We are Home!!!!

This is a picture of us arriving in Houston! Thank you Amy for being there to get us! I don't think we could have driven ourselves home at this point!

(will post more later.... we are DEAD tired!)

Consulate Appointment

Today is our U.S Consulate Appoinment. There we take the oath for Jana to become a US citizen. It will be official once we land in San Francisco.... then she will really be a U.S. Citizen.

Our internet is being turned off today. So we will write again after we get home. Hopefully pictures and blogger will work better there.

See everyone soon!!!!

Our Paperwork goes to the US Consulate

Today our paperwork went to the United States Consulate. They received it and said that it was all done properly. Tomorrow we go to take the oath to make Jana a United States citizen!!!

Today we went back to the Guangzhou department store and did some more shopping. Mostly, it was just a nice excuse to get out of our hotel room. We have been going stir crazy and are getting very homesick. We will be leaving very early Wednesday morning!!! 1 more full day in Guangzhou!!!

HERE ARE TODAY'S PHOTOS

NOTE: Tomorrow we lose our internet service. If I don't get a chance to post before they turn it off, please no one panic.... we will post after we get home.

November 26th - Red Couch Pictures

Today we took Jana to the hotel doctor twice for breathing treatments. She is quite insistant that she is NOT having it and will hold her mouth shut and refuse to sit still. It takes 3-4 of us to try to hold her still. After 4 treatments, the doctor finally decided that it wasn't helping her because she was so resistant to it and refusing to breathe through her mouth. With a 1 year old, what'cha gonna do? Not like you can bribe them with toys or candy yet. Ha ha ha! So, we got more medicine for her. Now she is on 2 days more antibiotics, 2 days of bendadry, 2 todays of a cough medicine and prednisone. She apparently had tonsilitis, but that is starting to improve. She is in good spirits, so it is hard to tell that she does not feel well.

Today we also took the Red Couch Photos with our group. It was fun to sit where so many others had sat before us. Funny how many times I looked at other's blogs longing to hold our daughter too... and now here we are. I won't say the wait didn't seem long at the time, but... like labor... you soon forget when handed that child and love takes over.

HERE ARE TODAY'S PICTURES

Visa Paperwork Day

Not a very exciting day here in Guangzhou. We worked for about an hour and a half on Jana's Visa Paperwork today. It was quite simple and our guide told us what to write and where. It was a cloudy muggy day here, so we spent it inside the hotel.

We ended up bringing Jana to the hotel doctor because her runny nose & cough just keeps getting worse, despite the antibiotics we have been giving her (that we brought from her pediatrician at home) and the decongestant. The doctor here was very nice and said the antibiotics were very slow to work. He gave us a new antibiotic, an expectorant, and is giving her a course of 4 breathing treatments today and tomorrow. I have to say that only 6 hours after seeing him, we are seeing improvements.

Since we didn't go out today, there are only a few pictures and all of our daughter's budding personality... We are so glad those blank stares are no longer...

HERE ARE TODAY'S PICTURES

Free Day!

Today was a "free" day with no appointments or tasks for us. We spent it Christmas shopping!!! Yup, our gifts are all coming from China!!! So those of you expecting one from us... prepare for some culture!!!

Here are some pictures from the fireworks show. The view out our hotel window was amazing!!! This show was ten times better than any show we have ever seen before!!! The pictures don't do it justice. There are some pictures of a happy Jana too.

HERE ARE TODAY'S PICTURES

Xinhui Orphanage Visit

Today we went to visit our Jana's orphanage. The ironic part was that it was exactly 1 year today that she was abandoned, found by a group of people and brought to the Xinhui Orphanage. Funny how things work like that. It was an amazing trip and I hope that we brought back enough memories for when she asks us questions later.

I took several pictures of her with the orphanage doctor. We have been told a few times that Jana was most close to her. The doctor had the day off and rode her bike up to the orphanage just to see Jana. It was obvious that she really loved Jana.

*NOTE: Liang is "Nathan"

PICTURES FROM XINHUI ORPHANAGE

Guangzhou Zoo

Today we went and visited the Guangzhou Zoo. It was very pretty and interesting. Jana fell asleep in her stroller during it.

