Emma wants to play. Emma wants to look longingly into Mama's eyes. Emma wants to be held. Emma cries. Emma is wide awake. ALL NIGHT. I am pretty sure our neighbors in our hotel room here in Seattle are loving our night vigils.
I have to laugh to myself. Was this time adjustment is easier with Graciebug or did I just have selective memory?
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
"When I said I wanted you to take me to Hawaii, this is not what I meant..." or 27 hours, 4 sunrises and sunsets and a detour to Hawaii...
We are in Hawaii. Not a part of the plan. It all started right on schedule. We left our hotel and the Braddocks this morning with many tears. I think Gracie and Nina said goodbyes more than a handful of times, including Gracie getting out of the bus for the final time and running in to throw her arms around her. So sweet. But we still got to the airport on time with passports, Audrey, Rose, Gracie, Matt, Emma, me and all of our many "we are going to travel light" suitcases. We even made it to our plane on time and then seated ahead of schedule. And then we sat. Our first flight to Seoul was delayed. And then delayed again. The first delay was for a late passenger and the second several hour delay was because we lost our place in line for take off and had to sit and wait in Beijing airport for a moment that wasn't so busy.
Flight finally takes off around the same time our flight in Seoul Korea is leaving for Seattle Washington - without us. We arrive in Korea and there is nowhere to send us. Seoul? And we can't find a closer destination to Seattle than Hawaii? Yep. Hawaii. So off we go after several hours to Hawaii. We are on our way to Hawaii as we should be landing in Seattle.
Aloha! Beautiful Hawaii and a very small airport is the entry for our newly adopted daughter. And since they are unsure as to what to do with her at immigration, they send us to the waiting area for those wanting to start the forms and paperwork to immigrate.
It has been a long long long flight. We are all very very tired. It has been 5 renewals of our paperwork with the USC***IS and thousands of dollars, appointments, paperwork and fingerprinting to make it possible to hand over this beautiful, organized, sealed, official envelope to the regular old immigration desk in the regular citizen line. I get a little frustrated while attempting to share the way it is supposed to happen with an officer who has never heard of it and is searching the rule book. One hour. Finally, they figure it out and tell us we just need the envelope and she should become a citizen... they think... and we should receive documents in the mail. I hold back my husband. We have to fly to make our next flight. Our team of 6 is tired, needing bottles, diaper changes (you can't do that in the "area"), a trip to the bathroom, a change of clothes, and a breath of fresh tropical air...which we get first and second and third as we lose our sense of direction to the check in (we had to go outside the airport and back to the check-in and ticketing area...). We run out of formula since we were planning to have already arrived. I have a very hungry baby. So, I go to the nearest possible source of milk. Starbucks. Venti steamer please. No. I don't want hazelnut. I am pretty sure the flight attendant was giving me the evil eye when she saw me filling my daughter's bottle from my Starbucks cup. Don't judge. I didn't explain that it was simply milk. More fun to let her wonder. :)
Finally, after 28 hours of flying and layovers and 3 sunrises, we land in Seattle. Dreamy, tired, glad to be here. We have landed for at least 4 days with family before we start the next leg of the journey.
Emma has done well. Our group of little travelers is tired, but has done well. And I am grateful and tired. Emma is swept away into Auntie E's adoring arms and we tuck Emma into her first ride in a car seat. Mission accomplished. I have to laugh. I have been asking for a trip to Hawaii. I guess you have to be careful about what you request. Be a little more specific about length, time, you know. I am still a little bitter that I didn't get that lei and an official "Aloha."
Flight finally takes off around the same time our flight in Seoul Korea is leaving for Seattle Washington - without us. We arrive in Korea and there is nowhere to send us. Seoul? And we can't find a closer destination to Seattle than Hawaii? Yep. Hawaii. So off we go after several hours to Hawaii. We are on our way to Hawaii as we should be landing in Seattle.
