a tube of ointment and the whole thing set us back 140 yuan. In US dollars, about $16.50. We go back tomorrow for another injection.

Tomorrow we head off to the US Consulate for the "Swear Ceremony." This is where all our girls become US citizens, and receive their visas. Actually Rachel won't technically be a citizen until our plane lands in the US. Then our happy travel group begins to disband. Most families leave on Wed. along with us, but 2 are leaving Tuesday after the ceremony, and one group is staying for an extra day or two.

We will spend the rest of day doing last minute shopping and trying to figure out how we are going to fit everything we bought into our little suitcases. I suppose it would be easier to just stop shopping, but where is the fun in that?!!?

July 18 - Oops. did I miss a day? We were very busy SHOPPING!!! It is so hard to pass up all the deals and bargains. We also did some more cultural sightseeing and took many pictures. We'll get them posted soon.

On the Rachel and mommy front, we are definitely making progress. Lots of play time on the floor, handholding while walking and fewer shrieks when daddy leaves her sight. Her smiles just melt my heart, and I can feel her beginning to trust her mama.

Off to breakfast, then a little more shopping. Miss everybody and can't wait to get on that plane and come home.

July 16 On to Guangzhou this morning - Rachel's first plane trip. Of course the flight was filled and being a China Eastern airlines flight, it was a very cramped plane. Rachel actually did pretty well, other than bopping the guy in front of us on the head with a water bottle...he was not amused.

Guangzhou is a very pretty city, very westernized. Our hotel, the White Swan, is known as the "Baby Hotel" since it is where most adoptive families stay while waiting for the US Consulate to finalize their adoptions. There are families here from all over the world, all toting their little Chinese treasures. The merchants are also aware that this adoption traffic makes for lucrative business, and the parents are well catered to.

Our room is great, grand actually. Tim accidentally booked us an executive suite and we are loving it. While the other families had to stand in the lobby to register, we were ushered upstairs and led to a lounge and served (complimentary) drinks while we waited to be processed. We have 2 TV's, a bath and a half, and more room than the three of us know what to do with. Yeah, life is rough here in good old China (still can't drink the water..)

As you may be able to tell by the new photos, Rae and I are getting closer. She still prefers baba, but is becoming more tolerant of me. We were having lunch with another couple and their daughter this afternoon. Rachel was doing her own thing, eating and playing a bit when Tim needed to leave the table for a minute. All was well until Rae's radar went off. She started turning her head right and left, trying to locate her dad. I was able to keep her (relatively) quiet until he returned and then all was well with her little world. We're getting there. I am not going to rush her. She will love and accept me on her terms, in her time frame. Then, of course, she will turn 13 and it will start all over again...:)

July 15 Last day in Wuhan. Nothing planned other than official visit to get Rae's passport. I thought that mom and baby had a breakthrough this morning when she woke up and Tim was still sleeping. We played "throw the toys on the floor as hard as you can" (pretty sure this was TIM's invention...). During this time Rae laughed and smiled and even let me zerbert her on her feet. When daddy finally woke up and proceeded to the shower, she followed him to the door and whined for only a minute or two, very mild drama. Did she come and play with me? No, but she seemed to feel okay about my being in the same room.

At breakfast she sat on Tim's lap (as usual) but looked at me and smiled and laughed, so I was definitely feeling better. At 9:30, Tim needed to go and fill out some MORE paperwork and we thought that it would be a good time for me to take Rachel out to "Kid Fun Place".... Chinese for playground. We figured she would protest a bit when baba left, but that she would realize that "scary mama" could amuse her until baba returned.

She fussed and whined, and plopped herself against the door, nothing major. Once she settled, I picked her up (so far, so good), opened the door (still okay), stepped out of the room (HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING!?!?!) and the trauma began. I hoped it would only take a moment or two for her to settle down and pressed the button for the elevator. At that point she decided she really needed to get down, and began her struggle. I set her down and tried to take her hand. Not wanting ANY part of that, she flung herself onto the floor (this move should be patented). I was going to let her stay there until she calmed down, but her cries were alerting the hotel staff and visitors and they all wanted to see what the fuss was about.

The absolute worst thing to have happen here is for the locals to think that you are harming one of their children. I tried to scoop Rae up (envision me trying to control a 35 pound greased eel) and hustle back to the room which is only about 10 steps from the elevator. I am certain we barely made it inside before someone alerted the authorities. Once inside she climbed onto Tim's bed and fell asleep. So here we sit one hour later. So much for progress.

Our situation is the running joke among the other parents. Our guide has told us that Rachel's foster mom must have spoiled her very much. Honestly, we would not have wanted it any other way...