Later we went to a musical instrument store where things were dirt cheap! Some of our group members bought nice violins for $50!!! It was neat to see the unique instruments.

Tomorrow we go to Jana's orphanage and to see the place she was abandoned. It should be an emotional day. I hope you all are prepared for the pictures! We are told that it is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Guangzhou, so we are going to make sure to fill up our camera with as many memories as we can.

HERE ARE TODAY'S PICTURES

HERE IS VIDEO OF CORY & JANA PLAYING & LAUGHING

November 21st in Guangzhou

Today was fun. It started off not so great with us unable to find our camera, but we finally found it at the manager desk in our hotel. Another adopting family found it in the baby play room and turned it in. We are so very grateful! I would have had Cory at the store before the end of the day buying another one otherwise.

This morning we left and went to the Pearl Market. It was interesting, but the best part was the walk home. We walked through the largest outdoor walking mall in Guangzhou. It was a huge shopping are. The stores were all tiny. Some had people outside yelling (what I had to assume was trying to get people in). The "mall" was interesting. There was a serious fish in the fishbowl thing going on there. Everyone who walked by had to stop and stare. It was so strange (felt like a fish in a fishbowl). Some would just stand off to the side and stay there watching us. Besides us... there were so many interesting things to look at! There was a "pet" section where people were selling cats, dogs, turtles, fish, hamsters, chicks,... lots of stuff. Then there was a chinese medicine section that was full of bags will things in them. Lots of roots, mushrooms and things we couldn't identify. We saw a truck unloading these white bags that were full of something that was squirming inside. We guessed turtles, but... like I said.. it was just a guess. :) We went to a book store and bought a children's dictionary that has english, pinyin, and chinese words along with a picture. It will be neat to have and was about $1/US I think.... maybe less.

It is storming here. Funny how thunder can sound different... It is raining and such strong wind that we can't even see half way across the pearl river outside our window. We will be staying in for awhile I guess. :)

Tonight we got Jana's abandonment info. That was really interesting. We both have been wondering a lot about her parents. Wondering where she was left. Wondering if she was left because of her special need (that was so easily corrected), because she was a second child, and/or because she was a girl. Wondering if her mother let her go or a grandparent/father took her away. We asked our guide Jocelyn about the possible reasons she was abandoned and she said mostly because she was a girl and that any condition less than perfect can be considered bad luck and a financial burden. So hard to believe that something that would have cost $10 copay in the US could cause a child to be abandoned. She is such a sweet baby girl it is hard to imagine anyone could let her go....

Tomorrow we go to the Guangzhou zoo and to the shoe market and to a musical instrument place/factory/store (not sure which).

Thursday we go visit her orphanage and get to see her abandonment spot as well.

HERE ARE TODAY'S PICTURES

Jana's 1st Birthday in Guangzhou

Today was Jana's 1st Birthday! I am so very happy that she was in our arms to celebrate it.

Today we had her medical appointment. It went fine. It was just a very basic exam. They looked in her ears and her mouth. Undressed her and made sure everything was where it was supposed to be. Made some noises and made sure she could hear them. And weighed and measured her.

We also got her picture for her Visa done at a local store.

Tonight we went to a local Cantonese restuarant. It was delicous! There were lots of interesting bins near the front door where you could pick out your meal. Luckily I did not see mine (chicken) in there. Our CCAI adoption angency guide bought a cake for Jana's 1st birthday so we could celebrate. Jocelyn is amazing. I can't say enough about how wonderful she and CCAI have been. I am so very grateful.

HERE ARE TODAY'S PICTURES

More video of Jana

Here is another video of Jana in our hotel room. She was quite funny to watch. We had put her in her crib for a nap, but she decided she wanted to play instead. So she took her blanket and threw it over the side and then picked it up off of my bed. Then she would put it on the rail and move it back and forth with her mouth. Then she threw it over on to the bed again. It was a full cycle. Very funny!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO

Tour of Guangzhou & Video of blessing

Today was a really neat day. We got to go on a tour of Guangzhou.

