Friday, September 28, 2007

WelcomeHome Li-Na

Yay!!! They are home. Just look how radient and happy they look to finally have their gorgeous baby home. We all met them at the airport, with banners and balloons and lots of love.

Li-Na giving us a little wave "Hello"


Saying hello to Aunty Ally and little Lilly.
The whole welcoming party!!

Li-Na in her cot in Laura and Eric's room. Its amazing to think that for nearly three years they waited to fill that little cot and now she is finally home.







A shattered little baby after a trip of a lifetime. Home at last with her wondcrful mommy and daddy.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Last day in China - home tomorrow!!

Here she is ready to come home, how cute is that? Laura is a bit concerned that they are over weight, but Im sure with all the prayers covering them that they will be fine.
How exciting, we will be seeing them tomorrow!!
From the Left: Laura, Alyssa...Li-Na...Evi...(Mum - Julie) Violet The last group photo

From Laura:Well our journey is finally coming to an end! It is so strange to be at the end of a trip that we have waited for 3 years to take. Eric and I have had an amazing time in Guangzhou and cannnot wait to return again oneday when Li-Na is older. It has been the most amazing journey for our lives ever!!. Leaving as the 2 of us and then coming home as as the 3 of us! Adoption is just the best!! What a privilige to be invited to be parents and handed such a beautiful little girl. We have had Li-Na in our lives 10 full days now and already she is just an integral part of us. Today we have had all had good fun with lots of playing and laughing and giggling. She just adores the both of us and loves to check where where we both are... best position is of course when we are on both sides of her!! Our packing is almost finalised , a few more items to add this evening.We will be leaving at 06h00 to get to the airport and then chasing the day as it progresses across to the UK where we arrive at Norwich at 21h25. We are looking forward to being at home again, but as I told Julia ... it is to me, the beginning of the end of my precious time with Li-Na before getting back to the reality of life and work. I have so enjoyed just being a Mum and all my thoughts purely on her bottles , food and her sleeps etc... she really has been a full time job. I have just slept this afternoon for 2 hours while Eric played with her. I think it is all catcing up with now!Eric and I went left Shaiman Island this morning for a last wander on the outskirts of Guangzhou proper .... the real China with the tiny streetside shops, basins/ bottles and bags full of various fish, animals, fungi, and wierd "stuff"....what a different world she is leaving. The sights and sounds all so different. The people , their perceptions and ethics all so different to ours. China is truely a foreign land to us and we cannot judge what we see.I still feel sad that we are taking Li-Na away from her homeland, but we can only believe that her life will be full of opportunity now, and that she will return oneday and understand. It has been an eye opener seeing older children adopted, many with special needs ,and I managed to speak to some of the adoptive parents about their histories as known. Life has been tough for many of them. I was so glad Mom and Di were here with us in the first days of Li-Na's adoption. She also loved having all the attention. Li-Na stared hard at Mom through the bus window as she drove off. It was so sad ... We can't wait for her to meet my side of the family again soon. Now she has the Chapman Clan to meet, and all her new Adoptive Family in Buxton/ Norwich and Aylsham.I am so looking forward to you all meeting her. She is such a cutie!!! ( Well a bit grissley at present ! ) I will end off now. It is sad to be closing the chapter of " The Journey" now... but time we started our next .... " Living with Li-Na" :)We are off now for our final wander around and a last meal at Lucy's. ... Yes I am ashamed to admit that normal food has been a great bonus here in amongst all the changes to our life !! :) See you all Sooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! here's hoping the plane trip won't be to much of a nightmare !Love Laura

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Ready to come home

26/09/07
A lovely family photo. Laura says she is ready to come home now. Although, she has mixed feelings, as coming home means the countdown to her returning back to work and leaving her beautiful baby, something she doesnt feel ready for yet. But, she is looking forward to being surrounded by their home comforts and people who love them and getting Li-Na into a routine. A very happy, although rightfully shattered mommy with her angel in her arms. Li-Na has been keeping them awake the last few nights, being rather unsettled and not easily comforted. Laura thinks this could be due to her teething, combined with late nights and little routine as well as a new diet with different foods.