Aloha! Beautiful Hawaii and a very small airport is the entry for our newly adopted daughter. And since they are unsure as to what to do with her at immigration, they send us to the waiting area for those wanting to start the forms and paperwork to immigrate.
It has been a long long long flight. We are all very very tired. It has been 5 renewals of our paperwork with the USC***IS and thousands of dollars, appointments, paperwork and fingerprinting to make it possible to hand over this beautiful, organized, sealed, official envelope to the regular old immigration desk in the regular citizen line. I get a little frustrated while attempting to share the way it is supposed to happen with an officer who has never heard of it and is searching the rule book. One hour. Finally, they figure it out and tell us we just need the envelope and she should become a citizen... they think... and we should receive documents in the mail. I hold back my husband. We have to fly to make our next flight. Our team of 6 is tired, needing bottles, diaper changes (you can't do that in the "area"), a trip to the bathroom, a change of clothes, and a breath of fresh tropical air...which we get first and second and third as we lose our sense of direction to the check in (we had to go outside the airport and back to the check-in and ticketing area...). We run out of formula since we were planning to have already arrived. I have a very hungry baby. So, I go to the nearest possible source of milk. Starbucks. Venti steamer please. No. I don't want hazelnut. I am pretty sure the flight attendant was giving me the evil eye when she saw me filling my daughter's bottle from my Starbucks cup. Don't judge. I didn't explain that it was simply milk. More fun to let her wonder. :)
Finally, after 28 hours of flying and layovers and 3 sunrises, we land in Seattle. Dreamy, tired, glad to be here. We have landed for at least 4 days with family before we start the next leg of the journey.
Emma has done well. Our group of little travelers is tired, but has done well. And I am grateful and tired. Emma is swept away into Auntie E's adoring arms and we tuck Emma into her first ride in a car seat. Mission accomplished. I have to laugh. I have been asking for a trip to Hawaii. I guess you have to be careful about what you request. Be a little more specific about length, time, you know. I am still a little bitter that I didn't get that lei and an official "Aloha."
Two Journeys Together
It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of our second journey to China. Today, like most of my time here, I am in a thoughtful place. Today, I am watching my daughter...my oldest daughter...the sweet little girl who turned my life around...the little one who returned joy and hope into my grieving heart. She is 7 now and fluttering about with her dearest of friends...a friend who is more than a friend. Hard to define a connection that began so long ago in their own orphanage...
on the day they both met their families...and one that brought them back again together to meet their sisters.
There is a lot that need not be said, but is simply felt. How sweet they are together... when they first saw each other again in Hong Kong, they left us chatty adults and found a quiet corner, sat down and were arm in arm, hand in hand.
So much they have quietly experienced together. And on this second journey... I really don't have the words...watching them take it all in...sometimes with anticipation and excitement...other times quietly and reflectively....others emotionally....Whatever it has been, it has been good. So good.
And here we are wrapping up another time together...We have said our goodbyes to our friends, Chris, Kate, Nina and their new little Stella. Nina (Li Na) and Graceanna (Li Xian) have said goodbye ten times with hugs, promises, and pleads not to be separated. We are crammed into the little van outside the hotel, ready to leave, ready to pull out of the hotel drive and suddenly Gracie is bounding out of the van door and rushing back in where Nina is standing watching and rushes to her with a leaping hug. Two journeys. Two incredible journeys...
There is a lot that need not be said, but is simply felt. How sweet they are together... when they first saw each other again in Hong Kong, they left us chatty adults and found a quiet corner, sat down and were arm in arm, hand in hand.
So much they have quietly experienced together. And on this second journey... I really don't have the words...watching them take it all in...sometimes with anticipation and excitement...other times quietly and reflectively....others emotionally....Whatever it has been, it has been good. So good.
