Journey To Elizabeth -- Our China Adoption Story

• Home

• Itinerary

• Day 1
Leaving!

• Days 2-4
A 15-hour MRI and the Glass Wall Hong Kong Bathroom!

• Day 5
Refusing squat potties

• Days 6-7
Whoops, the trunk won't close

• Days 8-9
"Hip, Hip, HUBEI! Only 1 more day!"

• Day 10
GOTCHA!

• Days 11-12
Behind the Hokies

• Days 13-14
A visit to Elizabeth's finding spot, and the path her birth mother took that day...

• Days 15-16
The 'Finding Ad' and leaving her Province

• Days 17-18
Ni Hao from Guangzhou!

• Days 19-20
Last days in her homeland through a little girl's eyes

• Days 21-22
I'm Coming Home

• Day 23
We have arrived!!!!!!

• John Meets Elizabeth

• First Month as a Family of 4

• Special Update

• The past 1.5 years

• Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Once again, we want everyone to know the guest book messages on our site, and e-mails are so very appreciated. With a slower internet we have not been able to respond to all of them as especially with our added responsibility now that we have Elizabeth, but please know that every word is read after we put her down at night. We will treasure each message and keep a permanent record of it.

O C T O B E R 2 6 - 2 7Decisions, Decisions, should we have the spiced Bull Frog, or preserved Duck Feet this evening for dinner? They weren't hard to identify... Yesterday, was our 'official' adoption interview with the appointed CCAA Madame Butterfly. We met in a large conference room at the hotel and the 'Madame' proceeded to ask us questions in Chinese (translated by our guide Joanna) about how we plan to educate Elizabeth etc... But, the first thing she said to us was that we had Elizabeth under dressed. It didn't matter that sweat was dripping off the child's head, or that the second hand smoke galore in the hotel was entering her tiny lungs at a critical time in her development, etc.. only that we didn't have enough layers on her. I smiled sweetly and winked at the Madame and then patted Elizabeth's chubby exposed elbow as if I no idea what she was talking about. I pretended she was giving Elizabeth a compliment. Madame Butterfly once again made me feel like the 'Von Clapp' family, and I think Dave knew my feathers were ruffled by her. He quickly took over the answering part of the interview... After the formalities of the interview process and required paperwork, we went to lunch in the hotel. As we were eating one of our travel group friends had walked outside the hotel to the playground that you can see from your lunch tables. When they were walking back into the hotel a few moments later, a group of the Foster mothers came up to them, and they were frantically waving pictures of the babies in their faces. Then, one of the Foster Moms, came up and showed them a picture of THEIR baby, and tried to take the baby away from them. The Father had the baby, and was able to keep hold of her. The Foster Mom was hysterical and saying things in Chinese so it was difficult for them to tell what she actually wanted. They hurried back into the hotel, and after that, we were warned not to venture outside until it was sure they were gone. During this same time, A Chinese woman kept coming over to the window of the lunch area where our table was and looking in quickly, then disappearing. I will never forget her face. She was obviously upset and desperate. I can imagine the sadness of Foster families that care for these children for so many months, and then must relinquish them. But, as our guide says, they do know they must turn the babies over once they are adopted, so they understand this going in... Each day, we spend getting to know our Elizabeth's patterns. Her sweet personality is coming alive more and more each day. She has a deep belly laugh and is almost always happy if her needs are met. Today, we had a group shopping expedition and what a sight we must have been. It was a rather upscale department store, and here comes all these American couples with Chinese babies marching in. It was interesting. In this store, you walk to the counter, pick out your item, and then they write you a ticket that you take to another counter to pay for it. Then, you return to the spot where you found the item and they put it in a bag for you once you show the receipt. I like the good old, pick it up and walk to the cashier with it method much better. After returning from the shopping expo, Dave and I decided to walk down to the photo shop and have the pictures developed from the cameras that Elizabeth's Foster family took for us. They took over 50 pictures and we can't wait to see whats on it. Hopefully, we will have a glimpse into the life she won't remember. The pictures will be ready by tomorrow afternoon. On our walk to the photo shop, Miss Lizzie, decides to blow kisses to a group of middle age Chinese men standing outside the photo shop. Well, all of a sudden, we were surrounded by these strange men who were playing with our new daughter, blowing raspberries at her, speaking Chinese to her, and she was egging them on by bringing out the belly laughs and scrunching up her cute button nose. We quickly said goodbye in Chinese (one of the few words we know) and scurried away. The Chinese culture is so different, they think nothing of taking your child out of the stroller, and kissing them etc.. without your permission. In general, they are just being kind and loving but not being as familiar with the culture and given the fact that we are still in the Province and nearby City of her birth, we are cautious. In the next few days we hope to have an opportunity to tour HanChuan, the City of Elizabeth's birth. There will be about 5 or 6 families with babies from HanChuan going and many will also get to see the 'finding' spot of their child. Elizabeth continues to be a delight with things getting a bit easier each day as we learn her needs and she learns our 'rules' ;) With much love, Susan and Dave.

Madame Butterfly taking Elizabeth's footprint This is not fog, it is smog Part of our group goes shopping Old and new forms of transport Cool hat! Hardworking faces of HubeiFamous park in Hubei