Three generations. Laura's mum went home today and it was a sad occasion. Laura was grateful for her help and will miss her a lot.





A last photo together.
Li-Na having a good giggle with her daddy. She loves to be thrown up into the air.

Riding on her dads shoulders. Li-Na loves to explore her daddy's face and pull his hair while she rides on his shoulders.






Isnt this just precious?

Granny with her beautiful granddaughter.


Exploring Grandma's face.









Laura just loving showing off her brag book to some onlookers, while feeding Li-Na.
Laura and Eric arrive back on Friday night and we are so excited to finally meet this little princess. Hurry on over the sea little Li-Na :-)

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Hats and having fun

Isnt she adorable??
American families heading into the White Swan Hotel



The white swan hotel at night. Photo taken from the boat trip they did on the Pearl river last night.


Visiting a temple






Their lovely guide Jane.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

22 Sep 07

The whole family with Aunty Diane in the Victory Hotel. Trying to reach the camera, a lovely close up of our Li-Na princess.
Getting herself up on all fours, it wont be long before she is crawling. Go Li-Na go!!
Statue of American couple with their adopted daughter, complete with cameras and videos.
Li-Na not willing to give up her spoon.

Yesterday they went to see a temple and a government shopping center. Today they went to visit a Jade and Pearl market and then Laura and her mom went shopping for 4 hours while daddy babysat. Laura says Li-Na's feeding has been a bit erratic during the day and that they are feeling a bit tired today as Li-Na had an unsettled night last night.
She is a very happy, content baby, and she is gaining strength in her legs, moving herself around, turning over and managing to move herself around although she is not quite crawling yet. Laura says she cant wait to come home and she has had enough of hotel living now.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

20 September 2007

Li-Na with her mommy Fast asleep little angel



Daddy getting Li-Na out of the bath



Li-Na and mommy enjoying a bath together.

She looks so happy in the water, is she going to be a fish like our Amy-Li too??




Hello everyone. Firstly I am saying a big Thankyou to Julia for writing up my news on the blog site every day after we have a telephone chat for updates. Eric and I were dismayed when we arrived to find that it is impossible to get onto blogsites from China at present. ( ?? why ?? )Fortunately Julia has 'saved the day'.Well....needless to say, I am totally in love with my georgeous baby! She is so sweet and a real beauty! The Chinese people even tell me so and tonight I had a lady taking photos of just her!! So that warmed my heart even more. Eric and I are managing well with her and she seems happy and settled after 72 hours now. ( in fact she was settled virtually the by the same evening after we got her.) One crying episode the first afternooon (which I sent a photo of to Julia), resulted in a quick crisis management call back with practical advice and hey presto!! Happy baby since then, only cries briefly if she needs a bottle. This is the first evening when I feel I have had a moment to sit at the computer and type. It has been non-stop since we arrived with happy exciting but exhausting days. As you know, the day before we became Parents to little Li-Na, we re-did our Wedding Photos!! What a fantastic way to start our adoption, by celebrating "Just the Two of Us" before our little girl entered our lives at 4pm the next day!! We decided to join in the modern Chinese culture of having Wedding Photos taken for the express purpose of displaying in a fancy Album ...nothing to do with being married, but it is assumed the couple is married or intend to get married at some stage. I can therefore say ,we had a fantastic Wedding Day that matched all my little girl dreams with puffy dresses , trains and romantic poses , as well as as being a model in a professional studio. I had such fun...and I think Eric did too despite his initial misgivings!






Today I left Li-Na (unintentially for so long) for 4 hours with her Daddy, Mom and Diane in order to choose the photos and negotiate prices etc...all quite a rigmarole in China, as anything 'out the box' is difficult for them to deal with... ie: I was their first Western woman who had done this, as well as coming from the UK, and so they just could't comprehend why I wanted to change the set package on offer and refuse the additional huge enlarged photo beautifully framed and a smaller picture frame. To Eric's disgust we still have to go back tomorrow to choose our best 50 for a fantastic album and will get a CD with all 140 pics! :) ... it was hard to not choose them all ...honest!! :)




Despite this abscence from my precious Li-Na ,she had been fine but was apparently starting to get restless and miserable by the time I arrived back and it warmed my heart so much to know that it was ME she needed. :) She settled immmediately when I took her , and she drank her bottle down that they had been struggling with. I was really chuffed! She is bonding so well with both of us and it is so obvious how happy she is, the way she squeals with delight to have a Mommy and a Daddy!