And here we are wrapping up another time together...We have said our goodbyes to our friends, Chris, Kate, Nina and their new little Stella. Nina (Li Na) and Graceanna (Li Xian) have said goodbye ten times with hugs, promises, and pleads not to be separated. We are crammed into the little van outside the hotel, ready to leave, ready to pull out of the hotel drive and suddenly Gracie is bounding out of the van door and rushing back in where Nina is standing watching and rushes to her with a leaping hug. Two journeys. Two incredible journeys...
Summer Palace
Bare with me...I used an app to write my posts and it lost all my content somewhere between ipad and Blogger. Boo. So, for now, I will post some pictures. Thoughts later. In short, wow.
After our grueling hike and awe inspiring morning at the Great Wall, we took a long drive to the Summer Palace. We arrived to a mingling of Beijing "fog" and a fine misty rain. It was cooling after the morning heat of the Great Wall and made for scenes saturated in brilliant deep colors and set off with a misty film.
After our grueling hike and awe inspiring morning at the Great Wall, we took a long drive to the Summer Palace. We arrived to a mingling of Beijing "fog" and a fine misty rain. It was cooling after the morning heat of the Great Wall and made for scenes saturated in brilliant deep colors and set off with a misty film.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Goodbye Guangzhou, Hello Beijing!
An early morning flight brought us to Beijing in time to get settled in our hotel room and head out on our own for a little wandering around the city...
Saturday, March 9, 2013
July 26th: THE Red Couch and Other Crazy Ideas...
It is a great idea. I love the couch. I love the couch pictures. They are infamous amidst the Chinese Adoption community. A few of these infamous pictures are perfectly crafted with 5-10 beautiful sweet babies sitting happily on a deep red couch posing for the camera and smiling from cheek to cheek. The rest of the pictures look something like....this....
Now, don't get me wrong. I am a BIG supporter of the red couch picture. It is tradition. It is perfectly lovely no matter how many sweeties are on that couch and no matter if it is all smiles or if it outright rebellion with tears ensuing. I am a supporter because it is a beautiful little reminder of the precious little ones who have entered our lives and it is a bit of a final celebration...a close to a very special time...a coming together...oh yes, and it is funny. It is funny to watch and participate in attempting to get a group of babies to happily pose for a picture. How fun is it to watch daddies dance about to induce laughter from their little ones while moms try to keep them looking in the right direction. It's just good crazy chaos that I wouldn't trade for anything.
And while the crazy chaos is fun, I think we came away with a few winners....it probably has more to do with the beautiful group of girls in these pictures...of course, I am partial. Very proudly partial.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am a BIG supporter of the red couch picture. It is tradition. It is perfectly lovely no matter how many sweeties are on that couch and no matter if it is all smiles or if it outright rebellion with tears ensuing. I am a supporter because it is a beautiful little reminder of the precious little ones who have entered our lives and it is a bit of a final celebration...a close to a very special time...a coming together...oh yes, and it is funny. It is funny to watch and participate in attempting to get a group of babies to happily pose for a picture. How fun is it to watch daddies dance about to induce laughter from their little ones while moms try to keep them looking in the right direction. It's just good crazy chaos that I wouldn't trade for anything.
And while the crazy chaos is fun, I think we came away with a few winners....it probably has more to do with the beautiful group of girls in these pictures...of course, I am partial. Very proudly partial.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Sisters
Eight days ago, these little girls' world changed. For 7 and 8 years, they were the center of their mom's and dad's universe.
They climbed into mommy's lap for a night time story and cuddle.
They played in the backyard with dad and he carried them on his shoulders until both he and she were worn out.
Before last Monday, it was just little girl and her momma and dad. And then, last Monday, 3 little babies entered their world, took up residence in their mama's arms, kept their daddy running from here to there and back again.
And now, they are sharing Daddy's shoulders and making room on Mommy's lap for another little one. And sharing the love. Funny thing is, there is more than enough love to go around. And in the meantime, they have discovered that they are pretty in love with those little ones who made them scoot over. Their lives are changed forever. Like Gracie says, "Being a big sister is a lot of work, but my life is so much better with her." So much better. So much richer. So much.