We first went to the Guangzhou Six Banyan Pagoda. It is a Buddhist Temple that was built in 537. There we had Jana blessed by a Buddhist Monk. It was wonderful! Click here for more information on Guangzhou Six Banyan Pagoda

Then we went to the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum. The building was at least as interesting to see as the items inside. It was built and owned by the Chen family. Very intersting. Click here for more information on Guangdong Fold Arts Museum

HERE ARE OUR PICTURES

VIDEO OF JANA BEING BLESSED BY BUDDHIST MONK

Xinhui Orphanage pictures

We sent a disposable camera to the Xinhui orphanage where Jana was in late August and again in late September. These are the pictures we got back. If you have a child there, please look and see if you can spot them.

Xinhui September/October 2006

Jana's size

After several requests... I thought I would just post it here. Jana fits very well into a 12 mo size with room to grow. She came to us in a 6-9 mo size that was a little small. I hope that helps!!!

Today's Videos & Pictures of Jana

I have had a few requests for videos of our sweet Jana. These were a little challenging to take because she wants to constantly be in my lap. So they are only a minute or 2 longs, because that is as long as I could get her far enough away from the camera & me to video her.

So, here you go!

JANA's VIDEO

PICTURES

Yesterday's pictures - Adoption Day

For some reason I am having trouble posting pictures on Blogger. So, we are going to have to resort to using Shutterfly. :)

Here are yesterday, Adoption Day's, pictures:

CLICK HERE

Adoption Day!

Today we went back the the Civil Affairs office here in Guangzhou. That was where we were given Jana yesterday. We did 2 very easy interviews, took a family picture for the paperwork, and were told congratulations! This picture above is us waiting in the "Waiting Room" (again, same room we were given Jana in) for the interviews and photos.

Tomorrow we pick up the official Adoption Certificate and then go out to celebrate!

End of Gotcha Day...

We were all exhausted!

Here she is!!! Gotcha Day!

To see all of the rest of the pictures, CLICK HERE

Today was a very exciting day started at 4 am because I couldn't sleep!! It was so hard to believe that we were finally going to get our Jana. We spent the day around the hotel just waiting. Honestly I can't even remember anything before 2:30.

At 2:30 we met the other 2 families in our group in the lobby and left for the Civil Affairs Office.

We arrived at the Civil Affairs office and went to the adoption department on the 5th floor. As we walked through the door a bell chimed to announce our arrival.

We were taken immediately to the Waiting Room. There we sat anxiously waiting for our babies to start coming in. We were told that our Jana and another baby were not there yet. As I stood at the window to see if I could see her outside, Cory took my picture and then she went right past him in the hall behind him. She was being carried by the Orphanage Director.

In just a few minutes more the 3 babies started to come in. The first little girl came in and I was busy taking pictures for them when our little one came through the door in the arms of the Orphanage Director. Cory told me to quit taking pictures and go get the baby. It was funny.

The Orphanage Director were so nice and patient. They waited a minute until she leaned and was ready to come see me. She did not cry at all and barely looked back at the orphanage director. We took her and sat down on a brown couch with her. She just stared at us like we were a sight to see. We kept showing her toys we had brought so that she would not be scared. Finally we put her on the floor and sat with her. She is cruising so she enjoyed holding on to the coffee table and playing with the toys on the table. The orphanage director & another man from the Xinhui Orphanage sat with us, but were unable to communicate much. The director did point to the back of Jana's head and told us it was flat from sleeping. We sat and continued to play with her and watch her for awhile until it was our turn to have our CCAI guide, Jocelyn, interpret questions to the Orphanage Director. We were so excited that we did not have many. She told us that Jana is a very healthy and "normal" baby. At this point I can't even remember what questions we asked! However, I brought a digital recorder and recorded everything from the moment we walked into the Waiting Room, until we left... so I have that to share with Jana later and can listen back to it and remember the events of those moments in there.

The Orphanage Director was so kind and had brought us a new bottle exactly like Jana was used to using, 2 bags of the formula she is used to, and a fan that is specially made in Xinhui and had Guangzhou embroidery on it. She also brought us a wonderful photo album with pictures of Jana we had never seen before and the 2 disposable cameras we sent.

After everyone got a chance to ask questions about thier babies, we headed back to the White Swan hotel... all 3 families with their babies in their arms.

