Monday, May 9, 2011
EMMA CLAIRE ~ LIU'S GOTCHA DAY!!!!

I know you're dying to see the pictures, so go ahead, and then jump back up here to read the rundown of the day! :) Well, lets just start with saying we are EXHAUSTED from labor and delivery today!!!!! We were up around 5:45am to get ready, grab some breakfast, chat with friends and meet our guide at 8:30. We were wisked away to the airport for our 10:50 flight to Chengdu. The flight was full of Chinese people, Jay and I were the only Americans on board, so that was fun! The flight was also very turbulent and VERY hot, so that was no fun! Jay was so squished and uncomfortable. It was a difficult flight for both of us, but we managed. I did a lot of praying! We were met at the airport by our new guide Susie, who will be with us while we are in the City of Chengdu. Chengdu is VERY humid and hot right now, and it is also covered in a thick haze, so it feels more tropical like here. We drove directly to the orphanage to meet Emma Claire, but not without stopping for gas and asking for directions 2 times! We were given a back alley tour of Chengdu, and boy did we see some sights.... VERY poor living conditions. Wish I could have taken pictures, but the driver's windows were too dirty! We made it to the orphanage around 3:30. We were brought up to a small, HOT room and right away Liu Shanzhen was brought into us. We didn't even have a chance to video her coming in. It all happened so fast and not at all how I had planned or envisioned it would go, but I guess it is that way with labor and delivery too! Emma Claire was VERY scared and crying. Her foster mother had just dropped her off and when she saw us come in she began to cry and had to leave. We found out that Emma Claire had been living with her for half a year. Her foster mother had her dressed in her finest, sprayed her with some perfume and sent her to us with a bag full of treats. She had some crazy looking curly hair clips in her hair, which freaked me out if we're being honest here! She cried hard when they handed< her to me. She was arching her back and pretty much screaming. One of the nannies came over and talked to her and tried to calm her. We brought out toys and treats we had packed in the diaper bag, and the only thing she really wanted was a baby book to look at. They ended up giving her a bottle of warm water and handed her to Jason and he had the magic tough! She stopped crying and sat quietly on his lap, whimpering and and looked at the book with him. He was so sweet and gentle with her. It was precious and it warmed my heart seeing him instantly love on her. That's why I love this man. He has such a tender heart! We filled out some documents, and I actually couldn't even tell you what they said. I just did what Susie told us to do. I was concerned about getting some video and pictures of the moment. I do remember agreeing to never abandoning her or abusing her.....DUH!!! We left the orphanage after about an hour and she quickly fell asleep when we were driving back to the hotel. We played a trick on her and put her in my arms as she slept. It felt so good to finally hold her in my arms. I will admit though, I welled up with tears and trembled with fear. Were we doing the right thing??? I prayed for peace and knew those doubts were from the one who hates the heart of Christ. Adoption is following the heart of Christ. I choose to follow, though the road may be scary and not always perfect, I choose to love this child of His with all that I am. He has orchestrated this event from the beginning of time. I choose to trust Him to grace me with His strength and cover all my fears with His perfect peace. Yes, she is the right thing! She is our precious daughter, whom I do not know, but will trust that each day Christ will draw us closer together and bind us in our hearts as mother and daughter. When we got to the hotel, we checked in and headed to the grocery store for bottled water, formula and got some noodle for Emma Claire at a stand on the street. Jason brought me back up to the room and he left with Susie to get us a Pizza Hut pizza. While he was away, Emma really started to come out of her shell. She was playing and giggling and we were having a great time together. She would rather play than eat. It's fine by us, anything goes on a day like today! We quick ate a couple pieces of pizza and then it was bath time. It was so cute, Emma was not afraid of the water or the big bath tub at all. She got right in and started to wash her feet first and then her body. I distracted her with some toys and she had fun playing in the tub. I washed her up and put her in her clean pj's and added a hair bow for good measure! She was starting to smell like and look like a Kaiser kid! We dried her hair and made her a bottle. She was pretty wound up tonight, so we let her play and then she quieted down and took some of her bottle. She was afraid tonight at bed time and was whimpering again. She is scared. Her whole world has changed. Pray for her! She is sleeping in her crib next to our bed. We'll see how long that lasts. Please pray that she sleeps through the night and that she will allow us inside her heart again tomorrow. Oh, and she is smart!!! She is already repeating many english words. She has quite the personality. She is silly and loves to giggle and have fun! She knows how to tease and she cracks her self up when she teases you!

Well, It's late and I'm nodding off and am not even sure if this is coherent...and I'm not going back to proof read this...Sorry! I've got to get some sleep! Thanks for all your prayers and comments they mean so much to us! Please continue to pray for this adjustment period. Love and hugs to you all!

Jason & Lisa

LOVE YOU AVARIE, EVAN & ELLA FERN! We miss you like crazy!!! You will love Emma Claire! She is cute and funny! She loves to play! Can't wait until you can meet her!!! Hugs and Kisses to you! xoxoxoxoxoxo Mommy and Daddy

Emma Claire being carried in by one of the nannies . . . she was so scared


Mama holding one scared little lady


She warmed up to Daddy first


Play time in the tub


Nothing like the smell of Johnson's baby shampoo,
clean pj's, and reading a book in bed with Baba


Clean Mama, clean baby and a bottle in bed . . .
both so exhausted

Already adoring her Baba!!!