So, in case, you didn't know Big Sisters, your little sisters are going to love you....just like Mom and Dad do...and there will always be room on Daddy's shoulders and Mama's lap for two.
They climbed into mommy's lap for a night time story and cuddle.
They played in the backyard with dad and he carried them on his shoulders until both he and she were worn out.
Before last Monday, it was just little girl and her momma and dad. And then, last Monday, 3 little babies entered their world, took up residence in their mama's arms, kept their daddy running from here to there and back again.
And now, they are sharing Daddy's shoulders and making room on Mommy's lap for another little one. And sharing the love. Funny thing is, there is more than enough love to go around. And in the meantime, they have discovered that they are pretty in love with those little ones who made them scoot over. Their lives are changed forever. Like Gracie says, "Being a big sister is a lot of work, but my life is so much better with her." So much better. So much richer. So much.
So, in case, you didn't know Big Sisters, your little sisters are going to love you....just like Mom and Dad do...and there will always be room on Daddy's shoulders and Mama's lap for two.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
July 26th, 2011: Picture Day
Today, we meandered through the shops, had one last get together with our travel group at Lucy's, surrounded by all that is stereotypical America - James Dean and Marylin Monroe, Elvis, and...Alf? Posters and framed pictures dress the walls attempting to create an at home feeling for the westerners who stop through for a few days. A menu that covers a myriad of choices from french fries and burgers to pasta to a more Asian fare meets everyone's fancy. It is good to be together as a group again. We have shared a great deal of incredible moments over the last week and now it feels like we have known one another so much longer than that. Each of the little girls is changing so much. Morgan sits at the table with a huge grin while playfully wearing Chris's hat. Stella is eating...everything in sight and giving orders around the table. And little Jenna is a mama's girl through and through....it is so sweet to see how in love she is with her mama. Emma is sleeping....She is still sleeping most of the time with little spurts of time awake.
We end our days' outing bargaining for 7 dresses that match for our little babies and their big sisters. Today is the red couch day and how cute will these Jie Jies and Mei Mei's be? Pretty cute.
We enjoy our afternoon of wandering about from shop to shop and visiting some of the charity organizations' places along the park. But I am distracted. A good kind of distraction. Emma wraps me into her little world and I am happy to just be with her, doing nothing in particular.
Already, she has changed. She watches and her eyes focus on faces more now. Her aspirating is improving slowly and she smiles so much, especially when she looks into her sister's face. She is so, so joyful. She may struggle with following movement with her eyes or focus on objects, but when she looks into my face...she looks so deeply as if there is nothing or no one else in all the world. I love that. I am drawn right into those beautiful dark eyes and everything is right with the world.
We end our days' outing bargaining for 7 dresses that match for our little babies and their big sisters. Today is the red couch day and how cute will these Jie Jies and Mei Mei's be? Pretty cute.
We enjoy our afternoon of wandering about from shop to shop and visiting some of the charity organizations' places along the park. But I am distracted. A good kind of distraction. Emma wraps me into her little world and I am happy to just be with her, doing nothing in particular.
Already, she has changed. She watches and her eyes focus on faces more now. Her aspirating is improving slowly and she smiles so much, especially when she looks into her sister's face. She is so, so joyful. She may struggle with following movement with her eyes or focus on objects, but when she looks into my face...she looks so deeply as if there is nothing or no one else in all the world. I love that. I am drawn right into those beautiful dark eyes and everything is right with the world.
Friday, October 21, 2011
The Consulate ~ Congratulations, Emma!
The big day all our months and years of I171H renewals have finally brought us to. The visa and subsequent citizenship of our little Emma. With our paperwork in hand and Emma and backpack readied, we head out to the US consulate for our appointment to approve our adoption, visa for Emma and approval for her citizenship to be granted upon landing in the US.