At the hotel, Jana was a busy little bee. She loves playing with anything that makes a crinkly noise. Luckily we have 2 toys that do. She played forever with some peanut butter crackers, her formula bag and one of the many ziplocks I packed stuff in. She seemed to be handling it all well, although she would only stare at us... no smiles. When it came time for bed, we put her in her crib and she was asleep in less than 3 minutes. We were just in awe!!!

I am up... too excited to sleep!

It is only 4 am here in Guangzhou, China. I feel like the Disney commercial where the child says "We are tooooo excited to sleep!!!" Luckily hubbie is not having the same problem... :)

We have made it to Guangzhou!

Cory & Lisa at the Hong Kong Airport leaving to go to Guangzhou

Our plane to Guangzhou

We made it today to Guangzhou! It was a short, but bumpy, 30 minute plane ride to Guangzhou. We are at the beautiful White Swan hotel. It is really nice here. We are on a little island filled with shops that cater to adoptive families. We even managed to eat lunch today (2 sandwiches, a loaf of cheese bread, and 2 cokes) for $2.40. That will make up for the $90 dinner in Hong Kong last night!!!

Tomorrow is Gotcha day!!! We can't believe we will have Jana in our arms!

Here are some pictures of our room and some pictures that we bought. These were done by a local artist here on the island. He makes these with a bowl of ink and his fingers. No brushes. My photographing them doesn't even do them justice! There is also a picture of the Pearl River... the view from our room.

Our room at the White Swan

More of our hotel room

More of our hotel room

View of Pearl River from our room during the day.

View of the Pearl River from our room at night.

Art work we bought

Close up of art work we bought

Hong Kong pictures on Shutterfly

For anyone who is interested, here are all of our Hong Kong pictures on Shutterfly!

CLICK HERE

Hong Kong Tour

Today has been fabulous! After a good night's sleep, we were both feeling much more like ourselves. Today we ate a wonderful breakfast here at the Regal Kowloon hotel. I am already craving more omelettes for tomorrow! Our CCAI rep, Joey, set us up with an amazing tour today. We traveled in the luxury of a nice bus and saw the sights and learned so much about Hong Kong & it's history. We took the neatest tram ride down the mountain. It was like being on a slow-er moving roller coaster heading only down. It was an amazing site to see the angle this tram could be at. We also saw all the "boat people", as our guide said they are reffered to. These people actually live on these boats! There are sky rises buidings everywhere and most seem to be apartments. It is quite a site to see. Eric, our guide, kept telling us how expensive land is here, how there are a huge number of people (1 square km he mentioned has 200,000 living in it) and that they build these apartments for people to live in. He said a family of 4 would typically be in a 500 square foot apartment.

Below are just a few of the 200 pictures we took today. Tomorrow morning we leave for Guangzhou! The very next day we should be holding Jana in our arms!!!

View of Hong Kong from the top of the mountain.


Lisa at the top of the mountain.


Cory on the Tram waiting to leave


Tram ride down the mountain. Notice the angle of the tram car we are in compared to the green building behind it. Notice the speed too!



Market we went to.

Boat we rode on to go see the "boat people".

"Jumbo Floating Restaurant" reads the red sign.

"Boat people". These are actual boats that people live in.

See the fish hanging from the lines on this boat?

Cory sitting right outside our hotel.

We Made it to Hong Kong!!!

Our bags packed & ready to go!

Here is our flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong.

Here is the plane that took us to Hong Kong.

It was a very, very, very long flight from San Fransico to Hong Kong, but we made it here tonight! Our CCAI guide, Joey, is amazing! I already understand why everyone raves about how well they take care of you here.

Tonight we are going to try to make up for the lack of sleep on the plane and tomorrow we are going on a tour of Hong Kong.

Only 2 more days until we get our daughter!!!

CCAI WCP Blogs

Here are the blogs for those families with CCAI in the WCP who are traveling now:

Lisa & Cory Phillips
Billie Winter & Joe Casciari
Craig and Roxanna Eaton
Debra and Ford Sunderland
Doug and Lou Ellen Doty user: Doty pass: Wesley
Kyle and Lori Fleming
Craig and Roxanna Eaton
Laura and Jeromie Tierney
Justin & Comfort Rogers
Jim and Sandy Houle

Halloween pictures

Here is our Scooby & Spider Man! These 2 made out like bandits after only 1 trip around the block.