As far as our adoption and transition period is going, we are having very few problems...just the occaisional bottle or food problem which varies daily and we sort out by trial and error. She is so good, and such a sweet little angle. A little minature person with beautiful eyes . She has come to us with a few scars , bites and bumps from her time in the Welfare Institute which demonstrates to me that care was not optimal in her little life so far. She has no hair on the back of head indicating long hours spent lying on her back on a hard cot with no mattress.- which is standard in China. I believe she was in a room of about 20 babies and 2 day carers / 1 night carer. There were another 2 rooms similar and 2 'floating carers' between the 3 rooms. Poor little mite...she has had the least problems since arrival.


I have been acting as the group Doctor trying to sort out eruptions of boils on 2 other infants heads at the back ( Li-Na has scarring from an old one in the same position) , rashes , bites and distraught, exhausted new Mums's. Thankgoodness I was a nurse and midwife before, because I have been able to help a lot, and give advice without them taking offence. I must say it has been draining on me more than I was aware, as last night Li-Na slept the whole night through and I was awake the whole night stressing about all the various medical and attachment issues going on around me with everyone else !! We were fine!!



Anyway..today seems better. Things improving all round. I have had some success with 2 families sharing one bottle of antibiotic and the children now have boils just waiting to erupt..but then at least they will start healing. The one family's attachment difficulties improved by spending some time today away from the group. Adoption is just such a scary event and so individual...one really just has to play it by ear.



I am so glad my Mom and Diane have been here as it has been nice to have a little family in the Lounge of our suite at night etc...and generally all doting on Li-Na. She has kept them entertained all afternoon crawling naked on a plastic table cloth, weeing a couple of times, and generally having a lovely time stretching and enjoying her freedom. Her favourite toy today has been her Nappy sack ( with clean nappy inside ). She just loves scrunching the thin blue plastic crackly bag with her hands. :-)



We went to the Silk Market today and I have ordered a dress and 2 tops in Chinese style to be made for me to collect on Tuesday. I so hope they turn out well. At one stage I was being measured and had to go with the tailor ... Mum had to then finish the bottle I was giving Li-Na when I was called away...and by the time I got back she was arching her back and NOT a happy bunny after her bottle was finished. As soon as I held her she quietened immediately. I know this is so obvious to people who have had their own children ... but in an adoptive situation this is very important to us as we are wanting to build an attachemnt with the child. So yes...I was ecstatic!! Whilst at the Silk Market a Chinese lady came up to us to ask about why I had a Chinese baby! She is a Sculptress and apparently works / lives part ime in CapeTown, South Africa. She was facinated by our adoption story and was thanking us for adopting her, so I was able to show my "brag book" with everything explained in photos and Mandarin to her in order to show her husband who did not speak English. She was so pleased when I replied that I was the lucky one to have been granted permission form China to adopt her! She now has more knowledge and can't wait to tell her friends. Situations like this are common, where when one lives in a country and the local people are unaware of the internal isssues , in this case abandonment of so many little girls".



We went to the restaurant 'Lucy's' again tonight as we wanted to have knives and forks and a quick reliable meal. It was enjoyable, I enjoyed a G&T , singing along to the crooning music and playing with our baby who was fighting sleep. She eventually dropped off and Eric held her in the hammock while we all strolled in the perfect evening temperature along a park/ restaurant area along the edge of the Pearl River with lots of brightly lit up restaurant boats going up and down. All the high rise buildings over the water were lit up, Laser-light shows were happening, buildings were lit up with chnging patterns and images of the upcoming Olympic Mascots etc. We sat and had a Mango Icecream, listened to more lovely music with such variety and then walked the short distance home. It was lovely. Hopefully tonight I will sleep. We are only sending a couple of pics tonight as very late..............