Nina, Ellie and Gracie stay with Rose and Audrey while we take our little ones for their visit to the consulate.
We gather in the room where an American flag hangs in front and a row of windows with officers of the consulate sitting on the other side peruse families' paperwork. We wait and finally are called to stand and take the oath that we will care for, love and never abandon our new little ones. And then, we are congratulated and there are claps and cheers. This is our final step. After each family is interviewed, we slowly leave the room. We are nearly the last to leave and we leave with a sigh of relief. We are finished. It is official. Now, we await our visas that will be processed and delivered to us in a day or so.
All that is left is to enjoy Guangzhou, relax and soak in more of life with Emma. We head back to the White Swan to find the girls have had a lovely morning out at the pool with Auntie Rose and Audrey. How grateful we are for them. They have been an enormous help and support to us and the other families with us.
And now, we relax and just soak in the rest of our time here.
Pictures from our day:
Nina, Ellie and Gracie stay with Rose and Audrey while we take our little ones for their visit to the consulate.
We gather in the room where an American flag hangs in front and a row of windows with officers of the consulate sitting on the other side peruse families' paperwork. We wait and finally are called to stand and take the oath that we will care for, love and never abandon our new little ones. And then, we are congratulated and there are claps and cheers. This is our final step. After each family is interviewed, we slowly leave the room. We are nearly the last to leave and we leave with a sigh of relief. We are finished. It is official. Now, we await our visas that will be processed and delivered to us in a day or so.
All that is left is to enjoy Guangzhou, relax and soak in more of life with Emma. We head back to the White Swan to find the girls have had a lovely morning out at the pool with Auntie Rose and Audrey. How grateful we are for them. They have been an enormous help and support to us and the other families with us.
And now, we relax and just soak in the rest of our time here.
Pictures from our day:
Touring Gunagzhou
Guangzhou has grown. It is quite a city...much bigger than NYC in both size and population. Today, we head out with Jason and Maggie for a bit of exploring of the city. A tour of an art and craft museum and a visit to a local temple are on our agenda.
Our first stop takes us to the temple where prayers are being given up throughout.
A monk offers up a prayer on behalf of the children. Emma, like every day, sleeps most of the time with little bits awake for a bottle or a bit of reassurance.
The heat is sweltering and Emma doesn't respond well to it. The baby ergo is set aside and the stroller we purchased earlier in one of the many baby friendly shops on Shamian Island is a welcomed help.
We move from exhibit to exhibit taking in the intricate craftsmanship from carvings to paintings to silk embroidery and then we stop and rest by the giant fans and again under trees that bring a welcomed shade.
The heat exhausts us all and I am ready to get Emma back to the hotel for a quiet rest this afternoon while the girls swim with Audrey and Rose. As I have been everyday, I am grateful for my sweet sister and cousin.
Our first stop takes us to the temple where prayers are being given up throughout.
A monk offers up a prayer on behalf of the children. Emma, like every day, sleeps most of the time with little bits awake for a bottle or a bit of reassurance.
The heat is sweltering and Emma doesn't respond well to it. The baby ergo is set aside and the stroller we purchased earlier in one of the many baby friendly shops on Shamian Island is a welcomed help.
We move from exhibit to exhibit taking in the intricate craftsmanship from carvings to paintings to silk embroidery and then we stop and rest by the giant fans and again under trees that bring a welcomed shade.
The heat exhausts us all and I am ready to get Emma back to the hotel for a quiet rest this afternoon while the girls swim with Audrey and Rose. As I have been everyday, I am grateful for my sweet sister and cousin.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Health Clinic
The morning began early with Emma awaking and quietly moving and gurgling in her crib beside me. Like each morning since Emma entered our world, the ordinary and extraordinary intersect. A quiet morning, sun rising, baby awaking, a hot bottle all ordinary everyday routine...this incredible gift, this little sweet one in our lives now- her life and ours so changed. This is the extraordinary. Life with Emma has been just under a week and her progress astounds me. I go about fixing her bottle with only sounds Emma's moving patiently about in her crib and the tinkering and soft whistling of the water boiling for her bottle.