July 14 Not sure what is up with the website. I am unable to view it unless I am updating, but even then, the photos are not visible to me. Hopefully things are retrievable state-side and this experience is not too frusrating.

Rae is still Tim's shadow, but it seems that "scary momma" is breaking the ice a bit (with a lot of help from dad). She doesn't do the Exorcist thing anymore when I look at her (no, not the green vomit thing, the head turning thing). We also have managed to trick her into smiling for a few photos which we will hopefully get posted sometime soon.

Today we visited a Buddhist temple and a huge lake. This interesting group of "big noses" (as we are affectionately called in China) usually causes quite a stir, especially since we are carrying Asian babies. Our guide provided each family with a handwriten note explaning our circumstance and most of the curious then give us smiles and explain our situation others in their group. It has come in handy quite a few times here in Wuhan where this is not too common an occurance.

Tomorrow (Friday) we will go to the Civil Affairs office to pick up Rachel's Chinese passport. After that our business here is done and we are one step closer to home (unless I get arrested again...) Please keep those emails coming. We are able to get them here and love hearing from everyone. Obviously we are not responding to them individually (reason for the website), but we are reading them and enjoying everyone's kind words and encouragement.

July 13 Tim stayed up pretty late getting the photos on the site. He is also the one responsible for the caption/commentary... Unfortunately the webpage's resolution is not too great, but I am sure you are getting the basic idea of how beautiful she is.

Have I mentioned the word obstinate lately? I believe that descriptor was a huge understatement. Her stubbornness is also mixed with a mega dose of "Drama Queen!" Altho she seems to be getting used to us, she clearly prefers her daddy. If he puts her down even long enough to go to the bathroom she stomps her feet, flings herself prostrate on the floor, works her way over to the bathroom door and tries to push herself through the wood. Tim has to be careful opening the door, otherwise the sheer force of her little body would propel itself clear to the other side of the bathroom. Once Tim emerges, she is her happy little self, acting as if the past 2 minutes never occured. When she is forced to be with mom, we do just fine.

We have another busy day scheduled, and will have the opportunity to take and post more photos. Check back with us in the morning.

July 12 (evening)......good ol' Dad's version of Tammy's "arrest"........Can I help it if I like to share my sense of humor with others to lighten the mood at times? Me saying Tammy had gotten in trouble with the authorities last evening was meant to lighten up some of the, how should I say, "white knuckles" of the some of the people we are traveling with. As for our guide Veronica, first I must say she is an incredible individual and I can't imagine this trip without her. However, never having been to the US, her Chinese heritage has not allowed her to understand a lot of sarcasm.......she did laugh though once she found out I was joking!!!!

Rachel is incredible.....head to toe, inside and out she is everything we ever dreamed of.....she's our girl!!! Can't wait for everyone to meet her.

July 12 Rachel - Day Two Our little one slept through the night and needed to be nudged into beginning her day. The start was a bit rocky, she seemed to be less angry, but more sad. Her cries were heartbreaking, but short lived. We went downstairs for breakfast and things got better. She was extremely hungry and happily ate a steamed egg, a bit of french toast, congee (like watery cream of wheat) and watermelon.

We went to the Civil Affairs office to complete the adoption interview that would finalize the Chinese end of our mission. On the way there our guide told us how to answer the questions about our reason for adopting, our financial situation, our hopes for our baby's future, and our criminal records. Tim, comedic genius that he is, told the guide that I was arrested by Chinese authorities last night and did that count since Rachel was already in our posession. The guide turned white and looked panic stricken. Tim had to quickly explain his little joke. Veronica was not amused.

After our interview, we had lunch in the hotel. During that time Rachel was beginning to open up. We saw into her personality and she finally smiled at us. Our day was complete.

11 July (update) Even though there are no pictures (posted) to prove it, we have been blessed with a beautiful daughter. Of course Rachel screamed her lungs out (definitely the loudest one of the bunch) and mom and dad both cried. We were the last ones in our group to receive our child, but she was certainly worth the wait. She took to Tim right away and shields her eyes when she looks at me...typical. She sat with Tim, eating cheerios between shrieks, until she she finally wore herself out and fell asleep. I am sure the cease fire will be short lived once she wakes up and realizes it was not a horrible dream.

She is taller than we expected with feet several sizes bigger than any shoe size we guessed at. Fortunately she did come equipped with sandals that will have to do until we get to a store. Her hair is longer, thicker, and much darker than her last photos, too. She is absolutely beautiful, but until the family photographer figures out how to get the pictures OUT of the camera and INTO the computer, you are going to have to take my word for it!!!