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

An assertive mommy day

19/09/07
What difference in this baby over the last 48 hours. Her personality is peeping through and lots more giggles were enjoyed to day by her mom and dad. Just look at that cute little smile! Yippee! I love playing with my mom and dad! Playtime is proving a big hit and Li-Na especially loves her rattles.

Some on the floor in the nude tummy time.
Li-Na loves to explore her mommy's face (especially her nostrils, ha, ha). She was moving around, turning over, lifting up her body and Laura used this lovely time to massage her baby and practice some baby SMART moves.


Daddy having fun with his little girl, who has found her voice and loves to giggle and gurggle.

It was off to Thai restuarant for supper tonight, with dad having a turn to carry Li-Na in the carrier. She once again slept all the way through their meal. Cheers says Eric with a watermelon and Lemon healthy drink.

Some of the different foods they are trying out.
Li-Na woke up at 2am for a bottle. Her cot is next to their bed and she then started to play with her mom, squeeling with delight whenever Laura looked at her, then looking away and turning towards her mom with a huge big smile and lots of excitement before she eventually fell back to sleep. Laura sounds so excited and so in love with her baby when she discribes their interactions, it is lovely to hear.
Today they had their first poo to deal with and it turned into a bit of a ceremony with a big preparation before the nappy was changed and much excitement and even the odd photo.
Today they had to go and get passports sorted out, which just means more waiting and paperwork. Unfortunately Li-Na fell asleep just before she was due to have her photo taken and so they woke her up and she was propped up on a little chair for the photo and then Laura said she started wailing. Poor baby. At this point Laura jumped into "assertive mommy mode" and got between the camera and Li-Na and refused to let them take a photo of her baby who was distressed, she picked Li-Na up and told the guide they would just have to take the photo another time as it just was not worth upsetting her little girl who needed her sleep and did not appreciate having it disturbed.
The next 4 days are going to be free days for sightseeing and quality family time.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Official Adoption day

The happiest mom in the world!
Laura had so hoped for a young baby and as you can see Li-Na is a wee girl and Laura is in her element cradling her baby in her arms. Li-Na has taken to the dummy and is feeding well so far. They had a good first night together and much less tears on day 2 together.
Daddy's girl





Mommy's girl Laura with the SWI director. Isnt Li-Na just so didi?




Eric with our lovely friend Rachel.









Group photo.




Got an update from Laura today....
The day started with the finalisation of the adoption paperwork and a notary visit.
Unfortunately Eric and a few others in the group either ate something or have a tummy bug and Laura was running around being unofficial nurse and GP, dishing out medicyne and mopping brows before they even left to start the day. Laura said the zip bags came in handy in the van : - ) . Poor Eric!! While doing the paperwork they met up and enjoyed chatting with a few people, mainly Americans who had adopted older children. Li-Na found the bus journey less traumatic second time around. Phew!!
When they returned to the hotel Eric went to have a nap and Laura played on the floor with Li-Na, hoping that the baby would agree that they had had an early start and a busy morning and that she would be just as tired and in as desperate in need for a nap as her mom was. Alas, so it was not to be and shattered Laura spent the afternoon gazing into her baby's eyes and playing lovely bonding games together. Laura's mom and her friend spent the afternoon exploring Guangzhou on their own, then they all walked up to Lucy's for supper with Li-Na in the baby carrier and Li-Na slept all the way there and all through supper and all the way home.
Laura says she is proud of herself for mastering her bottle making skills, while holding Li-Na in her arms. Li-Na has decided she likes to be in her Mom's arms and is not best pleased at being put down.
The lovely Rachel came to visit Eric and Laura in Guangzhou and thinks Li-Na is beautiful :-)
It has transpired that Li-Na's latest update is not all that accurate. She cant sit on her own yet, (but with her mom and dad's love and support, she will be soon), she is smaller than they thought, but tall (and growing fast), cant support herself on her legs for very long. But, her aunty Shawn can teach her parents lots of super developemental excersizes and it wont be long before she will be crawling, then walking, then running rings around her parents.