We snuggle up in the chair beside the window for her morning bottle. Like every morning since the day she entered our lives, she stares deeply into my eyes while I feed her with one hand on my arm patting it while she drinks. That she looks into my face so deeply is another of the extraordinary things. Her eyesight so weak and her inability to focus or move her eyes to people and objects hint to her sight challenges. But when you are holding her and she sees your face...your eyes, hers focus with all their energy and without distraction on your face...and make you feel like nothing or no one else exists to her in that moment. This morning, we share another of those moments as she finishes her bottle. I hold her up and soothe her to help the aspirating and watch as the sun slowly turns a dark sky into morning grey that casts a soft early light across the river where the morning boats head out to sea.
Today, we head to the health clinic where it is wall to wall adoptive families with their little ones awaiting their turn to have go through the various checks by doctors. We see three different doctors completing a series of test and exams. After a long morning, we head out for a walking along the gardens and a stop at the Starbucks for scones. We sit out in the courtyard, watching families walking back from the visits to the clinic and we munch on Guangzhou's version of a scone while catching up on our email and blogging. Still a bit of a difficulty here. There is a sense of relief that the health exam is behind us and we have only one more big appointment to go...the consulate. For now, we relax and move slowly as the heat is sweltering.
Nina and Gracie hang out at their own table sipping smoothies and chatting. How wonderful they are able to share this experience together. And how surreal to see them here in this place, experiencing it from a different perspective.
We are off for a nap and a rest until our much anticipated dinner this evening.
Guangzhou
Oh, Guangzhou. We have missed you. We arrive to Guanzhou late in the evening after an interesting flight from Changsha. Our tickets for the flight had our families and children scattered throughout the plane. The dads played a game of rummy with the tickets attempting to get some tickets somewhat near each other.
First flight with new babies completed, we meet Maggie, our Guangzhou coordinator and guide. She assisted us with our first journey 7 years ago and after a long day of travel it was a relief to finally see her and her signature smiling face. Maggie and Jason are the wonder team here with their daily newsletters that include the weather, schedule and upcoming tours or sage advice in all things Guangzhou.We arrive at the White Swan on the Shamian Island, a adoption friendly little island where adoptive families stay, complete their paperwork and doctor's visit and eat at the best Thai restaurant anywhere outside of Thailand (and Mee Thai in Brooklyn) and Lucy's, a place for all things considered stereotypically American. And of course, shop - shop at about 20 different shops stuffed with squeeky shoes, faux hangbags, baby clothes, artwork, and trinkets for baby and mama.
Beautiful gardens of flowers, ornamental bushes, fountains, and statues of children grace the islands center thoroughfare where couples pose for pictures and children play among the statues and fountains. It is a beautiful place to enjoy for a few days with our little ones.
The White Swan looks exactly like it did 7 years ago with ornate jade carvings and statues decorating the lobbies that surround a waterfall oasis in its center. The Matel baby playroom designed for adoptive families is filled with a few less little ones as adoption isn't as frequently filling the hotel. It is beautiful here. I am reminded of that as we guide our sleepy little group of travelers to our new rooms. Our travel group is spread about on two different floors and the days of hanging out with our room doors open and our girls in their own room is over. We fall into bed with Jason and Maggie's newsletter reporting all the appointments for the following day. Pictures for their visas and a visit to the health clinic promise to make for a long morning.
But for tonight, we rest in our new home for 4 days. I am happy to be here. And sad. I already miss the time in my daughters' province. But I am looking forward to strolling my way to that delicious Thai cuisine down the avenue.
