Officially Ours, Medical Exam, and Made It to Shantou

Blogger has been down, so now I need to catch up.  On May 10, we went back to the Civil Affairs Office to sign the paperwork.  They needed to make sure we were happy with this child - ummm, YES!!!!  The notary asked some weird questions, e.g., "Why could your husband not come with you?"  Answer:  He is at home taking care of three children!  "Is your husband aware that you are adopting this child?"  What I wanted to say:  "No, I have been doing tons of paperwork in secret, including a home study, and have an approval from the US government with both our names on it and have been spending thousands of dollars and have left the country for two weeks and have a power of attorney signed by him, notarized, certified and authenticated, but he has NO IDEA that I will soon bring a visually impaired 8-year-old home!"  Sheesh!!  Anyway, I signed the paperwork, and she is officially our daughter!  Thank you, Jesus!!

On May 11, Gianna had her medical exam in the morning, then we applied for her passport in the afternoon, and finally, we were able to head to Shantou.  Our bus left at 5:30, and we arrived in Shantou about 11:30.  She and I will fly back to Guangzhou Sunday afternoon.

Brycie and Gianna with our wonderful guide, Kelly, whom we first met when we adopted Clare 2 1/2 years ago.  She was Brycie and Hutson's guide in Guangzhou last year.

Ms. Kwok helping Gianna with her hand print

Sweet!

The lady who did the first interview with us.  For reasons explained above, we didn't want a picture of the notary.  ; )

Mui and Gianna before the medical exam.

Mother and daughter.  I love this girl!!!

Getting her ears checked

Finally made it to Mui's apartment in Shantou

Cute Mickey Mouse slippers

Mui's mother is so precious!  She stayed up late to fix us supper.  Yum!!

Photos from home while Brycie, Gianna, and Mui head for Shantou

Here is a brief interlude while Brycie, Gianna, and Auntie Mui travel from Guangzhou to Shantou.  The kids are excited to have Gianna home.  Immaculée and Gianna have had wonderful interaction on Skype (which, by the way, is a terrific thing).  Here are some photos of Clare and Immaculée coloring some pictures for Gianna.  You'll not see Hutson in these photos.  At the present time he is just a few days short of being a teenager, and is currently on "cool duty" until further notice.

Immaculée selecting her next crayon and Clare hard at work creating.

Notice Immaculée's tongue.  How many times have you seen little children color with their tongues stuck out.  Also notice she's a "lefty."  She is drawing a rainbow for Gianna.

 Finished product .  .  . a rainbow! (and a cheesy smile)

Remember the little clematis bloom we printed during the winter, and how brave it was?  Here is another bloom from the same plant now.  Love it!

Introducing Gianna Francesca JiYing

Monday afternoon we headed to the Civil Affairs office at 2:00.  Gianna had not arrived.  They came in shortly, and Ms. Kwok told Mui that they must go to the waiting room and wait for the appropriate time to bring Gianna to me.  Mui is staying with me at the hotel for a few days, and then we will travel to Shantou for a few days.  Mui is wonderful!  She is helping the transition to go smoothly.  Gianna is thrilled to have a family.  Thank you, Jesus! 

First glimpse of Gianna as they whisk her away to the little waiting room. 

The first moments.  She is feeling mama's face.

Gianna is SO HAPPY.  She could not stop smiling and laughing.
(Jim adds, from home, it doesn't look like everyone is as happy as Gianna.  Look at the little girl in the background.)

Happy girl

Mama, Gianna, and Auntie Mui (Brycie's Chinese sister)

Ms. Kwok, Vice Section Chief of the Children's Department of the Shantou SWI, who escorted Gianna, Mama & Gianna

Ms. Kwok, Gianna, and Auntie Mui

Made it to Guangzhou!

I made it to Guangzhou last night, but my luggage didn't!  Thankfully, it has now arrived in Guangzhou and should be delivered later this afternoon.  Today is a free day, so I wandered around Shamian Island, took some pictures, and had an iced vanilla latte at Starbucks (after they promised that the ice was clean). 

Tomorrow is the big day.  I should be united with Gianna in the afternoon around 2:30 or 3:00.  Thank you, Jesus!!

View from my first room.  It smelled rather musty, so I asked for a different room, which, as it turns out is still musty, but not as bad.  It is just so humid here!

It was a great day for wedding couples to have photographs taken.

Rock, paper, scissors?

Starbucks . . .  yum!!

Sweet little faces

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church - renovated since we were here in 2008 to adopt Clare.

"Let the children come to me."

Inside Our Lady of Lourdes

Ape shall never kill ape!!  : )

Shamian Island has many beautiful plants and flowers.

New Video of Gianna - Thank you, Mui!!

Hutson is featured in this new LWB Video - Adopting a Boy

Travel Dates

Brycie will fly out of OKC on Friday, May 6, be reunited with Gianna on Monday, May 9, and they will fly home together on Saturday, May 21.  Thank you, Jesus!!

She plans to blog the adoption trip.  We hope you'll follow along!

Here are some new pictures courtesy of Auntie Mui.  They went to a beautiful tea garden.

Gianna (in glasses her teacher, Li Ying, bought her) and Portia

Li Ying and Gianna.  Li Ying and Mui hope to travel with Gianna to Guangzhou for "gotcha day."

Mui, Mui's former student, Mui's parents, Portia, Mui's former student's daughter, and Gianna Francesca JiYing

Trees in the shape of animals from the Chinese zodiac

Precious Portia

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

We received our travel approval today - less than 2 weeks after our Article 5 was issued!  We hope that Brycie will leave for China either May 6 or May 13.  Gianna Francesca JiYing, you are coming HOME soon!!  We love you, precious angel!!

Chinese New Year Celebration 2011 - Year of the Rabbit

On February 12, 2011, we attended the Central Oklahoma Families with Children from China New Year Celebration at a local Chinese restaurant.  We were delighted to spend some time with Clare's Godparents, Kent and Paige.  We also had a wonderful visit with Amy Eldridge.  As most of you know Amy is the Executive Director of Love Without Boundaries and was instrumental in our adoption of both Clare and Gianna.  When you look into Amy's heart, you can truly see "love without boundaries."  It is such a blessing to be able to interact with other adoptive families.  

Paige and Brycie

The little African girl enjoying some Chinese food.

Sweet little Mary

Immaculée from the Congo and her new friend, Abree, from Ghana

The Chinese Dragon Dance

Abree, Angela, and Bria

Amy & Clare & TJ peeking

Clare, Amy & TJ

We got ya, Joe!  Now, there's a pre-teen who doesn't want his picture taken!!

Paige and Jim

Amy and her beautiful daughter, Anna

Paige and Mary

Kent and precious Alice

Harris and Hutson

Pretty Lili from Beijing and her mama, Christine

"Children Of God" - Official Music Video