O C T O
B E R 2 5
Yes, WE HAVE
ELIZABETH!! and YES, she IS WONDERFUL!!!
The emotions of the day are such a blur and it's
almost impossible to put this experience into words. I
sit here now reflecting back on today's moments and my
arms want to also go around my Son who is on the other
side of the world. Gail, Jerry and Mom, thank you for
loving and caring for John. We know he is and has been
in such good hands.
We met in one of the hotel large meeting rooms at 9:30
a.m. to go over final paperwork before the babies were
due to arrive around 11:00 a.m. Once again our guide
Joanna, walked us through every detail and even showed
all the families how to make a "Chinese" bottle for
your baby. The Chinese babies generally like their
bottles VERY warm compared to American standards, and
a quick crash course was welcomed!
Shortly after 11 a.m. The orphanage director came in
and gave a short talk in Chinese which was translated
by Joanna. I think by this time, all eyes were glued
to the door because we knew the babies were in the
next room! There were 3 groups of babies received and
we were one of the early families.
It all happened so fast after this I remember hearing
Elizabeth's Chinese name being called out, Dave gave
me a gentle nudge to step around the corner, and I saw
a kind looking Gentleman holding a precious little
baby with a huge panda bear (compared to her size)
walking toward me with a big smile. Elizabeth was
happy ...until he handed her to me. Then, WE WON THE
PRIZE...for the loudest set of lungs! She wanted no
part of me holding her. She actually went to Dave
(still screaming) but at least she held her hands out
to him. There was obviously a male figure in her
Foster family that she was used to since there was a
Man that carried her to me, and she seemed to want to
be held by Dave.
She was screaming so hard that we left the room so she
wouldn't trigger the other babies tears! When we took
her back to the room, she was inconsolable for about
40 minutes, AND THEN....
It was like a light bulb. She quit crying, and the
sweetest smile emerged and the snaggle tooth grin
captured our heart. She laughed with us, at us, and by
12:07 p.m. was ear to ear smiles!
We had showed her we were "Ma Ma" and "Da Da" and at
12:36 p.m. Dave asked her where is Ma Ma...AND SHE
PATTED ME!
When offering her Cherrios we would use sign language
for 'more please", and at 12:40 she was doing the
sign! She also has heard me coughing quite a bit, and
Dave said something about cough, and she started to
cough to imitate me!!! Oh my! We show her something
one time, and watch out!
She has obviously been loved and well cared for. Her
Foster Family had painted her little fingernails and,
sure enough when I took off her brand new little pink
socks, her toenails were painted to match. She was
immaculately dressed with brand new clothes that
seemed to have been chosen just for today. Even though
the weather was almost 80 degrees outside, the Chinese
believe that the babies should be dressed in layers,
and Han Li Rong (aka Elizabeth) was no exception.
She clings to the Panda that we sent in a care package
several weeks ago to the Foster Family, and won't let
it out of her sight. At dinner, she ate very well, and
began to get fussy after wards, I thought she wanted
up, but when I got her out of her chair her cries
escalated...come to find out, Panda had fallen on the
floor and once we put him back in her arms she was
instantly fine. Looks like 'Panda' will be an added
carry-on :)
The Foster family was also gracious enough to return
two disposable cameras that we sent in the
care-package. On these cameras, are over 50 images of
Elizabeth's life we know very little about at this
point. We will be getting the film developed here in
Hubei so that we don't risk x-ray damage going through
the airport/s.
Dave is so good with Elizabeth. Just as with John,
Dave is the kind of parent that his parents were to
him. I am seeing the wisdom and love that Dave's
parents raised him with, and only wish Elizabeth could
know them through the years. We miss them so very much
along with my Dad especially during times like these
when you wish you could just pick up the phone and
say...'hey Dad, would you hold my hand right now"... |
The group paperwork before the babies arrived
Chinese bottle-making 101
12:07 p.m. - First smile
I'm a daddy's girl already!
No one's getting MY panda!
Our first outing. I'm not sure about
this contraption dad put me in.
Some new
friends, Patricia & Frank,
from N.Y. city and their new baby. |