Emma sleeps softly in her new crib. Another change in environment and surroundings. But the important part remains the same...her family. And tomorrow morning, we will return to our routine of a hot bottle and a quiet cuddle with a new view of a new place.
Goodnight from Guanzhou.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Leaving for Gunagzhou, July 22nd
This journal was made and unable to post until now.
It is Friday in Changsha and we are packing our bags. The morning was spent at the Buddhist temple on the other side of town where Daphne took us nearly seven years ago with our Gracie. It was much cooler then, although we thought it a bit warm. Today, it was stifling. And today, we went on our own. Amy, our rep, wrote out the directions and off we headed with the Braddocks and Weinbergs. Awaiting taxis in the entryway to the hotel our friendly gentleman from the elevator who appears at all hours from every corner of the hotel with a giant smile and a heavily accented greeting in broken English, jumped out of a cab nearly bounding toward us with "hello, friends!". He appears everywhere and always with a smile and happy greeting. We jumped in three old cabs and drove across town to the temple. After purchasing entrance and walking the gardens and looking at the hundreds of turtles safely protected within the walls of the temple (no turtle soup for these guys), we found shade while worshipers and monks walked passed barely breaking a sweat.
I stood with Emma under a tree fanning her watching ladies carefully place cut leaves and fruit out in various places in the garden area. They live, eat, and work here inside these walls and their quiet manner drew my attention and thought while I beat off the flies and fanned Emma's face.
So quiet and simple here and the streets outside so crowded and busy. A few nodded at the babies and several ladies inside the small shop selling small jade pieces and incense lit up at the sight of the little ones and played with them, cooing and talking to them, nodding to us and giving us greetings in English. I tried to return my greetings in Mandarin, but I am not very confident in my words, always worried my tones are not correct( and that could be disastrous in some cases.) But they were kind and responded.
After an hour or so in the heat, we grabbed taxis and drove the long hot trip back to the hotel to pack our rooms and head for the airport. It had been a last minute decision to go to the temple gardens, but we had taken our girls to see little of the area they were from and we were leaving so soon.
Now, I hurriedly pack our bags throwing things in every crevice after two hours of organized packing and while I search for the last remnants of our stay here, I get a little sad. We are leaving Changsha, the place we first held both our daughters. And this room and these short 5 days here seem like a lifetime and yet over too soon. I grab the last bag and Emma and we head for the elevator meeting our friends on the way to the lobby. 5 days and we are all so close now, have shared so much and knowing the next leg of the journey, this is the end of a very surreal and precious 5 days...the place we bonded with our little Emma and where she spent her first birthday. We load up in the bus, and Amy shares her last thoughts for us as we drive to the airport. Then, after we present her with a gift of our appreciation, she breaks out in karaoke...on the way to the airport. Her favorite song? Country Roads. And we Americans only knew the chorus while she sings every verse with her lovely accent.
"Country road, take me home to the place where I belong...."
We join in on the chorus while she sings....
She sings every word and then joins the girls in the back of the bus.
Amy is quite the lady. She loves children, loves what she does and has such a heart. A beautiful heart and a beautiful spirit. I give her the remaining half of Emma's birthday cake she had delivered the day before. She promises to eat it as it will mean bad luck for many years for the baby if it is not all eaten, she says. We bid farewell after she has checked us in and she waits at the entry to security to give each of us a hug and final goodbye. What a gift she has been. What a gift to bring families together and make such moments go so beautifully. She says to not forget her and we won't. How could we?
Leaving Changsha means leaving the place where are our sweet daughters entered our lives. It also means leaving a kind of surreal living. Our rooms lined beside each other, our meals altogether sharing the progress of our little ones...no expectations, work or worry. A close knit little group just enjoying our babies. Guangzhou's beautiful island, baby friendly streets of Shamian Island and the community of families at that White Swan will all be a welcome change, but there something I can't really describe that we say goodbye to today. Something beautiful.
Farewell, Changsha...
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