Monday, September 17, 2007

17 Sep 07, Li-Na meets her mom and dad

Li-Na with her Gran (Laura's mom who is there with them from New Zealand). Laura said having gran there has been a great help so far, as Laura can now focus just on her baby. Hooray, here is the first photo we have got through of Li-Na. Isnt she stunning??
I will do my best to retell the story.......

They arrived at the Guanghzou adoption offices with butterflies in their tummies. Laura said that as she walked past a door she had a feeling the babies were in there, so she took a little peek and scanned a room full of babies till her eyes came to rest on her little angel and she became overcome with emotion. They then joined a group of Americans who were also waiting to get their babies. The parents were called one at a time to come forward and receive their baby and Laura and Eric were about the 5th ones to be called. Li-Na did not cry when she was put in her mommy's arms for the first time. She grabbed her hair and stared into her eyes and explored the two new faces in front of her. They then got an opportunity to ask Li-Na's carers some questions. Laura had taken along a milk bottle in case Li-Na was hungry when they got her, but the carers told her that she had to make it thicker with added rice powder and cut the hole in the bottle bigger too! But, Li-Na felt there was too much going on around her to have any milk. They then headed back to the hotel and thats when things started to get interesting as Li-Na started howling as soon as they got into the van and cried all the way back to the hotel. Laura felt that she may have been afraid of being in the van, having most likely never travelled before her 6 hour journey to Guangzhou.


After arriving back in the room, hot and tired and a little overwhelmed by all that was going on in her little life, the tears started again. Laura sent her mom and friend to see if they could find the right kind of bottle as shown by the carers and Laura was left alone with her baby. Li-Na was getting more and more upset, so Laura put her down on the floor and she calmed down a little and then the tears started again. After getting some advice from a friend, she walked over to her baby and said: "Now, Listen here, I am your mommy, and I am going to look after you!" Laura said Li-Na stopped crying and looked at her with big eyes as if she had understood just what her mother said. She sponged her down, changed her and offered some water with a cup, which Li-Na grabbed and drank (with alot of mess). They put the TV on and Li-Na was intstantly distracted and all the tears stopped. After that she cheered up and mum and baby enjoyed a play and getting to know each other and Laura gave her some baby rusk and a bit of baby fruit.
Li-Na then peacefully fell asleep on her mommy's lap and after a chat with Julia and Shawn, filling them in on all the news, Li-Na was put in her cot, ready for their first night together.

In China, 1 hour to Li-Na

Laura has asked me (Julia) to blog on her behalf as they cannot seem to be able to get into their blog site while in China. After a rocky start with loosing their suitcase and a bit of a room re-arrange, they are now settled in and ready for Li-Na.

To pass the time on Sunday they went to have some wedding photos taken, a tradition in China, to dress in amazing costumes and have stunning photos taken. Well, they arrived first thing in the morning and left at 7pm!! What a day, but Laura says they had lots of fun. Different hairstyles, false eye lashes and more dresses than you can imagine. Laura says she felt very spoilt and they were both shattered when they got back to their hotel. When they arrived back, Laura's mom was waiting for them and they went off to Lucy's for supper.

Laura and Eric have been up since 5am, ready and waiting to hold their baby in their arms today!! How exciting!! We are waiting with baited breath on this end to see that first picture and to hear all about it...... keep reading.....

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Last few baby free days!!!

From left: Julia, Shawn, Sharon, Laura, and Jannene. Enjoying a fairwell for Laura and a birthday celebration for Amy-Li who has just turned 2. Uncle Epic playing ball with Amy-Li, who is very excited to meet her new little friend, Li-Na.
Laura enjoying her last few baby free days, having a swim in Julia's pool.They are on an aeroplane on their way to China as I type. Laura is planning a last massage the morning she is getting her baby - enjoy it Laura : -)

and the latest is.........

and the latest is.........
May 5th 2007 ( 2 years and 9 months since Adoption started. 18 months since Log in Date with China 21st November ) Me counting .....? No way!!! :)

Dare we hope for a June Referral? and "Gotcha Day"in August?